- Small pear trees for home gardens
- Advantages of short-growing pear trees
- Fast and easier harvest
- Disadvantages of a small tree
- tips and tricks
Over time, pear trees can reach huge dimensions of up to 20 meters in height with correspondingly spreading crowns. Such trees are too big for the small home garden. Short strains have many advantages but also a few disadvantages.
Small pear trees for home gardens
Almost all pear varieties are available as standard, half-stem or small trees. The different growth forms are available in the tree nursery or from the gardener.
If you want to plant a small pear tree in your home garden, you have the choice between the growth forms:
- pear bushes
- espalier pear trees
- columnar pear trees
An alternative is to prune a tree that you have propagated yourself so that it remains short in stature. You also need to limit the root system.
Advantages of short-growing pear trees
The small trees only take up little space, especially if you plant them as trellis fruit on the house wall or as a columnar tree in a bucket.
Several pear trees can be maintained in the garden. This ensures that the trees pollinate each other and produce a rich harvest.
If you want to transplant your pear tree, it is much easier with a small tree. Agricultural equipment must be used for large trees. A spade is enough for small trees.
Fast and easier harvest
The smaller the pear tree, the sooner it bears fruit. With high-stem pears, it takes several years for the first fruits to ripen.
Small trees can be harvested without a ladder. You can pick the pears without any tools.
Disadvantages of a small tree
While tall pear trees can live up to 200 years and more, the lifespan of a short tree is limited. In the best-case scenario, it will grow in the garden for a few decades.
In the case of disease, for example fire rust or tree canker, you have to fell the whole tree. Large trees can be saved by cutting out diseased areas. This is not possible with small specimens.
tips and tricks
Since you have enough space for several specimens with small pear trees, you can grow summer, autumn and winter pears. You can always harvest fresh pears in your own garden from summer to winter.