Large fruit trees do not belong in small gardens or even in a pot on the balcony. Their sprawling crowns would shade a large part of the garden and their spreading roots would massively limit garden use. Instead, you should prefer varieties that remain small and have short-stemmed growth forms.
Which fruit trees are suitable for small gardens?
For small gardens or containers, fruit trees that are grafted onto weakly growing rootstocks and have small growth forms such as half-trunks, bushes, spindle bushes or columns are suitable. Suitable varieties include August apple, pineapple reinette and black noble apple.
Refine fruit trees on weak-growing rootstocks
So that fruit trees are grown as pure varieties and fruit as quickly as possible, they are usually grown on special rootstock, i.e. H. the rootstock of another species or variety. Woody plants that should remain small are grafted onto special rootstocks called M9 or M27. These were developed specifically for apples at the East Malling Research Station in England. M9 reaches heights of up to 2.50 meters, the weaker one remains significantly smaller. Pears that remain small, on the other hand, are grafted onto type A or C quinces.
Growth forms suitable for small gardens
But not only the refinement, but also the growth habit has a major influence on the space required by a fruit tree. Especially for small gardens, you should prefer a bush or a short-stemmed tree.
Half trunk
A half trunk has a height of around 1.20 meters, to which you of course have to add the crown. This growth habit is therefore also suitable for small gardens, as long as it is not a strong-growing noble variety. The sprawling 'Gravensteiner', the 'Schöner von Bath', which forms a huge crown, or the very vigorous 'Boskoop' are not suitable, while the 'Augustapfel' is not suitable. the 'pineapple reinette' or the 'black apple' are more suitable because of their naturally weaker growth.
Bush
A fruit tree bush should not be confused with a classic berry tree, where several shoots usually grow from the ground. Instead, it is a small tree with a trunk height between 40 and 80 centimeters.
Spindle bush
Unlike other growth forms, spindle bushes have no leading branches. Instead, they are simply made up of the trunk and the fruit branches that extend from it. They are generally weak and tend to stay small.
Column
This is a genetically determined growth habit in which almost no side shoots are formed and the fruits grow on the trunk. Column or stick trees are perfect for both small gardens and containers.
Tip
A trellis is also often suitable for a small garden or for keeping in a container, although such trees are often not weak-growing. But trained as wall espaliers, they not only add greenery to bare house walls, but also take up very little space.
