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Tree fruit
All fruit trees should be given an annual mulch of well-rotted, bulky, organic manure, and a dose of fertiliser in spring. They will also all need pruning, and apples and plums need fruit thinning. Plums and cherries should only be pruned in summer.
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 Apples
Apples like a sunny, sheltered site.
Pollination can sometimes be a bit of a problem. You need to select the varieties carefully, ask when you buy.
Plant bare-root trees in autumn or winter and ones in containers at any time, so long as the ground isn’t frozen.
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Apple trees are grafted on to a number of different rootstocks, which result in different sized trees because of the vigour imparted by the rootstock. So there’s one that will suit your garden. There are varieties that are small enough to be grown in a container on the patio. The planting distances vary with the size the tree will grow to.
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 Plums
Plant in late autumn or early winter, because growth begins first thing in spring.
As with apples, there are different rootstocks so select the one that fits your space.
All plums flower in spring, so frosts are always a bit of a hazard. To minimise the risk, plant in a warm site that’s as frost-free as possible, and ensure it's sheltered from the wind to protect the blossom and encourage pollinating insects.
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If a frost is likely, protect the tree with horticultural fleece.
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Let fruit ripen fully for best flavour, but if it’s wet, harvest before rot or wasps spoil it.
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Only prune in summer to reduce the risk of a disease called silver leaf.
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 | Cherries
There are sweet, acid or sour cherries. Acid or sour ones are best for cooking and jam-making.
Sweet cherries need an open, sunny and sheltered spot. You need cultivars that will pollinate one another – ask when you buy.
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Plant in late autumn or winter and remember to mulch in spring. The fruit is a magnet for birds so use a bird deterrent and pick the fruit as soon it ripens. Look for varieties grown on dwarfing rootstock because these will produce a smaller tree that is easier to net.
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