How to Plant Dwarf Fruit Trees for Cross-Pollination
Like their full-size relatives, dwarf fruit trees such as apple, pear, sweet cherry and plum do not self-pollinate. Planting to ensure cross-pollination and the production of fruit requires planning and proper site preparation. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 2 dwarf fruit trees of the same species but different variety
- Shovel
- Hand pick or pitchfork
- Pruning shears
- Compost
Instructions
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Identify a location for the trees after the last frost in the spring. Space dwarf fruit trees 12 to 15 feet apart to ensure cross-pollination. Choose a sunny, well-drained site with an 8-foot perimeter.
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Dig a hole about 2 feet wide and 1 foot deep. Roughen the sides of the hole with a hand pick or pitchfork.
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Mound the bottom so when the tree is inserted into the hole, the root ball is exposed by about 1/2 inch and the grafting line (a diagonal scar) is 1 to 3 inches above the soil line.
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Remove the dwarf fruit tree from its container. To avoid stressing the tree, have someone hold the trunk upright while you work the container off the root ball. If you are alone, lay the tree on its side, taking care not to break any branches, and gently release the root ball. Remove nursery stakes if they remain attached.
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Work any circling roots free by untangling them or cutting them with pruning shears. Do not cut too deeply--you may damage the root ball.
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Place the tree in the hole and spread the roots in all directions over the mound in the center. Backfill with soil, making sure the tree is vertical, and press down the soil with your foot between shovelfuls. You want make the soil firm but not compacted.
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Water the tree. Create a berm about 3 feet in diameter around the trunk to ensure the water leaches through the earth to the root ball.
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Tips & Warnings
Monitor the local honeybee population. To produce fruit, dwarf fruit trees require honeybees to provide cross-pollination. According to B. Rosie Lerner, the Extension consumer horticulturist at Purdue University, "Pollen is too heavy and sticky for wind to carry it, so bees must do the job."
Watch for predators such as deer, which eat the bark of young trees. Do not use insecticide. You will kill the honeybees necessary to cross-pollinate your trees.
