How to Plant Multiple Fruit Trees in a Small Space – High Density Back Yard Orchard Culture
How to Plant Multiple Fruit Trees in a Small Space – High Density Back Yard Orchard Culture
Inspired to make the use of our suburban yard space, this video looks at how to plant multiple trees in the space normally occupied by a single fruit tree. Sometimes referred to as “Backyard Orchard Culture” or “High Density Planting”, this makes it possible for a suburban or even urban grower to enjoy a variety of fruit trees where they wouldn’t otherwise be able to. The main takeaways include managing tree height through use of a low Nitrogen fertilizer, and by pruning using quality bypass shears like those linked below.
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Very inspiring. Thanks!
Question1: I live in Minnesota. I have planted 2 fruit trees for my zone (4B) yesterday Aug 24 – (a contender peach and a north star cherry) , and I would like to keep them about 5 1/2 feet tall forever (right now they are about 5 feet tall out from the nursery). I am about to make that big cut of the main central trunk at about knee high as you described – leaving a few buds / branches under which hopefully will start a "cup" shape for the trees. I am afraid to make the cut and weaken the trees enough that they won’t make it through winter here – should I be worried? is that "big" cut to make the trees small hard on the tree’s health and root system?
Question2: the main central branch is about 3/4 of an inch in diameter.Is cutting with a reciprocating saw ok to make a clean cut? should a "tree pruning sealer" applied on the cut?
Maybe you or one of your viewers can answer my questions.
Thank you all!
Wow, I had never considered high density fruit trees! Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Thanks for the informative video. My question is are the fruits size proportionate to the tree size or do you can big fruits from those small trees?
How close are the trees planted to each other at the 4-minute mark?
Out side my backyard have 3 big tree when I grow vegetable on raised bed big weed join in won’t do any good even with cloth in
My jujube ga866 grow on ground 1 year don’t do any good maybe big weed can I dig tree up this spring or wait winter
I just buy 2 jujube sugarcan honey jar if I grow in container can I cut to knee high tree 7,8 feet tall branch top only ,can I cut it even bottom tree don’t have any branch please advice still confuse grow container or in ground please let me know , can I grow jujube closed to house thank you very much
Four words…YOU ARE A BOSS!
You mention a fertilizer low on N here, any suggestions for what you use and how often/times of year?
Tree trimming for midgets
Thanks for a very informative video! How far apart are the trees spaced?
Great video! Will this work on a pear or plum tree that has been grafted with a few varieties? Could cutting the tree possibly remove one or two of the different varieties?
I just transplanted a 5 gallon (about 4 ft i think at this point) sweet cherry and it looks like the nursery already pruned into a open center. I’m happy with the shape but I think that it probably needs to be pruned further to get the height down. Should I leave it be or am I able to bring it down some? I’ve also got an Asian pear that i transplanted in the spring and it’s more of a central leader. Id like that to be a modified central. It’s got a lot of great 360 degree branching, should I have any issues pruning the central branch now? Thank you!
So did it work
Funny, I am slowly building the front to have a higher density. During all our lockdowns here in Melbourne we turned the front lawn into an orchard and now into a food forest setup. We are about to do a 2 or 3 close planting of apples (for some reason my 6-year-old daughter wants a golden apple lol I didn’t plant one). In 60 sq metres trying to balance, trees, bushes, ground and annuals like pumpkins and peas has been a challenge lol. I have 7 trees at the moment, 5 multi grafts and wanting another 7 more lol
I saw it few years back. I think good to try.
Please do updates
I haven’t got your beautiful climate. I live in N Ireland and just bought 3 cherry. And 3 apple trees. Could I plant them like you did in an allotment?
Great tips
I have alot in a small yard, what do you use to fertilize mine growing slow 3 yrs in..
This is awesome
So even fruit trees that are not dwarf can be pruned short?
I have a some peach trees I want to do this with. Have you ever incorporated the Elen White method with high density planting? If so, could you refer me to your video or a link you may know of with these two methods combined? Thank you and I do enjoy your channel.
On new trees instead of cutting off the top and throwing it away why couldn’t you air layer that piece giving you a free second tree ????????
Thank you
Thank you so much great video😃 I really learned a lot👍🏽
If I wanted to plant with my fruit trees some Eastern Redbud and Honey locust, would I be able to dwarf them as well?
I have a mulberry tree to plant, I’m new to all of this. If I make the cut in the middle of the tree does that mean the that the tree will only stay at one certain height forever ? Thank you
Thanks for the great video… does this method work with avocados? My wife has wanted to plant them for years, but we believed they would outgrow our limited space. Thanks!
Question-I have two very mature pear trees, a Bartlett and Bosc, that I want to prune to about 5 feet tall. They’re about thirty feet tall now. Is this advisable and will it kill the trees? There is a greenish blue color on the bark and not sure if this is a disease.
I just put in my 2nd apple tree about 6ft away from my first apple tree. I’ll keep you posted.
i heard that non dwarfed variety root stocks are much better. I heard that fertilizing new plants can burn the roots, to wait a while.
When is the best time to prune? I live in zone 8b
That’s awesome! Very nice and helpful. Do you have any comments about deer pressure or other things a home gardener/orchardist would want to think about in zone 7? Thanks!
What is the white stuff on the lower side of the stem of the treesI am trying to start planting trees?
@darshan lionel
How close can you plant apples peaches or plums to a house if you keep it no taller than 9 feet?
Have been in ground 6yrs? Should have lots of fruit already!
Thanks! I like this idea! I have planted most of my apple and pear trees as espalier (a foot apart from compound walls), but I can only do so against the walls that receive direct sunlight. This arrangement will allow me to plant even more fruit trees!
Thank you. Exactly what I need! I’m inspired to try this out
You don’t need any pruning even if you plant your trees very close together. Say if you plant 3 trees very close together, they will eventually grow like a single tree. They will automatically optimize the shape and spacing of their branches and leaves and grow like 1 tree. This way you can enjoy a lot more fruits without doing the extra work of pruning every single year. BTW, if you prune a tree once, you will have to prune it every year or else its branches will grow in chaotic patterns crossing each other. Not a good idea.
Do you get a fair apple harvest? I didn’t know you need two apple trees to cross pollinate.
Also, that you for saying to go with a low nitrogen fertilizer, to keep the explosive foliage growth. I have a small back yard and need to add an apple tree and thanks to this video, I feel confident about keeping it low and close.
1 million thanks for posting this video.
Ah yes! A miyawaki orchard! <3 I’ll be doing this in a very small plot of land.
very informative and generous video about fruit trees in small space. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
For some reason you remind me of Doug Demouro
Yup. Been doing this for years and always have best yard. What I always tell people is—does the forest have trees spaced out? The jungle?
I have a honey crisp apple tree to plant – do I prune it right after planting or wait?
Where r u located?
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Thanks for the video. So if cut the top of the tree, they won’t grow too tall? I got trees from local nursery, the top already been cut, but I prefer it grow taller, is that impossible to grow taller? Thanks
Genius. Thank you
I’m planning to start mine this year, I’m in a much cooler climate (Zone 3) and 99% of the people I tell I’m doing this think I’m crazy and it won’t work, and that what works in California won’t work here.
I’ll be using all hardy varieties and rootstocks, zone 2/3 stuff – apples, pears, plums, cherries, even a Hardy apricot.
You think the same principles applied will work for me in Zone 3?