There are many ways to transform your backyard into a beautiful, relaxing space, but if you are looking to creating a space that does triple duty for your home, spring is the perfect time to consider planting some fruit trees in your outdoor spaces.
Though the Tucson climate may seem like it is not ideal for growing fruit trees, it is actually a great environment to grow all sorts of fruit trees. It’s also a perfect opportunity to take advantage of all the terrific benefits of having fruit trees on your property.
Benefits of Fruit Trees
Not only are fruit trees beautiful, but they are ready to give back to you triple-fold. Fruit trees flower in the spring, which means that you will have a backyard loaded with sweet-smelling flowers for months. Your backyard will be transformed into a picture-perfect oasis that will beckon your friends and family to spend more time outside and less time in front of the television. Those fruit flowers will also attract lots of bees and hummingbirds to your yard, which means they’ll stick around and pollinate all of your other flowers.
Fruit trees take time to grow, but you can buy tall, young trees that will be towering in no time at all. And that is exactly what makes fruit trees so perfect for Tucson landscaping. Anyone who has spent any time in the Southern Arizona sun knows how hot it can get hot not only outside, but also inside your home. Trees in the right spot are the greenest and most natural way to keep your south-facing rooms shaded and cool without spending a fortune on air conditioning.
Do you know what the best part of having fruit trees on your property is? All the fruit you get to eat! Fruit trees are a bounty of delicious edible treats (hello, nature’s candy!), and because of the amazing climate here in Tucson, you can grow seasonal fruit that will keep your pantry loaded with preserves and your fruit bowl filled to the brim in all four seasons.
All it takes is a little planning and some TLC to plant some fruit-filled goodness, and Spring is the perfect time to do so.
Wondering which kind of fruit trees grow best in Southern Arizona? As it turns out, a whole lot of them do!
Apple
There are hundreds of varieties of apples, and while not all of them are great for our Sonoran Desert climate, there’s plenty of species that work perfectly with the few “chill hours” that we get every year. Varieties like Dorsett Golden, Anna, and Sundowner™ apples are perfectly suited for the desert climate as they are early maturing and require less than 500 hours of chill hours a year.
Plum
Have you ever had the perfect plum pie, sweetened a salad flawlessly, or plum preserves on toast for breakfast and thought – why don’t I eat plums all the time?! If you want plums, you’re in the right place since the Old Pueblo is a great location for plum trees to flourish! Try Beauty, Burgundy, or Santa Rosa plum varieties, which you can find at most Tucson tree nurseries.
Peaches and Nectarines
What can be said about a delicious, juicy peach or nectarine that hasn’t already been said? These fuzzy and smooth little beauties are perfectly acclimated to the Southern Arizona climate, and they are readily available for Tucson planting. Desert Gold peaches, Panamint Nectarines, and even hybrid options make perfect backyard trees that provide you with plenty of fruity sweetness.
