Fruit trees add another dimension to any garden.  They provide visual interest, shade and, of course, fruit.  But where to start?

As always, check out your soil first.  Is your soil sandy or clay?  Wet or dry?  Planting the wrong type of tree for your conditions will result in stunted growth and poor fruiting, and ultimately frustration with the whole thing.   Checking with your local garden centre is usually the best way to find out what grows well in your particular conditions.

You will also need to consider the area you have available for your trees.  You have the choice of dwarf, semi-dwarf or standard trees and while there are not obvious differences in the first few years, your standard tree will eventually spread out to a diameter of around 20 feet, compared to 8 or so feet for a dwarf tree.

It's also worth remembering that there is little difference in the fruit from a dwarf or standard tree so the main deciding factors are size, accessibility (it's easier to prune a dwarf tree, for example) and other requirements from your tree, such as shade.

Most fruit trees will start to bear fruit after 3-5 years so ask the age of the tree when you buy it.  If you're impatient like me, then you don't want to wait another 3 years after planting before your tree begins to produce.   Make sure you ask about the root stock used for the tree as this can also affect the tree's disease resistance.  You want a local root stock that is well suited to your conditions.

Finally, remember to prune your tree – not only for shape, but also to encourage vigorous growth.  You can start pruning from the season you plant – no need to wait until the tree starts fruiting, and it's a good idea to have a look at your tree in summer when its foliage is full, to decide what branches are crowding, and which support less vigorous growth, for example.  Mark them in some way – I tend to use a piece of red cotton – so you remember which branch is which when pruning time comes around!