planting apple/pear trees in backyard

[cookiedough]

few weeks ago our 70 ft 150 year old burr oak tree came down in backyard city lot.  We are thinking of taking up our entire 100 ft wide (plus one on each side) about 11 ft apart 6 apple trees and 2 bartlett pear trees.  We are pretty sure going dwarf size 10-14ft tops since semi-dwarf goes 14-18 ft tall being too tall to pick comfortably.  Some say you can plant them 5 ft apart but I disagree since want to be able to MOW around the trees still since still wanna have somewhat of a backyard and not get whacked by a tree limb with my push mower if grows too close, so 11 ft seems about right.  Is not an apple orchard, LOL.

We already had our underground lines marked for electricity and internet.  Going to plant trees being about 4 ft apart from each line so that should be enough from lines for when the 5-6 ft now trees get mature at 12 ft or so being dwarf sized.  I do not think apple/pear tree roots will grow more than 6 to 7 ft underground, not sure?  

Any suggestions besides plenty of well drained soil/compost mix and constant watering that first few years?  Hardest part is able to find 2 of each zestar, crimson crisp, honeycrisp apples, and 2 bartlett pear trees all being dwarf sized.  

Our entire backyard is wide open now and looks way too bare nothing in the backyard so gotta do something we do not like the wide open view from the main hwy. about 100 yards behind our house, no privacy and no BIG tree to block the sun and give us shade either.  

I think 11 ft apart will be plenty for roots to grow and walking around/mowing the grass around each tree, probably too much apart but do not want to look like an apple orchard where the trees are right next to each other either.  Just some 10-12 ft tall trees to help block the hwy. view somewhat.  Plus,  the way we go thru apples (and pears) having to go to apple orchards nearby at 28 bucks for a 18lb. bag of apples 6x's per fall will eventually hope save us some money in a few more years once the 5-7 ft trees produce apples/pears.  

Our soil is mostly clay/compact, so we are going to have to dig out at least 4-5 ft around with better garden/compost soil bought in there instead since heard fruit trees like well drained soil of which we do not have normally.

and yes,  I already read where dwarf trees will have to be staked to help support them especially the first 3-4 years for sure.  Not sure we need the trunk covered/wrapped around since not in an area where deer/critters would be an issue.  If so,  I can always shoot or trap them in my backyard with farmers field behind my house...

[Oss]

dwarf fruit trees are great because you can reach all the fruit

Have one in my front yard

[cookiedough]

dwarf fruit trees are great because you can reach all the fruit

Have one in my front yard

we agree,  was going to go semi-dwarf but those are all 14 to 20ft tall.  Unless you top off the last 5 feet, how do you reach 18 ft up or so even on a 8 ft ladder?   I know they do make long handled apple pickers used one once at an apple orchard though guess they work o.k.?  

Oss, you only have one fruit tree?  I read that most, not all, require at least 2 trees to pollinate?  maybe I am wrong?   Will be a few years to produce any apples/pears am sure.  hunting around next few weeks to go see on a Saturday if any have dwarf in stock still.  Apparently they sell out quickly even though 3 weeks away to plant or so.

[Rams]

I once owned a farm in Ohio that someone had previously planted dwarf apple trees.   If I remember correctly, there were about 20 of them.   Mowing around them was a task I didn't enjoy.   Between low hanging limbs and fruit on the ground, I ended up removing all but two or three.   Critters were attracted to the apples.   I'd do some research on the  tree roots before I decided on where to place those trees too close to water or sewer lines or any other line you might need to dig up in the future.

I suppose having a few trees would be alright but, having an apple orchard was not something I would ever have again.   To each their own.  

I tend to plant a specific variety of Pecan trees (sorry, can't remember it's name right now) where ever I go.   I may never see the fruit (Nuts) of my labor but, I like the trees much better.  

Rams

[cookiedough]

I once owned a farm in Ohio that someone had previously planted dwarf apple trees.   If I remember correctly, there were about 20 of them.   Mowing around them was a task I didn't enjoy.   Between low hanging limbs and fruit on the ground, I ended up removing all but two or three.   Critters were attracted to the apples.   I'd do some research on the  tree roots before I decided on where to place those trees too close to water or sewer lines or any other line you might need to dig up in the future.

