Trees left unpruned are more susceptible to pests and diseases and produce less fruit. Perhaps the most mysterious and asked-about part of owning a fruit tree is when and how to prune it. To help guide you, whether you are experienced or a beginner, Renquist offers these tips: Give dwarf trees at least 5 feet of space between other trees to maintain some vigor and health. If you have a small space for a tree, purchase a tree on dwarf rootstock, which takes up less space and stays short enough to make picking fruit easier.

“You don’t have to be constantly spraying for something.” “If you start from that point, you’ve got a much better chance of having a low-input orchard,” said Steve Renquist, retired Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturist. Best to buy disease-resistant varieties to avoid the pest and disease problems that plague fruit trees. Nurseries have them in stock and can help you make decisions. Whether you have one or several, or plan to plant your first fruit tree, it’s time to give them the attention needed to keep them healthy and bearing fruit. More and more homeowners are adding fruit trees to their landscape and now’s the time to buy, plant, prune and spray.

– It’s the time of year when fruit trees are on the minds of beginning and experienced backyard enthusiasts.

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