[1jim]

Hi everyone

I have acquired 3 trees that I thought I could use on the plot. I have checked the rules and we can have trees but max height 2m. The trouble is that these trees will grow to max height of 5m (dont know how long will take to get there).

The question really is, is it possible with harsh regular pruning to keep trees that should reach 5m at a height of 2m, and if it is will they give a decent crop that will be worth the trouble, one is apple tree, one cherry, on plum. Not all are self fertile but there other trees on same plot

[gillie]

How do you know they will reach 5m?  That is  very tall for an apple, but not for a cherry.  You might manage to keep the apple small, but I suspect that if you keep the cherry or plum hard pruned they will not crop and most probably become diseased.

[mumofstig]

standard apples are about 20ft tall or more, semi dwarf about 12/15ft.

If they are semi dwarf (m106 rootstock) you could grow them as espaliers along a fence, but it would be a few years before you get any fruit because of the pruning required to train them at the beginning.