Fruit trees need full sunlight for best production, and care should be taken to avoid placing trees where they are shaded by buildings or other trees. To reduce competition from weeds, it pays to cultivate, mulch, or use weed killer. To develop a desirable form and to remove excessive growth and dead or diseased branches, trees should be pruned. Developing fruit and foliage should be protected from insect and disease damage throughout the season. The length of time from planting to fruit bearing varies with the type of fruit tree.
Rootstocks also influence the date of bearing.
Winter climate may have quite an effect on the fruit trees. Fortunately, winter weather rarely threatens hardy apple, pear, plum, and sour cherry varieties, although sweet cherries are relatively sensitive to cold until they become dormant. Their buds can be killed by mid-winter temperatures near minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. As the flower buds grow and open, they become more susceptible to injury from frost. The exposed buds can usually withstand temperatures near 24 degrees Fahrenheit, and the open blossoms of practically all fruit trees will be killed at temperatures below 27 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit.