Here's a relevant quote from fruitnut, a potted fruit grower who posts mostly in the Fruit & Orchards forum (the thread is linked below): "Here's the deal that people on the container forum don't ordinarily recognize, fruit trees give better quality fruit when growing at less than maximum vigor. Most of the container forum is about ornamentals and vegetables. For those crops high vigor is usually better. For fruit trees it decidedly is not." One simple way to reduce vigor is to extend the time between root pruning/repotting. Fruitnut's success has had a big influence on how I approach growing fruits in containers. You'll see several photos of some of his trees in the linked thread, and I'm sure you'll agree that they're very impressive. Here is a link that might be useful: Multiple Trees in One Container?

OK, here we go again. I install hundreds of fruit trees in areas with deer like a Kenya game preserve has antelope. Sometimes big bucks with nothing better to do stand around to watch my handiwork- at least they are bashful enough to keep their distance (a stones throw) until I put up my quick fence rings. Here's what works in all but worst pressure areas and even works in those places except for mulberries, Asian pears and certain luscious apple varieties. By worst pressure area I mean a spot like where an old lady used to feed her herd with corn, building up a very dense population and than died and the corn stopped. The new owner of her property asked me to plant 50 fruit trees- more on this situation later. Keepitlow's construction would really PMO if I had to deal with it every time I need to touch the tree (I would guarantee that it won't work for east coast squirrels or west coast ground squirrels). All I use is a 10' length of 5' tall, 14 gage fencing, a single stake of either heavy steel of usually 2X2", 8' tall pressure treated wood and make a ring for individual trees, hooking it closed with 2 or 3 wires from the fencing itself. You can easily open it to get to the trees in 3 seconds. 14 gage is stiff enough to stand on its own but easy enough to cut. For rabbits I use a 2' tall, narrow ring of chicken wire if it's necessary but my vole protection is usually adequate (plastic spirals) to exclude rabbits as well. Rabbits (and voles) usually only go after apples and sometimes pears IME. On the rare occasion this doesn't work- and most of my work is in a county that only allows bow-hunting and many million and billionaires who own the equivalent of their own private hunting preserves don't allow hunting so pressure is intense. I live a county up that allows shot gun hunting and the pressure, especially from bucks is not nearly so bad although it's bad enough. OK, so here's the problem, my system is not for fully dwarf trees, but for free standing trees that are at the very least of M26 vigor. The point is to grow the tree above the brows line, letting the deer much branches that grow outside the fence and helping to train the trees up. I doubt anyone in a Z5 is growing a dwarf pear tree (that would be on quince, known not to be cold hardy); they would likely be on semi-dwarf stock and capable of rising above the browse line. The apples are another issue. As far as the above mentioned extra high pressure areas, an extra 2 to 4' length of fencing and 2 or 3 more stakes may be required if the bucks decide to stand up on the fencing to browse. Fencing will also have to be very securely wired to posts (I put small notches in the wood. However, for some reason even starving deer don't usually do this, at least here in the southeastern NY area.

FREE BBQ!!! Starting out with Free and following with BBQ usually gets most everyones attention and it is all true. Here the deal and there isn't a catch so don't worry about that. A little bit about that BBQ. I'm not having it catered by some run of the mill place and it definitely isn't straight from the grocery store and heated up. Nope! This is MY BBQ! This ain't no throw the meat on a grill and call it BBQ. No SIR! My butts cook all night long sometimes 20 hours till they are juicy, tender slide right off the bone pure pulled pork ecstasy! I'll put my yardbird up against any. Ain't none of that silly fancy skin off healthy chicken breast neither. Nope I go for the meat of the matter. Just large juicy smoked and then sauced thighs. Now I wish I had some good cajun sausage but we have some that ain't too bad. Especially when you cook it in a smoker. People don't even have a clue what sausage is all about when they throw it in a skillet and maybe half boil it to death. You bite my sausage you better be ready to catch some pure pork deliciousness cause it will run down your chin. OK I hope that got your interest up Now here is the plant stuff! It's that time again and hopefully we are giving a better heads up so more of you can attend. This year we are meeting at my house in Pensacola, FL. Most of the group is growing fruit trees other than bananas too such as Blueberries, Blackberries, Muscadines, figs, pears, persimmons, citrus, pawpaw, pomegranate, quince, pecans, peaches, plums, jujubes and Bamboo (edible shoots). I am growing all of those except pears, jujubes and pecans. I plan to add pears soon. We also have an interest in tropical "looking" plants and landscaping from small planting to hardscapes. I have recently put in a large waterfall that is open for discussion and I'm looking for ideas for the built in planters. I'm sure we'll probably talk about everything. You are welcome to bring a guest or two or three if you decide to come. I have recently acquired a what I believe to be a inground dwarf cold hardy Mango. That is all I'll say now. You'll have to come to hear more details. We are planning on meeting on Saturday October 12, 2013 starting at or around 0800 until we all get tired and go home. Of course you can come whenever you want and leave when you want. We will not have any kind of strict schedule. We just want everyone to have a good time and talk about our plants and anything else that comes up. Hopefully we can all learn a little something from each others trials and tribulations! My place isn't huge but I have squeezed a lot into it. I'm just a little over an acre and it is all open to walk around a look at. I currently have twelve banana bunches hanging and a decent citrus crop. I may have some figs left hanging too. I am providing lunch in the form of BBQ pork, chicken and sausage. We'll have BBQ beans, Cole slaw, Potato salad, Mac and cheese, and some kind of desert (maybe cobbler). This is a family event and children are welcome as long as you can watch them. My yard is not completely child proof and I do have a swimming pool near where we will be eating and relaxing. Of course you can swim but it might be a bit cold as it isn't heated. Unfortunately this is Florida so I can not share any type of Citrus so please don't make that request. I just can't legally do it. I will have banana pups but mostly common varieties and some dwarfs. I may have some rooted fig trees to share. I will have a few fig trees large enough to take some cuttings. I will have a few muscadines in pots. Also I have way too many 1 gallon pots that you are welcome to get some if you want. Also there will be a few persimmon whips available. None of this is for sale, so don't worry about that. We all try to share as many plants as we can to keep costs down. If you have something NON-CITRUS to share feel free to bring it! If not no worries come and enjoy the day. I hope you can come. Please bring someone with you. We are trying to involve the wives and in the case of female members maybe a husband or significant other. If you are a single female and feel uncomfortable I know my wife will be there and I fairly sure several other couples will be here also. Feel free to call me if you have any questions. If you are interested in fruiting plants, ornamental plants and landscaping this will be an excellent time to make contacts and we'd sure like to see you there. Thanks, Charles E-mail Darkman270@cox.net Phone 850-791-2336

I think KayJones is either in or near the Florida Panhandle, and PurpleinOpp is in southern Alabama but frequently participates in this forum. Those are the only two members that come to mind. :( If it were me, I would post this to the Alabama Forum, and maybe the Southern Forum, the Southeast Coastal Forum and the Tropicals Forum. It sounds awesome - I wish I could go!! Carol in Jacksonville This post was edited by love_the_yard on Fri, Oct 4, 13 at 10:05