I suppose having a few trees would be alright but, having an apple orchard was not something I would ever have again.   To each their own.  

I tend to plant a specific variety of Pecan trees (sorry, can't remember it's name right now) where ever I go.   I may never see the fruit (Nuts) of my labor but, I like the trees much better.  

Rams

yah, 20 trees, even over 10 apple/pear trees in a backyard city lot is way too much to maintain.  I think we can tend to 8 total.   Fallen apples just toss in the farmers field.  As you say, might attract critters but I doubt deer would come into our yard that close to our house some 30 ft away, will see?  then again,  at night sleeping, who knows what goes on our there in the dark? 

mowing around them will be a pain though.  I might invest and break down and buy a battery powered string trimmer for that mowing since my corded electric one works, but would be major pain to go around all the trees with a cord. 

I will double check on roots but right now the only place to put the trees (unless want very close to the house or in middle of the yard (look dumb), is 4 ft away from the electrical and internet lines underground in between them on far backyard lot line.

[Rams]

I doubt deer would come into our yard that close to our house some 30 ft away, will see?  then again,  at night sleeping, who knows what goes on our there in the dark?  

Don't be shocked or surprised, my wife's favorite flowers have been devoured by deer and they are only a few feet from our bedroom window.   We have deer in our yard every night and frequently during the day.
I have quite a few blueberry bushes I've planted (mostly for the birds) and the deer seem to like their fruit.

Rams

[cookiedough]

I doubt deer would come into our yard that close to our house some 30 ft away, will see?  then again,  at night sleeping, who knows what goes on our there in the dark?  

Don't be shocked or surprised, my wife's favorite flowers have been devoured by deer and they are only a few feet from our bedroom window.   We have deer in our yard every night and frequently during the day.
I have quite a few blueberry bushes I've planted (mostly for the birds) and the deer seem to like their fruit.

Rams

ever try any deer repellent products?     bought 2 dwarf zestar trees today 6ft tall for 35 each local.  Only 2 the garden center had left in zestar apples.  New shipment coming in later this week will stop on by this weekend see if can get 2 to 4 more different varieties we like such as crimson crisp and honey crisp. 

they say the roots grow 1.5x's as wide as the tree so if the trees get 10 ft tall and 5-6 ft wide tops then maybe roots eventually in 10+ years will get 8-9ft wide just about right where the electrical/internet buried lines are 4 ft away each side where the trees will go. 

[cookiedough]

well, got lotsa tree planting and 5 cu yards of dirt being delivered for 6  4x4 raised garden beds in backyard to move around next few weekends.  bought 2 bartlett pear trees could not find dwarf so went semi-dwarf in a pot today.  Spent 20 bucks more than I wanted on each but were 9 ft tall, healthy, and in very good shape vs. the dwarf zestar 6 ft apple trees we planted last weekend 20 bucks cheaper.  hard to find dwarf bartlett pear trees so read up these supposedly semi-dwarf bartlett pear trees supposedly ONLY get 15ft tall, or so I hope.  Read elsewhere may get 18ft tall, if so, will be pruning the tops off for sure eventually.

hope to pick up 2 either dwarf or semi-dwarf (be fine) honeycrisp apple trees this Sunday since will be next to bartlett taller trees so semi-dwarf be fine there.   Have not found for sure want dwarf crimson crisp apple trees on the ends since want those smaller since near lot lines and neighbors might bitch if apples go in their yards.  Since only 6 ft tall now dwarf if I can find them,  will be 10+ years before any lot line apples go close since about 10 ft away marked to put those 2 trees from lot line. 

luckily the wife is in just as good, and probably better, shape than me in terms of lifting and shoveling dirt around, but her appendix surgery removal over 6 mths ago and probably permanent is hurting her stomach since surgery pretty sure left permanent scaring in tummy muscles and she says hurts to lift heavier objects now, never did prior. 

