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Backyard Mini Orchards
MBY DEAN FOSDICK OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INIATURE TREES HAVE BECOME A POPU- lar way to grow apples in backyards.
Dwarf and semi-dwarf trees are smaller than standard varieties, yet faster to mature and produce. “Smaller trees are more e cient for labor. They’re also more e cient for space,” said Michael Parker, an extension horticulture specialist and associate profes- sor at North Carolina A&T State University. “Why put up one tree when you can plant six small trees with lots of apple varieties? If you lose one tree, it’s no big deal.
You’ll have other trees producing.”
As for maturing, “With standard trees, you have to
wait ve to seven years,” Parker said. “It’s two to three years with dwarf or smaller trees.”
Choosing the right dwarf rootstock will result in min- iature orchards, although you’ll still need to prune to keep trees down to size, Parker said.
“There are di erent dwar ng rootstocks, starting with 8-foot trees and going to 15 feet,” he said. “But you can’t just plant them and let them go. A dwarf tree doesn’t know it’s supposed to stop growing at 8 feet. Dwarf trees are smaller than the standard size, but they still need to be trained and pruned.”
Safety is yet another advantage when managing smaller trees. It’s easier to scout them for damage and they require less ladder work — especially when applying chemicals.
“Most homeowners don’t have the necessary equip- ment for spraying over their heads,” said Michael Bush, an extension entomologist with Washington State Uni- versity’s Yakima County o ce. “Toxic spray residues can drip down and run all over the applicators. A lot of pesticide labels warn against spraying more than 10 feet (high). They suggest that you hire a professional.”
Arborists generally recommend pruning apple trees twice a year: rst when they’re dormant, to create better air circulation and prevent diseases, and second in the summer to eliminate suckers, improve light gathering and control growth.
This May 13, 2016 photo shows a Japanese plum tree photographed in a Langley, Wash., orchard. Miniature trees have become a popular way to grow fruit in backyards. Dwarf and semi-dwarf trees, like this Japanese plum tree are smaller than the standard varieties but faster to mature and produce. (DEAN FOSDICK VIA AP)
“Try to keep limbs from growing straight up and down,” Bush said. “Encourage branches to grow later- ally and keep fruiting lower to the ground.”
And don’t prune when rain is in the forecast, Bush said. “Blowing rain can introduce fungal and bacterial diseases into the wounds that eventually will spread from tree to tree.”
To determine which dwarf varieties work best in your area, Parker suggests reading up and checking with a
local Cooperative Extension o ce “to learn which root- stocks are adapted for the climate.”
Test the soil for pH and fertility, choose a sunny, well- drained site and avoid low areas that tend to be frost pockets. Eliminate perennial and noxious weeds before you plant. Apply fertilizer regularly.
“Growing apples is not easy,” Parker said. “You can’t grow fruit trees without spraying (chemicals). Spray ve to six times to control insects and diseases.”
SEPTEMBER 7, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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