Fruit trees can be an attractive addition to your landscape and provide nourishing food to save money on groceries. They also attract pollinators—like honeybees—which means having fruit trees in your garden lets you play an important role in the ecosystem.

But, are fruit trees right for your property? If so, which types of trees are best suited for your yard?

There are many factors to consider when deciding to plant any kind of tree. First, you need to think about what local farmers are growing—what kinds of trees are the experts doing well with in your area; these are the specimens that will probably grow well for you.

Next, if you’re going to plant a fruit tree, you should select from those that are suitable for your growing zone. For example, The Arbor Day Foundation has developed a U.S. Hardiness Zone Map that shows which plants are most likely to thrive in a particular area.

Additionally, to successfully grow a tree and enjoy all its fruits (and not have it become a burden or nightmare), you need to pick the right place for it. You should place trees away from your home so there’s enough room for their roots to grow to full size, and you must be mindful of where your trees will potentially drop their fruit.

It’s possible and probable that, with the right plan, you can discover the deliciousness and delight of growing fruit trees. Here’s how to choose a tree and give it the best care so you can reap its benefits.

 Plan Ahead 

Go to your local garden center or nursery to see which trees are the best picks for your property. These stores usually only stock trees that will grow well in the local area. You can also check the USDA Hardiness Zone Map to ensure the tree you want is right for your climate. Most fruit trees—not citrus—require chill hours (the amount of time a tree spends before 45 degrees during winter to break dormancy and produce flowers).

If you have a small garden, opt for a self-fruiting or self-fertile tree, which means it doesn’t need another tree variety for pollination. Ensure you choose a disease and pest-resistant tree, and always check a tree’s hangtag or ask the nursery to help you understand how much care you’ll need to provide to keep the tree flourishing.

 Select a Location 

Most trees do best in full sun (six to eight hours of sun each day). Sunlight is critical for fruit formation and development, and it ensures good tree health.

Additionally, avoid planting trees under utility lines or new sewer lines; growing branches and roots have the potential to down power lines and puncture plumbing (ask your utility company to mark the location of lines on your property so you can plant far from these areas).

Plant trees in well-draining soil. If you place them in dirt that’s always wet, you’ll increase the chance of disease. Small trees—like mandarin oranges or some key limes—may do well in raised beds; many homeowners have found great success with dwarf varieties of lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit.

Keep in mind that south-facing slopes and hilltops are typically warmer areas of a yard, which means planting there might give you more tree growth and crops could ripen earlier. However, since north-facing slopes are generally cooler, they’re the best location for early flowering trees that might flower prematurely on a south-facing slope. If you get freezing weather, low areas might offer the best protection for your tree.

 How to Plant 

You should plant fruit trees on the day you purchase them or have them delivered. To plant your tree, soak its bucket or roots in water for a few hours. Then,

• dig a hole that’s twice as wide and deep as the tree’s root ball

• place the tree in the hole and spread out its roots (cut off any damaged roots)

• fill the hole with native soil

• build a trench around the tree to hold water (important for root establishment)

• let the tree get used to the surrounding soil (don’t add compost)

• supplement the soil with an organic fertilizer

 Staking Your Tree 

Staking provides stability for your tree while growing, in windy climates, and in areas where it might be hit. You should remove a tree’s stake when the plant is strong enough to stand on its own, or else the stake will damage the trunk and possibly ruin the entire tree.

 Caring For Your Tree 

Here are tips for caring for some of the most popular citrus trees.

• Orange – Water orange trees when the top two inches of the soil beneath it feels dry. Feed orange trees every second watering during spring and summer.

• Peach – Plant peach trees in sandy, well-drained, and acidic soil. Adding an organic mulch around the tree helps keep weeds away and maintain soil health.

• Lemon – Lemon trees thrive on well-drained soil, so if you have dense dirt, consider a raised bed for your tree instead. Fertilize in the spring and summer—once a month—to encourage fruit.

• Grapefruit – Grapefruit trees love well-drained, sandy, and loose soil and don’t do well in clay. Feeding your grapefruit tree a citrus-specific fertilizer and increase the amount as the tree ages.

• Avocado – Avocado trees need acidic, sandy, and well-drained soil to grow optimally. Water young trees frequently until they become established and then provide mature trees with about two inches of water per week.

• Key Lime – Only water key lime trees once or twice a week. Feed sparingly with a slow-release, high-nitrogen fertilizer that contains zinc, manganese, and iron.

• Pomelo – Pomelo trees do well in highly acidic or alkaline soil, as long as it’s well drained. You’ll only need to fertilize these trees three times a year, but you can sprinkle its soil with Epsom salt once a month to keep it healthy.

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