Fruit trees? I say “Yes please!” But some folks plant them and then find themselves regretting the decision. To help you avoid buyers remorse about your fruit trees, I have compiled five things to consider before you go to the effort of planting and maintaining a fruit tree.

1. Time

Fruit trees, and fruit shrubs as well, will take time to mature and bear fruit.  During that time they will need care. Care for several years before the first harvest. This takes patience. One must wait until the plant is well enough established in it’s new home to start putting on mature growth. And then wait some more until the tree is mature enough to bear fruit.

I could go on a rant about modern society and instant gratification, but indeed it is not anything new to human nature. Or, after a bit of a ponder, maybe even animal nature, remembering whiskers and kitty breath in my face at 4:30 am, and then the patting paw – because someone wanted breakfast right now! We all want what we want when we want it. Part of growing up and maturing as a human is learning patience. Not something to teach a cat.

Time – Why Not Buy a Mature Fruit Tree?

Are there large fruit trees available. Sure, anything is out there for a price, but I don’t advise it.

First are the roots. Large fruit trees will be root bound in a pot for too long and have developed permanent root problems. Alternatively, they are balled and burlapped. Ball and burlap trees have been harvested from a field and the roots have been cut in-order to make the tree a manageable size to ship, and plant. Unless the trees were properly root pruned a year before being balled and burlapped, they will take a long time to grow enough roots to re-establish and start growing again. More often than not, a smaller tree will grow much faster and soon be larger than one that had it’s roots severed in the field.

Second is about climate and microclimate. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred – fruit trees are grown in a different climate. Many are grown in California (not so hot) or the Pacific Northwest (much higher humidity). Your new tree will have extreme difficulty adjusting to it’s new environment. Smaller trees simply adjust faster.

2. Fruit Tree Care

I remind people that gardeners do kill plants, but when it comes to the time and effort to have a fruit tree, It is not something we want to let die. This is where you can turn to me and let my years of observations help you succeed. Members of my paid Substack newsletter can take advantage of my remote consulting.

Care Part 1. Planting

Proper planting is critical. You need to be Goldilocks on this issue. The hole can’t be too deep or too shallow – it has to be just right. Soil has to be well draining, but not too well draining and not hold too much moisture. I could go on. More on planting trees. Sadly, some of those “nurseries” out there that offer free planting will send that tree you just bought to your home along with entirely unskilled labor. More on Proper Planting.

Care Part 2. Pruning

Any living being needs care. A new fruit tree that is planted in the right way and in the perfect site can grow very quickly. It will need proper pruning – especially in the first year to shape it for years to come. When and where to prune varies by species. It might not need much, but establishing a good structure when the tree is young is one of the most important things you can do to ensure success. Many gardeners procrastinate pruning young fruit trees because they don’t know where to start, or are afraid of doing more harm than good. Yes, YouTube can help – BUT! Please search by fruit tree species because an apple and an orange require entirely different pruning strategies.

Care Part 3. Fertilizer

Fertilizer can help your plants grow strong and healthy. Please don’t use a bloom fertilizer too early in your plants life. This would be bad (back to that pesky Time issue again.)

3. Pests

If you plant it, they will come. The world is full of hungry critters. Insects, birds, packrats, rabbits, javelina, deer, elk, fungi, even bacteria and viruses all love fruit trees. Unfortunately, if these organisms get a strong hold on your tree or the fruits before harvest time, you may become discouraged or frustrated – and you might even regret planting a fruit tree.

But know this. Plants can withstand a vast amount of damage and still produce ample fruit for a family. You don’t need to worry every time you see one bug. Or even one hundred bugs. Predators are hungry and need lots of food to eat. Let the numbers build a bit before you worry. (I am working on a class about this.)

I have learned that birds love the red fruit of pomegranate and peck hole just as the fruit ripens. Solution – the white rinded pomegranates. The birds just keep waiting and waiting for them to get ripe, but then I go out and harvest them! There are also green fruited jujube, or white fruited figs ….

