I think many of us enjoy the idea of fruit trees in the garden. And of course, apple trees are a common sight. And while I’m not sure ‘scrumping’ is still a thing you can’t drive through too many villages without someone leaving bags of apples or trees plucked from their garden by the roadside for in return for a pound coin or two.

Being able to grow your own fruit has so many advantages; you’ll save money on buying fruit, it allows you to expand your gardening skills and the trees really brighten up your garden. But there is a perception that fruit trees take up a huge amount of space. And yes, they certainly can do so.

But most of us will be able to enjoy planting, growing and nurturing fruit trees even if we only have a small space available. A single self-fertile cherry tree can bear plenty of fruit and look fantastic. But why not have multiple trees and plant your own orchard?

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I guess most people would say you would need a massive garden for a full-sized orchard but there’s no reason you can’t have a mini orchard in your garden or even on your patio.

Having an orchard in a small garden is easy (sort of)

By definition, an orchard is an ‘intentional plantation of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production’ So by this definition, we can see that it doesn't necessarily have to be a huge plot of land, just a space dedicated to your fruit trees. That can be a patio, a portion of your lawn, or anywhere else in your small garden.

You might plant a few choice trees in containers, or you could turn your whole lawn into a mini orchard with rows of trees planted in the ground. What’s more, there’s so much choice when it comes to the type of trees you plant.

Growing fruit trees in containers

If you have a very small space, it’s going to make sense to plant your fruit trees in containers which you can then place on a patio or dedicated area.

One of the first things you will need to keep in mind is that different trees require different conditions so you’ll want to opt for trees that can be comfortably kept in your garden.

For example, a lot of fruit trees like to be in full sun so make sure to find a place in the garden that receives a lot of this.

Moreover, you will need to ensure an excellent watering schedule when keeping fruit trees in containers. You should never let the soil in the pot dry out completely; you’ll want to give the fruit tree a good watering and then allow the soil to dry on the surface before watering again.

Too much water can also be problematic as the roots will sit in the moisture and be prone to root rot and fungal diseases.

Depending on the type of trees you have chosen, you will need to provide suitable over winter care. Some hardier species like plum or apple trees can generally be left out over winter without any issues.

However, things like apricot or peach trees need a little more TLC so you will need to cover them once autumn properly sets in.

When you initially pot your fruit trees, they won’t be full-size so you may need to repot them each year until they are fully grown. Once they are in their final pot, be sure to regularly prune them to keep them under control.

Tips on choosing fruit trees

When shopping for fruit trees for an orchard in a small garden, be sure to choose those that are labelled as suitable for patio growing or grown on dwarf stock. If you don’t then you’ll end up with a full-sized tree that cannot be contained in a pot and will be almost impossible to care for.

As we mentioned earlier, you’ll need to make sure that you have a suitable spot for your trees. If the conditions in your garden aren’t optimal, find trees that will thrive in the existing conditions.

There are several types of fruit tree that you can grow in containers in the UK. Let’s explore some of the most common.

● Cherry trees are great if you want something low maintenance. They only need to be pruned once a year in July and you can get away with watering them once a week. Sylvia varieties are self-fertile so you’ll get an excellent crop without the need for pollinator visits or additional trees.

● Pear trees are perfect for growing in pots but make sure to choose the quince C variety that is specifically designed for container growing. You will need to make sure you use a pot with lots of drainage holes and give it a good pruning in the summer.

● There are lots of types of apple tree that can be grown in containers but bare root trees are usually best. Make sure to pot these right away and use plenty of mulch.

● Peach trees are suitable if you’re happy to perform a little more maintenance as you’ll need to bring them in or cover them for winter. What’s more, you’ll need to check the soil every day and water as necessary as they cannot dry out. It’s also important to keep in mind that there needs to be another tree within a mile for pollination.

● And of course, don’t forget that all-time favourite, the Victoria Plum. You’ll get great results and a bountiful crop from this most hardy and easy to grow of fruit trees.

Plant your small garden orchard today

You don’t need acres of land to have an orchard on your back door step. It’s perfectly possible to grow a mini orchard in containers on your patio. Just be sure to choose the right fruit trees and select trees that you are easily able to take care of.

Check out our huge range of fruit trees that you can plant to make an orchard in a small garden.