Fruit trees

[waggonway]

Hi,
A question about fruit trees. I am thinking about converting my old veg plot into a mini orchard. It is about 6 by 30 feet. I want to plant a couple of fruit trees, possbily an apple and a cherry. I was wondering if I can cover the ground with fabric and the bark chips? Will this harm the trees?

Cheers

 

[r896neo]

No it'll only do them good by reducing competition, best thing you can do for a young tree. Be sure to water very well before applying mulch as it will help keep the mositure in.

 

[libby lou lou]

Just to add, most young trees are killed by overwatering in the first year.

 

[waggonway]

Thanks guys. Any ideas of variety, I fancy a cherry and I would like some thing that will grow to ~15 feet tall with a spread of about 6 feet. I am in mid Scotland and the patch is well sheltered and gets good sun.

 

[DominicJ]

Very few apples are self polinating, and as far as I'm aware, even they arent much good., so you'd either need both to be apples, or none.