If you only have a small garden, you still don't have to do without fresh, self-harvested fruit. However, it is not very advisable to want to keep a fast-growing variety small - the vigor of such a tree can go beyond all attempts, since the tree defends itself. Instead, you should rather rely on short-growing varieties from the outset.

The variety is decisive for the size

Be careful when choosing a variety

When purchasing fruit trees that actually remain small and are not forced to grow short due to permanent pruning or a limitation of the root area, the following points should be considered:

  • Is the variety rather small or weak-growing?
  • Is the variety genetically slow-growing?
  • Is the tree grafted on a slow-growing rootstock?
  • What is the maximum size that the tree can reach?

There is a big difference between short and weak stature: Shrimp are trees that only reach a certain, low height from the outset. Slow-growing varieties, on the other hand, can basically grow just as tall as a normal strong or medium-growing tree, but they take a very long time to do so. So these are not actual dwarf varieties, but very slow-growing shrubs.

Growth limitation through correct pruning

Many fruit trees can be kept small with appropriate pruning. However, all pruning measures will not lead to the goal if a strong-growing tree defends itself against it and trains masses of water shoots. In addition, such a tree can develop problems with wound healing, so that cut wounds do not heal and constantly resin. This is one of the reasons why you should plant grafted trees on weak-growing bases, which will not shoot up even without heavy pruning.

The pruning laws for fruit trees

If you want to keep a fruit tree small by cutting, the following rules will simplify this project for you:

  • A strong winter cut results in strong budding in spring.
  • A summer cut, on the other hand, weakens the growth of the tree.
  • The top bud of a pruned shoot sprout the strongest.
  • Shoots cut at the same height also sprout evenly (so-called juice scale).

Keep fruit trees small by limiting root space

Furthermore, the desired short stature can be achieved by limiting the root space, for example by planting the fruit tree in a bucket. Because the above-ground plant mass is in a certain ratio to the root mass, growth is significantly slowed down by this measure. However, you should not keep fruit trees on strongly growing bases in a small bucket permanently, because the strength of the roots could explode the planter.

tips

Instead of struggling to keep a fruit tree small, you can also cultivate one of the numerous columnar fruit varieties. These fit in the small garden as well as permanently in a planter.

Category:

Trees