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While different types of fruit trees may have different requirements and thrive in different plant zones, the actual planting of fruit trees of all types is quite similar. Most fruit trees have similar soil, site and planting needs. There are a few important rules to practice when planting that can help a fruit tree to thrive.

Choose the Perfect Spot
All fruit trees prefer to be in full sun. A sunny, sheltered spot is ideal. Shelter from wind can come from a building, hedge or tree windbreak. Smaller dwarf trees can be grown against a wall or fence. If protection from the wind isn’t available, most fruit trees will still grow but may be slower growing and require more water.

Sandy loam is the ideal soil, with a pH near neutral. Citrus prefers a slightly acidic soil. Have your soil tested before planting fruit trees and correct any nutrient deficiencies. Fruit trees are heavy feeders and need good, fertile soil or supplemental fertilization.

The most important part of choosing a site is to make sure that the soil drains well. Fruit trees will not survive in wet soil. If water stands in an area for more than an hour after a rain, or if you dig a hole and hit water, it is not a good place for fruit trees.

Do not plant fruit trees down in a hollow or other low spot. Low spots collect cold air in early spring and flowers may be killed by a frost that won’t occur on higher ground nearby.

Plant your fruit trees close enough to the house so that you can water and care for them easily. If you have lots of land, planting your trees closer to the house rather than far away may keep animal pests like deer from doing as much damage. But too close to the house is not ideal either. Fruit trees do not make good landscape trees. They require regular spraying and pruning that makes them look less appealing than most other trees, but that will result in better fruit.

Fruit trees also attract insect and animal pests with fallen and ripe fruit. A cherry tree near the home will result in a lot of bird-stained items. Rotting fruit under a tree attracts yellow jackets, a nasty member of the hornet family, and may bring other undesirables too close for comfort.

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