Most fruit trees like dwarf fruit trees can be pruned to stay small, with branches at a low height to pick fruit.
Dwarf fruit trees can be bought at a local nursery on a stock that will grow to the following sizes: Dwarf, Semi-Dwarf, and Standard.
Recently, I had bought an apple tree dwarf rootstock and planted it deeper than suggested and the apple tree grew to standard size;
The suggestion from a nursery worker stayed that a standard tree can also be pruned to a “dwarf” size. It will just have a thicker trunk. Shade areas in the yard also impact a tree’s size and will keep it smaller.
Dwart fruit Trees can be distinguished based on identical factors like their support, height, and rootstock.
The dwarf fruit trees and the miniature fruit trees are both relatively smaller in size. However, they have different rootstocks’. Their stump or part of roots are used for grafting or cutting another plant.
This is done in order to maintain their significant sizes, also varying with the fruit trees’ height and need of support.
A regular dwarf fruit tree normally grows to the height of (8 -10 feet) however, a miniature fruit tree remains between (6 – 8 feet).
As we all know dwarf fruit trees as a whole usually produce regular-sized bearing fruits.
However, potted dwarf fruits trees on the other hand in cold regions requires little attention, unlike zones that have warmer climates.
The ideal way to control your tree size is branch pruning for dwarfs in the pots and direct soil.
Popular Dwarf Fruit Trees To Grow In The Yard
Here is a shortlist of seven 7 popular dwarf Fruit Trees to grow in the backyard or with limited space is as follows:
Related: 10 Fruit Trees That Take The Longest To Grow
1) DWARF CHERRY TREE
Dwarf Cherry trees will grow easily in the pots and produce quite a number of quality fruit if care is done properly.
These types of fruit trees are sometimes unable to bear fruit if 2 years old branches are not there.
However, it is also important to know all the varieties cannot thrive well in pots.
Dwarf cherry trees need below 45 degrees F and are preferably grown in sandy loam soil. Sweet dwarf cherry trees and the large ones can give about 10-15 quarts of fruit each year.
Also, well-drained soil with enough sunlight could be a considerable source for fruit production.
They should be spaced on each dwarfed rootstock about 5-10 feet apart. The potting size should be large for such trees at least 18 inches wide.
2) DWARF APPLE TREE
Did you know that the dwarf apple tree is a tough tree type that can bare freezing temperatures of up to (45 degrees) or less?
Yes, these types of apple trees grow in assorted conditions in small spaces and can take around three years.
Most of the time these types of apple trees thrive best in drier soil and a drier/warmer climate. With the right care, you will receive quality apples all year round so if there is a drenched climate in your zone then these types of apple trees will need constant drainage.
Nonetheless, smaller fruit trees can such as dwarf apple trees estimate less production of apples when the trees are typically about 3-4 feet.
These size trees may give an average of 45 – 50 apples in variety. The Popular varieties are known as Fuji and Red delicious and of course, the common rootstocks are known as Malling or the Cornell-Geneva.
Growing them in pots is helpful in dwarfing the plants, pot size should be at least 16-18 inches or more.
3) DWARF AVOCADO TREE
This type of Avocado dwarf fruit tree is ideal for backyards because it bears fruit throughout the year. However, it is not able to deal with temperatures below freezing.
If sunshine is moderate then it can take below 30 degrees F indoors, varying to harvest in summer or winter season but it all depends upon tree type.
A regular Avocado growing fruit tree can reach 10 – 12 feet tall producing fruits in 1-3 years. Not to mention that Avocado trees demand sandy loam, able to withstand alkaline soil too.
However, the dwarf varieties can grow around 3 – 4 feet tall and enjoys full to moderate sun temperature and for the cold season, it can handle temperatures around 28 degrees F. Larger pots are more likely to produce quality ones of about 20+ gallon.
4) DWARF PEAR TREE
Did you know there are you had dwarf pear trees? Yes, pears dwarf are considered as the largest of such varieties pruning in early spring or winter.
This type of small dwarf tree does well in slightly rich acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 or 6.5 along with lots of sunlight.
These fruit trees are spaced approximately 8 feet apart and semi-dwarf at 13 feet apart. Dwarf Pear fruit trees are winter favorable trees too. can withstand cool temperatures of about -25 degrees F.
The container size for these types of trees should be deep and with a minimum of 24inches. Popular rootstocks for dwarf pear trees include EMH, Quince A, and Quince C.
5) DWARF APRICOT TREE
Apricot dwarf varieties of these types can produce many fruits when grown in a container. You start to see blooms during the early spring season.
Apricots trees are strong trees that can cope with winter temperatures of about 20 degrees F. These small fruit trees can be planted any time during the year except when it is extremely hot.
Even though need a lot of warmth during the summer, a 2-3-year-old dwarf tree is good to be bought at buying time.
There are also several colors of such trees that could be easily spotted in yards such as white in the blossoms, bronze foliage, and yellow in the fall.
Apricot is one of the stone fruit trees like peach, cherry, and nectarine. Each pear of this variety must be spaced 20 feet apart in general and is usually grown 5 – 10 feet in height.
6) DWARF ORANGE TREE
Planting fruit trees like these citrus categories such as lemons, and mandarins are preferably grown in wide pots rather than deep pots as it has a shallow root system.
The dwarf orange tree is mostly a potted fruit tree to harvest, it is also ideal for indoor planting conditions.
However, sunlight makes it healthy for the tree to bloom. These small fruit trees grow no more than (3 – 4 feet tall) while regular varieties can grow (8 – 12 feet), and can self-pollinating with rich soil.
The ideal temperature for dwarf orange trees is (65 – 45 degrees F) at day and 50 – 55 degrees F at night. A common rootstock could be Trifoliate. Also, a potting size allowing free drainage with 6 – 9 inches diameter is suitable for these types of trees.
7) DWARF PLUM TREE
This variety of dwarf plum is grafted not affecting the fruit size produced. The most favorable way to grow this type of dwarf tree is in a container of about 12 inches in diameter is appropriate.
This type of dwarf tree needs either less or no pruning and spacing should be about 15 – 20 feet apart. If pruning is required, then only the months of March and September are favorable pruning times.
Sunlight is good for fruiting production along with well-drained soil. This tree starts production within 3 years at 2m in height and width and is regularly used to make jams.
The common dwarf rootstocks include Pixy or St Julien A. The soil conditions should be loamy to get the best out of this type of dwarf tree.
So, there you have it, 7 of the most popular dwarf trees to grow in the yard or in a container.
