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think that we are all starting to begin to realize that the vast majority of us should make at least some change in the way we lead our lives. Nearly all of us could take more exercise on a regular basis and many of us could vastly improve our diets by introducing more fresh fruit and vegetables. A great way in which to get more fresh fruit is to grow your very own fruit trees in your backyard. Unfortunately, for most of us, we have a backyard which is a rather small space and therefore we are severely limited in which plants we can grow.

Most of us understand that organic fruit and vegetables are far better for us than the alternatives but the added cost is sometimes to prohibitive. We also know that the fresher the fruit the more vitamins and minerals it contains. By growing our own fruit trees we can produce organic fruit at an extremely low cost and, because it can be harvested immediately before use, such fruit is also the freshest available.

Today’s modern home in an urban setting often only has a very small space for a backyard garden. Such homes are usually very close together which can cause some problems, especially if you plan to plant fruit trees. Unfortunately most tree species can grow to an enormous size. A large tree in a small space can be the source of some very serious problems. Often the roots of a tree extend much further than people would think and, on a large tree this can lead to serious damage to foundations. There are also many other problems such as the shrub blocking the light but the most obvious and visible problem is the simple fact that a large tree in a small space just looks ridiculous and leaves little space for a garden.

Even in the smallest space something wonderful can be created. Professional garden designers can create the most wonderful plans but, with a little time and effort, it is possible to do this yourself. To do it correctly you will need to study a little to understand which are the best plants to use and how to use them.

If you have a tiny backyard the addition of a fruit tree will add interest and beauty. In the spring the tree will be covered in gorgeous looking, and sweet smelling, blossom. By the time of fall the tree will be full of ripe fruit ready for the picking. Even in the winter a fruit tree can still look very interesting and such a tree will act as a focal point.

It is now possible to purchase dwarf fruit tree varieties, these are created by grafting the main stem of a fruit tree to special dwarf root stock. Modern dwarf root stock, such as M9, is more reliable than older types of dwarf root stock. M9 root stock can lead to a fruit tree which remains very small but produces more fruit.

Incredibly it is now possible to purchase dwarf or compact fruit trees that will rarely, if ever, exceed a height of about 1.8m while still being able to produce the amount of fruit usually produced by a much larger tree. If 1.8m is too tall for your backyard you can plant the tree in a container which will slow and restrict growth. It is also possible to keep the size down by carefully pruning the fruit tree each year.

Amongst the most useful of fruit trees for the gardener with only a small space for a backyard, is the spur apple tree. While the tree can still grow up to 1.8m high it has such an upright habit that it often looks rather strange covered in a multitude of ripened apples.

A good garden design should include variety and those with a small backyard will be pleased to hear that there are a number of different fruits which can be grown on a dwarf variety. Such fruit trees are plums, pears, cherries, figs, Kiwi fruit, peaches, nectarines and more. Not only does such variety look great but it also means that you have a wider choice of organic fruit for the table.