Fruit Trees for Home Gardens

Imagine grabbing your favorite fruit off a tree in your backyard.

Growing tree fruits in the home orchard or landscape can be an interesting and satisfying hobby. Fruit trees do, however, require considerable care, and people who are not willing or able to devote some time to their home orchard probably will be disappointed in their harvests. When fruit trees are carefully selected, properly located, and well managed, they can enhance the home landscape and provide quality, tree ripened fruits. 

Choose where to begin your adventure.

Apples  Apricots  Cherries  Nectarines  Peaches  Plums

Fruit Tree News
A hand saw cutting into a branch to prune it at the proper location
Cutting back branches leaves trees with healthier outlook
URBANA, Ill. — To stay healthy, sometimes trees need a little help in the form of a trim. Pruning is an essential maintenance activity to promote tree health, safety, and aesthetics. Since trees are large, long-living plants in our landscape, pruning throughout the life of a tree can have a...
Split trunk of pear tree
Reduce storm damage by looking for tree defects before bad weather strikes
URBANA, Ill. — High winds during summer storms wreak havoc on trees. Tree defects increase the likelihood of failure, and those close to homes can quickly become dangerous. Learn to look for these weak points to be better prepared for severe weather events.   Trees experience damage from...
A bunch of yellow sunflowers
Take a break from the summer heat: Enjoy Four Seasons Gardening series
URBANA, Ill. — Summer is a time of growth and exploration. While spring-planted flowers and vegetables are growing, take a break between waterings to learn something new from the vast world of gardening.  Explore the global impact of sunflowers, discover summer-blooming trees, and learn...
weather map showing drought conditions across Illinois
Illinois at increased risk of drought conditions
Parts of northeast, western, and central Illinois have been much drier than normal in the past four to six weeks, causing dry soils and lower streamflow. Perennials, gardens, and young trees in these areas have begun to show some response to the dryness, requiring more frequent watering than...
More News Releases

Check out Illinois Extension’s complete offerings

State Extension