Most fruit trees take two or three years to bear fruit, so be patient. To choose a tree that is right for your garden, keep several factors in mind: the room you have available, the kind of soil you are going to plant in and the weather conditions. Don't forget you own personal taste, either.

The best spot
Fruit trees cannot be planted in just any old kind of soil. The soil must drain web. If it is heavy, improve it by adding organic material and river sand.

As a general rule, fruit trees require open spaces that are sunny and free of cold wind. Apricot, cherry, peach, pear, apple and plum trees prefer to face south.

Areas that freeze over in winter limit the kind of trees you can plant. Depending on the size of the garden, you have to find a spot that is well situated and does not prevent you from taking full advantage of the soil.

When you go to buy a tree at a garden supply store, examine it carefully. If you buy it before the blossoms and fruit come out, make sure the roots do not stick out of the drainage holes in the pot. Make sure the graft is in good condition, in other words, that the cross of the tree is not too low and has balanced branches. This is a sign the tree is well formed. Observe the trunk as well. It should not have wounds, perforations or remains of rubbery-looking liquid. This can be a symptom of a serious bacterial disease that is hard to get rid of. If you buy the tree with leaves, check both sides of them for symptoms of disease or pests.

How to plant it
Once you have the tree and a spot for it, it is time to plant it. You must dig a hole twice as deep as the length of the root ball. To check if the soil is appropriate for the tree, fill the hole with water and wait 36 hours. If in that time the water has not disappeared completely, that soil is not right for the tree and you must look for another spot that drains better. If you still have that problem throughout the garden, dig a hole that is much wider and deeper, add gravel to the bottom and a bit of substrate mixed with river sand.

To plant the tree, remove it from the container taking care not to harm the roots. Place it in the hole and make sure it stands up straight. When you place it in the ground, it should never be deeper than the height of the container it came in. If the tree runs the risk of moving or being knocked over by the wind, place a rod in the hole before filling it in. Once this is done, add soil and pack it in around the root ball until the hole is filled completely. Then water the tree.

Don't use fertilizer for three months. It is best for the tree to set out and expand its roots first.

General care
Watering is the main factor that kills fruit trees in their first year of life. Too much water can have grave consequences and prevent roots from breathing, although a lack of water can also be deadly for the tree.

Fertilizing is done in early spring with organic fertiliser comprising a mix of vegetable substrate and earthworm humus.

Fruit trees are vulnerable to many pests and diseases, especially apple, peach and plum trees. Fruit trees need constant surveillance to be in perfect condition. If you see deformed leaves, odd spots, traces of dust, ants climbing up the trunk and in general, a sluggish look to the tree, consult your local expert to see what is the best way to proceed.

The main goals of pruning are to give the tree strength and shape so it yields a good harvest. Each kind of fruit tree has a different way of blooming and this will determine what is the best way to prune. Thus, peach and apricot trees need to be pruned a lot, while and apple and pear trees require less pruning.