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Fruit & Orchards

how messy are fruit trees?

16 years ago

i live in dallas on 2 acres, & so far this spring i've planted 3 figs, 3 asian persimmons, 3 jujubee's, 3 asian pears, & 2 pomegranates. i'm tempted to plant another 6 fruit trees.....

but do i have to worry about a yard mess in 5 years? a lawn filled with beatles, ants, rotting fruits?

i'm lazy, i'd like 0 maintenance trees!

tia,

Featured Answer

gcmastiffs

16 years ago

I forgot to mention- if you want reliable disposal of fallen fruits and attending insects, get a flock of chickens. They clean up any flawed, over-ripe fruits, most of your kitchen waste, deposit fertilizer around the plants, churn the soil, and give delicious eggs.

They are also priceless for their entertainment value! I watched mine leaping up/flipping over, in an attempt to reach Mulberries today. Sooo funny, and so unsuccessful!

{{gwi:104186}}

{{gwi:104187}}

Lisa

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Comments (10)

gator_rider2
16 years ago
No If do O maintenance on them there be no problem in 5 years but this fall you may have to pickup sticks about 20 of them.
chills71
16 years ago
I'd add a mulberry...but WAY AWAY from the house....Major messiness, but tasty and as low maintence as fruit trees get.

~Chills
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joereal
16 years ago
when are they going to develop fruiting plants whose fruits will fall and find its way neatly stacked into the fruit bowl in the middle of the table? And you don't need to do anything, just eat it or throw away in the trash. This is America, anything is possible!
lilacs_of_may
16 years ago
We had a crabapple tree in the back yard when I was growing up. I hated it! We didn't eat the crabapples, and they'd just fall on the ground and rot and get stepped on, and guess who had to clean it all up?

I have a peach tree that never gives fruit, and a cherry tree that the birds generally pick clean. No mess. No problem. :-)
maryhawkins99
Original Author
16 years ago
mulberries...hadnt thought of those....i do have a corner back by the creek, might be fun to watch the brids feed...thanks!

i'm hoping the persimmons arent too messy but these are my first trees. likewise jujube's, hopefully they dont drop too much fruit

i have an old keiffer pear tree, & its fairly clean. i'm hoping the asian pears are the same, but again its my first time with them.

the figs have me worried. magnolia's have a bad repoutation in texas, i'm hoping my celeste's & brown turkey's are cleaner, but i'm half expecting a gooey mess on the lawn

bob
gcmastiffs
16 years ago
I have over 100 varieties of fruit trees. There is no mess.. I PICK the fruits and we eat them/freeze/can/cook them.

A major irritant to me is the wasting of fruit. I see citrus left on trees here until they shrivel and turn leathery-brown. Why? Why not use the fruits, or give them to charity? Grrr....

Figs are not messy-just use the fruits, don't let them get over-ripe and rot.

Mulberries are great! I pick fruit daily from mine. Poms are not messy either. Same thing-pick the ripe fruits and there you are!

Why grow fruit trees if you don't want to use the fruits?

I'm lazy too, but strolling around the property, plucking fruits from trees and popping them into my mouth, is EASY!
(VBG)

Lisa
nimzo
16 years ago
Why this obsession with neatness? Life is messy. Fruit is messy. Embrace the inner mess. Eat what you can, give away what you can, compost the rest. It will bring you closer to nature. I have about 80 fruit trees. For me, it's not really about the fruit, although I have ripe fruit almost the whole year. It's more about the satisfaction of watching nature make something beautiful, useful and tasty. Don't worry about neatness. Just plant the trees and enjoy them.

Nimzo
maryhawkins99
Original Author
16 years ago
nice looking chickens. dont know if dallas ordinances will allow them, but seems like an answer!
joereal
16 years ago
While I have more than 350 cultivars to date, I only have the equivalent of about 40 small trees. It is the yield from 725 square ft of land and how much is that? Sometimes I'd have a few mess right after vacation. I have fruits year round and the mess is manageable. Whenever many fruit cultivars ripen together, then I invite all my friends for a fruit party in the yard, together with barbecue and fruit wines.

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