came back home and... fruit trees all around

[tatra805]

Hi to you all,

Been away the last week for business and when arriving home yesterday i met a stupidly proud father in law in my garden showing off 6 new fruittrees....:angry2:


Now, my point is, i wanted to have trees but they need to be high growing ones, they are placed about 3ft from a driveway and should not interfear with it.

The fruittrees are the typical 2 year old with the top cut off. Peach, Apple, Cherry. Help.

What do i have to do? Will they become big enough to grow at least 9ft high before getting wide? They are now about 3ft high and topped.


My options:
- move them now it is still easy and upset father-in-law (will teach him) and put there other non top-cut trees.
or
- wait and see and (re)move them in later stage destroying the surrounding lawn (which we are seeding now)


Any advise?

My anger lies in the fact that the trees are top-cut. Any tips on helping them grow higher instead of wider, or ''repairing'' this cut ??

All input appreciated!

 

[Mr. Plisken]

I don't really like that they are that close to the drive way. How close to one another are they? They should put out a new leader soon enough and will grow taller. I would be more concerned if he planted them properly or not. Also, you probably will want to mulch and inhibit grass growth around them, so I'm not sure how the grass is an issue.

 

[Urban Forester]

It sounds as if they've come "pre-crop-topped'. this is a pruning style done to make harvesting easier (lower to the ground) and increase fruit production. A driveway (even 3 ft. away) is not a good place for an orchard. If you're in a rural area you might survive this fiasco. The first thing I'd do is get the tags that came w/the trees to see if they are "dwarf varieties" If not and you are in an urban area your going to be in for a real pain in the a--! When these trees mature you'll have branches over the drive dropping fruit on your cars and cement. The trees will draw birds (food source) and bees (sweet, rotting fruit). Move those trees now to an out of the way location on your property, unless you want to become a farmer.

 

[tatra805]

Thanks for the answers.

The trees are 3ft away from the driveway and 12ft between them.

It are not dwarfs. I wanted to have trees wich will, as you describe, hang over the driveway at a minimum height of 9ft. This does not disturb me. But they came topped and i am afraid they will not get to the desired height but start growing wide at 3ft. (also as you say mostly the intention of the topping to enable harvesting from ground level, which i dont need)

This driveway crosses the garden towards our horse stable. Trafic will consist out of van + horsetrailer and those are both high. I dont have a problem becoming a farmer,... if not already half-farmer yet.

FYI this driveway is made from ''vegetation blocks'' (the concrete things with holes in it for grass to grow through) and blend in (or will) with the lawn.

About the fruit falling down; well, i mentioned my father in law didnt I? I am sure the fruit will have no chance to reach the ground before it is taken to his cellar for various tastefull fruit experiments..

We have about 200 fruittrees in our pastures behind the stable and those only survive our horses because they are old and high. (of which 3 50ft pieces!)

We are definately outside urban area. 350 habitants in the village and we will be member of the few 10 that have a lawn and not a vineyard as garden..

 

[Mr. Plisken]

I still think they'll send out a leader and get over 9'. Prune accordingly to what you want.

 

[chainsawaddict]

move the driveway.

 

[tatra805]

move the driveway.

Called stihl today for the driveway-moving attachement for my 361.
They said it is still under development but will be released soon.
Final tests were going on on the german highways as we speak....


:monkey: