| March 6, 2023

From the Forester: Considering Food Trees

Article by Sam Waggener, City of Lone Tree Forester

With spring right around the corner, now is a great time to start thinking about what is growing in your own backyard or what kind of vegetation you would like to add during the warmer months. Gardening can mean different things to many people. It can be a hobby, a way to decompress at the end of the day, or possibly a way to learn something new.

One idea you might want to consider would be the addition of fruit trees to your yard. Colorado has a great climate to grow fruit trees. Along the front range, fruit trees such as apples, peaches, plums, grapes, and pears are some types of trees that do well.

Plans for adding fruit trees to your yard should be well thought out and you should be ready for a long-term commitment. Growing a fruit tree is no easy task, but once established, that tree will provide a wealth of rewards and be worth the effort for years to come. Here are a handful of steps to get you on the right track.

Location, location, location

Choosing a location for your fruit tree is paramount. Each species of tree requires something a little different. Considerations such as water, sun exposure, the amount of space to grow and fill the space, location in relation to other species of trees/plants and other fruiting trees will be items you’ll want to explore when choosing your tree. Another key point to look at for location is the soil, as each species has its own requirements there as well. I suggest conducting a soil test before selecting and planting a tree.

Right tree, right place

This comes into play when planting any tree or plant. The first thing you’ll want to do is match the tree to the correct hardiness zone. We are at a hardiness zone of 5A in Lone Tree. You’ll want to make sure you have a pollinator species of plant/flower within 100 feet of a fruit tree to help the tree grow and bear fruit. Another helpful hint is to add boarders of shrubs and flowers that bloom early and are known to attract bees, which will also help to add to the region’s tree diversity.

Stick the landing

You need to make sure you plant your tree correctly! Poor planting is the main reason trees do not survive. Cut and remove all twine, synthetic or natural, remove all wire baskets burlap from the root ball, and make sure to prune or straighten all encircling roots. Lastly trees that are planted too low can cause root rot, girding roots, and eventually lead to suffocation/death of your poor new tree.

Caring for your tree

Next up is making sure you’re giving your tree everything it needs to grow up healthy and right. You’ll want to make sure you:

  • Water young trees between rain events and older trees in prolonged periods of drought
  • Remove weeds at the base of the tree so they do not take away key nutrients your tree needs
  • Mulch and refresh around the tree as needed
  • Prune while in dormancy
  • Check for pests and diseases

Plan your harvests

This is the best time because you get to reap the fruits of your labor! Depending on what is being grown, there are many uses for fruit trees- jams, canning, ciders, pies, wines, syrups, oils, wood for smoking meats, and more. Get creative! There is no shortage to the options at your disposal when it comes to enjoying your food trees.

What are you waiting for?

If this article has you antsy to add a fruit tree to your luscious garden, I would encourage you to do a bit of homework and pick a tree that interests you and one you’ll feel confident in caring for. Start small and one day there might be an orchard in your own backyard!

To get started, take a look at a few options here. May your entry into the world of food trees be fruitful!

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