SELECTING TREES WITH EDIBLE AUTUMN FRUITS

NIGEL COULTAS, MD of specialist tree nursery, Ornamental Trees, ornamentaltrees.co.uk. Which trees would you recommend for small gardens? Patio fruit trees are great for small spaces. They include apples, such as ‘Discovery’, and the pear ‘Beurré Hardy’, which produce fruit in autumn. Family fruit trees are also popular. These have up to three different varieties grafted on one small tree, so you can enjoy eating apples alongside cookers, for example.

What would you suggest planting under fruit trees? Fruit trees don’t like much competition for light, water or nutrients, so keep underplanting to a minimum. Lavender works well in sunny areas, or try Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis) or hostas in shade and plant about a metre away from the trunk. Spring bulbs can also be planted in autumn.

What are your top care tips for fruit trees? Lack of water is the biggest problem, especially in the first two or three years after planting. Give them a large can of water once a week from spring to autumn, and keep the soil weed-free. Add Empathy After Plant Tree & Shrub (available from garden centres) around the trees each spring and remove some of the smaller fruits in early summer.