[Oss]

cookie

they call it a fruit cocktail tree as it has several varieties grafted

I think it is apricots and nectarines etc

Burgess is the company I am pretty sure I got it from years ago but more than 1 company make them

You do have to spray soon as the bees finish with the flowers to keep the damn bugs from eating and ruining most of the fruit  We use soap and natural spray no poisons

Man, I am pretty sore today as this weekend I cut 2x6's for two 24'x4' beds and one  8x3' bed and formed the raised beds and put over a cubic yard of organic compost and soil and peat in   All of our garden is organic

The wife got a bargain on 2 cubic yard from a farm about half an hour away delivered to our driveway

How is it a bargain if I work all day I dont know  : )
Then about a dozen more wheelbarrow full loads of the compost to side garden, still have a cubic yard left for the back yard garden and to give to neighbors

Its still steaming, wonder how long I will have to wait before planting?

[cookiedough]

cookie

they call it a fruit cocktail tree as it has several varieties grafted

I think it is apricots and nectarines etc

Burgess is the company I am pretty sure I got it from years ago but more than 1 company make them

You do have to spray soon as the bees finish with the flowers to keep the damn bugs from eating and ruining most of the fruit  We use soap and natural spray no poisons

Man, I am pretty sore today as this weekend I cut 2x6's for two 24'x4' beds and one  8x3' bed and formed the raised beds and put over a cubic yard of organic compost and soil and peat in   All of our garden is organic

The wife got a bargain on 2 cubic yard from a farm about half an hour away delivered to our driveway

How is it a bargain if I work all day I dont know  : )
Then about a dozen more wheelbarrow full loads of the compost to side garden, still have a cubic yard left for the back yard garden and to give to neighbors

Its still steaming, wonder how long I will have to wait before planting?

that is a lot of building raised beds.  if you have 24x4 ft by say 12 inches high is near 4 cu yards of compost/dirt needed.  That is what we are doing six  4x4 beds  scattered in our backyard.  We are getting 5 cu yards delivered tomorrow from landscape company hope it is good stuff 1/2 topsoil and 1/2 compost at 60 bucks per cu yard delivered only 12 miles away from my house  300 bucks of dirt I guess gotta get it somewhere?  The other 1 cu yard will be used either in garden or filling in the ruts all over the yard from the heavy truck and trailer of heavy wood that went into our yard to cut our 70 ft oak tree down.  I was expecting him to come back and fill in, but guess not?  At least IMO he coulda brought in 1 cu yard of topsoil from somewhere and we can fill in the ruts all over and plant grass seed later.  rolling our yard with a lawn roller will not work when 4-5 tons were on top of the grass.

[h13man]

I HAD a apple tree finally produce fruit after many years. Now I live out on windmill prairie with no woods for four miles just flat nothing. Well I had planted a new Golden Locust that spring and low and behold apples brought a buck deer and he rubbed my new tree and broke it. No sign of deer until that year and now we occasionally see deer in the area since. BTW the apple tree got cut down that fall. The Locust grew from a cut stump and now is a 3 legged monster.  

[John Schmidt]

Have a nephew that planted two cherry trees in their backyard, along with his apple and other fruit bearing trees. When he finally started getting cherries he found his biggest problems were from the birds. When I stopped by one time a couple years after they started bearing fruit, I asked if he ever got the best of the birds..."oh my yes, easily done." He then suggested I go out and stand in between the two trees and he'd show me. Once in place I suddenly heard what sounded like a couple huge and obnoxious farts. He had hung two remotely operated fart machines in the trees and they turned out to be very effective. Every time he activated one is was always a different sound, it helped keeping the birds from getting used to the same sound and kept the devices effective. 

[cookiedough]

not sure the wife would like a FART machine in our backyard when she is out gardening bending down nearby the fruit trees.   

Neighbor who helped the village on the small lake in town tried using coyote yelps/calls with loud speakers in 3-4 spots on the lake's island in the middle to scare off the 100's of geese that land there deficating all over-disgusting all over the lake stepping on that stuff.  Did not work geese did not care so many of them.  Good idea, but deer are more jittery than geese who are use to the area and so many of them they think they own the land.  I offered to shoot a few hundred geese with .22 or shotgun and  have a city wide feast.  Village board did not like that idea since then get in trouble with the DNR.