4. Fruit Production

Too Little or No Fruit

Few things can be more frustrating than planting a fruit tree, pruning it, and caring for it – and then not even be rewarded for your efforts. It’s like working a job and not getting paid.

There are many reasons why your fruit tree might not be producing. Things like it didn’t get pollinated, or there was a freeze and all the tiny fruit dropped off, or there was a heat wave and everything dropped off. Also, some fruit trees are alternate bearing, meaning one great year is followed by a barren year. It is rarely your fault. And that can be frustrating as all get out.

Too Much Fruit – or at the Wrong Time – or Wrong Place.

It may sound weird but too much fruit can be an issue. I know those evergreen citrus trees are lovely by the pool, but be sure you can easily harvest the fruit so it doesn’t drop into the pool. More on Poolscaping.

There are only so many lemons I can use, and only so many ways to use lemons! I try to help on with ideas for lemon use on SavortheSouthwest, but really, the latest fertilizer I applied was just too good!

If you are a snowbird, or think about possibly becoming one, don’t have fruit trees that bear fruit in July when you won’t be here. For example, almonds come in varieties that ripen early (August) or late (October). Choose your varieties for planting with the future in mind.

Why Not Leave Excess Fruit?

If you just leave excess fruit on a tree, it can attract unwanted pests packrats and mice. It can also attract insects like wasps or fruit maggots. This would increase your pest pressure the following season. Please note that many towns and cities and communities across the Southwest do have non-profits that can help distribute the fruitful bounty.

5. Can You Eat It

This seems like a no-brainer – but it is something to consider. 

When it comes to citrus, I recommend not planting grapefruit.  As you age in place, you may not be be able to eat the fruit – due to drug interactions. Irritating to have lush fruit falling off the tree that you can’t use.

I planted mesquite and try to use mesquite flour and meal, but recently discovered that I am allergic to soy beans – and as it happens mesquite as well. 

Jujube.  I adore my jujube (if you can’t tell) but if you never have had any – try some before you plant the tree.  The flavor and texture are for everyone.

Figs.  I adore fresh figs.  My spouse does not.  But he likes them dried.  For us the solution is to grow a fig tree with fruit that dries well.

Think About It

I wrote this post to help you consider that having a fruit tree (or shrub) has some nuances to consider before you take the plunge. I do hope you will take the plunge, but make it an informed one!

Happy Birthday Trees!

Another reason I wrote this post is because people often plant trees for Tu B’Shevat (the 15th of Shevat). On the Jewish lunar calendar this is celebrated on Monday, 02 February 2026.

This is considered the “Birthday of the Trees,” and is also called the “New Year for Trees.” Why have a birthday or track the year for trees? Because religious farmers would allow a fruit tree to have a sabbath year every seven years, and not harvest the fruit of that tree for one entire year.

My Promise: 100 Percent Organic Content

You will NEVER get AI generated anything from me. Not even story ideas. All ideas and all words are from my own brain and my own fingers. I DO fact check. In fact, I now fact check at least three times – because “truth is the intersection of three lies.” I have found profound inaccuracies in AI. And since I block AI from reading my pages, they are not learning from my writing.

100 percent organic content in my social media as well. My Tiktok and YouTube videos are entirely generated by me. On the static media (Facebook) I may occasionally have an AI image off a free site – but never on purpose.

Thanks for Visiting!

Jacqueline

More about fruits in this book!

The latest printing is printed in the USA!  I am so delighted!

The Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Guide offers not just growing guides but some of the latest varieties – including ones specifically for raised bed and container growing.  Price is currently more than what you would pay on Amazon – but when you buy from me you get a signed copy!

From the review:

“In this updated 2nd edition of Southwest Fruit & Vegetable Gardening, you’ll find much-needed advice and practical tips on growing an edible garden, no matter which part of the southwestern US you call home.

Profits from the sale of this book go to the Arizona-based Horticulture Therapy non-profit Tierra del Sol Institute.

Legal
© Article copyright Jacqueline A. Soule. All rights reserved. You must ask permission to republish an entire blog post or article. Okay to use a short excerpt but you must give proper credit. You must include a link to the original post on our site. No stealing photos.