Any fruit tree growers who can advise?

[BewareTheBeardedDragon]

I would like to make use of the south facing fence in my small garden to grow and train some fruit trees. My neighbour have lots of shrubs hard up against the fence on the other side and some parts on my side are quite dry - I assume because their shrubs are snaffling all the water. Is this likely to be a problem for fruit trees?

The shrubs they have include philadelphus, Laurel, elder, sumach, cotoneaster, forsythia - there may be more. All of these shrubs are planted within 10-20 cm of the fence be large and well established. The sumac tries to sucker on my side every year.

I have read about people digging vertically to a depth on 1m odd to put in a root barrier to stop neighbours plant roots from creeping over. I'd much rather not have to do that, but equally I would like to make better use of the fence for growing on my side.

Any advice? The dryness is worst next to a particularly thick and tall patch with elder, cotoneaster and sumach. The rest of the fence is better from that respect. Unfortunately that dry patch would be the ideal spot for fruit trees on my side for other reasons.

Just to be clear - I'm not complaining about their shrubs, they are pretty and some smell lovely and they have the right to have them planted wherever they like in their garden. I'm just looking for advice and hopefully solutions for planting on my side

I'm sorry I'm not very knowledgeable about fruit but I have got a dwarf quince in my garden which is just the loveliest tree

Whatever you end up planting, bury a tube in the planting hole to make it easier to get water to the roots. A washing machine outlet hose is pretty good - drill some holes in the portion below ground

Great tip - thanks! I'd love a quince. Which variety do you have?

deplorabelle Do you mean a dwarf variety of quince (Cydonia)? or do you mean japanese quince (Chaemomeles)? What colour flowers does it have?

Plant apple trees (as espaliers if you wish) they put down a whopping tap root so get water from way down as a result. Water them with a drip from a hose while they are getting established and after than only if they are looking stressed (flaccid leaves or if there is a prolonged dry spell).

This is why it's almost impossible to move an apple tree. Once you bugger up the tap root the whole thing dies. This resililience is also why they live so many years. I have 'Jubilees' growing in the garden here that were planted in 1954. I love my apple trees. I water them only if they are distressed and a drip is the only way. A quick splash on the surface won't do it. Good luck.

Thanks inspector!

No worries. Get a Lord Lamborne. Especially if you are on chalk. You won't have tasted anything like a LL grown on chalk!

We'll make a pomologist of you yet!

It's a lescowacz quince on dwarfing rootstock (forget what). Pink flowers and gorgeous yellow fruit. Except this year it got mildew in the hot dry May and dropped all its fruit

I am on heavy clay, not chalk, but on a slope and I'm currently amending various places where I want to put fruit trees.

The apple varieties I'm considering are Eden, Charles Ross and Discovery. I already have a Red Falstaff and I'm aiming for a reasonable spread of picking from early to late and of eating/cooking apples, all with good disease resistance. Any comments on my choice would be welcome!
I know that Discovery is a bit of a marmite one, but I've read that garden grown is infinitely better than shop bought, and I would like a sweet and reliable one to please the dc.

@InspectorGoul we're gearing up to plant lots of fruit trees (standard as well as espaliers, cordons, fans etc). We're on chalk and my husband eats 1-2 apples every day all year, so will be getting a Lord Lambourne as one variety!

Sorry to hijack OP!

Worcester Pearmain is a nice apple. Your selection is nice OP.

I am on clay here and the LL is still nice. to me they taste like sweet cider. I have planted a Hereford Russet too. They make amazing jam.

Ooh, Apple jam. That sounds amazing!

Just looked your quince up @deplorabelle - looks lovely!