The Orchard Purchasing Guide

Most orchard owners will need the following equipment and materials to get started:

Picking the right saplings is arguably the most important buying decision you’ll make when starting an orchard. We outline the key considerations you’ll need to keep in mind when making this purchase and provide some popular options.

Keep in mind that certain fruit trees must be grown in certain climates. Location is the first and most important consideration when choosing the trees you wish to grow. Different fruits have different growing seasons, so some farmers choose to stagger their fruit trees in a way that provides them with an income for the longest chunk of the year possible.

It is also important to consider how much space you have to work with. This is another important factor when purchasing fruit trees for your orchard. Listed below are several options to consider:

Dwarf fruit trees

These trees are good for orchards without a lot of space, and their fruit can be picked without a ladder. They are typically 8-10 feet tall and wide, and benefit from the use of tree stakes to help them grow.

• Cherry tree
• Nectarine tree

Semi-dwarf fruit trees

These trees are medium-sized and maximize fruit yield per square foot. They are typically 12-15 feet tall and wide, and will generate approximately twice the fruit that a dwarf tree would.

• Pear tree
• Peach tree

Standard fruit trees

These trees are good for very large orchards that also need shade. They are typically 18+ feet tall and wide, take the longest to grow, and generate the most fruit over time.

• Apple tree
• Plum tree

Almost all of the equipment for an orchard can be purchased either in-store or online. You can also sometimes find second-hand equipment that is still in good working quality.

Willis Orchards

Willis Orchards offers many different saplings in various sizes. It categorizes the U.S. into zones, and tells users which trees will grow best in a given zone.

Home Depot

Because Home Depot is a chain, it should be easy to access, and will provide quite a few pieces of equipment you need. This is also a great place to buy small tractors.

Orchard Valley Supply

This online retailer offers all of the equipment you will need for your orchard apart from heavy machinery and the plants themselves. Orchard Valley Supply organizes its website into different categories of equipment you might want for your orchard. It makes it easy to order large quantities of equipment like tree tubes, and to look through optional equipment if you have a little extra room in your budget.