What Are The Best Fruit Trees To Grow In A Front Yard?

If you have already figured out how to map and space your veggie garden, you may be wondering where you can fit in a few fruit trees. For those with limited backyard space, the good news is there are plenty of fruit trees that can make great additions to your front yard. Peg Aloi, House Digest's Garden Expert and owner of Albion Gardens, says, "Fruit trees provide beauty, food, and shade, attract pollinators, and also attract wildlife, making them excellent for improving biodiversity." In other words, there are many reasons to bring fruit-bearing trees into your space, regardless of their location.

Speaking exclusively to House Digest, Aloi says there are a few types of fruit trees in particular that you should consider for your front yard. Dwarf or semi-dwarf apple trees can be a great fit. They can be hardy from USDA zones 3 through 9, depending on variety, and most are cold hardy for zones 5 and 6. If you're not a fan of apples, consider semi-dwarf pear trees (zones 4 through 9). Peach, cherry, and plum trees are potential options as well. According to Aloi, "Peach trees are shorter-lived (USDA 4 through 10), while cherry (USDA 5 through 7), and plum (USDA 4 through 9) trees provide beautiful blossoms." Any of these could make a good addition to your yard once you take a few more things into consideration.

While you may want to choose a fruit tree based on your favorite pie, there are other considerations to keep in mind when picking the right one for your yard. To avoid the mistakes everyone makes when growing fruit trees, Peg Aloi says, "Always determine if your fruit needs an additional tree for pollination; this often means a different variety that flowers at a different time." If you don't have room for two trees, you will want to look for self-pollinating varieties.

On a related note, Aloi tells House Digest exclusively, "Also research the mature size and spread, and how much sun is required to make sure you locate it properly." These are important considerations for any plant's success, but it's especially important when planting a tree that you hope will produce food for decades to come. These aren't annuals you can replace for a few dollars at the local nursery, so it's best to do your homework up front to give your fruit tree the best start. 

While plant care is always important, that may be especially true in your front yard where all your neighbors will see your landscaping choices as they pass by. Luckily, "Most fruit trees benefit from regular pruning to help fruit production," Peg Aloi exclusively told House Digest. Keeping them curb appeal-friendly should not be a problem. 

"In general, most fruit trees should be pruned in early spring (smaller branches) or late autumn (larger branches), but do your research to determine the best timing," advises Aloi. Whether you need surefire ways to get your plum tree to produce fruit or are looking for fast-growing fruit trees for your yard, there is plenty of good advice out there to show you how to give your fruit trees the best odds. With a little work and research, there's no reason you can't turn your front yard into a fruitful growing space.