fruit trees

[lou]

We have planted plum, pear and apple tree in my garden, just starting to get some green buds of life on them. However i think my hubby planted them to close to a fence. Will this restrict the growth or anything, as you can tell we are complete novices to growing things, but not doing to bad with veg i planted months back. Can't belive i have grown things from seeds that we can eat!

[Citrine]

It might restrict them, but you'll find they will grow in the other direction.

Of course, you could make them into cordon

[lou]

But it won't effect the amount of fruit they produce?

[Citrine]

hmm, not too sure on that one. Lou.

[wendy]

both of my plums trees are close, one to a fence one next to a shed.
The boughs are bending with the amount of fruit on them. But they are well established trees.
Wendy

[manda]

Spoke to my hubby about this (he's an arborist). Said there are lots of factors:

How close to the fence are they, how high is the fence?

Apparently they should be a metre away from the fence at full growth. What problems could occur while they were growing if the fence got in the way I didn't ask.

Fence will affect the amount of fruit you get as branches near fence will not have as much fruit. You could apparently train them but you would need to read up on that (OH suggested going to the library and getting some books out on training fruit trees if you decide to do that...but from the look on his face I would ask you this..............could you move them out more?

OR

Could you live with trees that are a bit stunted by a fence but have plenty fruit at the front?

[lou]

Thanks everyone, from what you said, i think we will have to move them they are quite close to fence Thank you to your hubby also Manda!

So next question...if we move them will they die? They are young and only planted them at the begining of june, my flipping hubby, i knew they were to close but he didn't seem to think it would be a problem. I now have you lot as back up!

[Citrine]

They havent had time to establish too much, so shoudl be easy to re-plant. Just make sure they get loads of water.

[Bollybarb]

If you move them dig a large hole, lots of compost and place a pipe in th bottom of the hole place tree on top then cover with soil leaving the pipe sticking out of the hole. This will make watering easier and less wasteful as the water will go straight to the roots and encorage the roots to travel downwards, rather than lots of surface roots.

Hope this makes sence if not pm me

[manda]

Hi Lou
Hubby says wait till November...they are better transplanted when they are dormant.

[lou]

Thank you xx