Why Your Fruit Trees Aren't Bearing Fruit—and How to Fix It

If you planted fruit trees dreaming of harvesting juicy pears, pie-ready apples, and sweet summer peaches fresh from your own backyard, then trees that grow and bloom without producing bountiful fruit are a maddening puzzle.

However, most of the reasons fruit trees don't produce fruit are easy to anticipate—and simple to solve. Watering, fertilizing, planting location, and pollination all play a part, along with temperatures, pests, diseases, and pruning. Correct your care techniques with these expert tips, and and prepare for a robust yield.

Improper Pollination

Fruit trees can be self-fruitful, which means they can produce fruit by self-pollination, or self-unfruitful, which requires cross-pollination with another tree of the same species but a different variety, says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app. Trees that aren't producing fruit may not be receiving the correct pollination.

How to Fix: "To prevent improper pollination, plant at least two compatible varieties of the same species within 50 feet of each other," says Spoonemore. "Ensure that pollinators like bees are active in your garden: encourage bees by planting flowers and avoiding pesticides."

Inadequate Sunlight

Fruit trees are full-sun plants that need six to eight hours of direct light daily to maximize their yield. "Insufficient light can reduce or eliminate fruit production," says Spoonemore.

How to Fix: "To ensure adequate sunlight, plant trees where they will receive full sunlight throughout the day," says Spoonemore. When choosing a location, pay attention to existing landscaping that might grow into your tree's light exposure. "If trees are in shaded areas, consider trimming or removing nearby plants or trees that are blocking sunlight," says Spoonemore.

Improper Pruning

Pruning your fruit trees is an important practice that prevents dead branches from posing a safety hazard, stops disease from spreading throughout your plant, and keeps your tree looking beautiful. But it's important to get it right. "Pruning at the wrong time or excessively can remove buds that would become fruit, while insufficient pruning can lead to poor fruit production," says Spoonemore.

How to Fix: Study the correct technique for pruning your variety of fruit trees, including the best season for cutting and how much to remove each year. "Generally, pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth starts," says Spoonemore. "Adjust your pruning practices based on arborist recommendations; ensure that you do not over-prune, and remove only dead or diseased wood."

Disease

Bacterial and fungal diseases that take hold of your fruit tree can prevent you from harvesting the produce you're expecting. "Diseases like fire blight, powdery mildew, and root rot can weaken trees and reduce their ability to produce fruit," says Spoonemore.

How to Fix: Plant disease-resistant fruit tree varieties that can withstand infections and keep your planting bed tidy. "Maintain good sanitation by removing fallen leaves and fruit," says Spoonemore. "Ensure proper spacing for good air circulation, and remove and destroy infected plant parts." Treat diseases with the correct fungicides or bactericides to restore the health of your plant.

Pests

While some insects can benefit your fruit trees, others—including pesky borers, aphids, and mites—can have the opposite effect, inhibiting your trees' production by attacking the same tasty flowers, leaves, and fruit you hoped to harvest, say Spoonemore.

How to Fix: "To fight against pests, use integrated pest management practices, including monitoring for pests, encouraging beneficial insects, and using barriers or traps," says Spoonemore. "If pests are spotted, identify the pests and use targeted treatments such as insecticidal soap, neem oil, or appropriate chemical insecticides. Prune affected areas and dispose of them properly." You also may need to enlist the help of a professional arborist for especially robust infestations.

Environmental Stress

Weather and climate play a major role in your fruit trees' ability to be successful, with extreme temperatures, dramatic rainfall, or lengthy droughts depriving your tree of essential growing needs.

How to Fix: Consider your location and growing zone when choosing which varieties to plant, opting for a type likely to thrive in your conditions. Then adjust your care routine to insulate the tree from environmental swings: "Mulch around the base of trees to retain moisture and protect roots from temperature extremes," says Spoonemore. "Ensure proper watering practices, providing deep, infrequent watering to encourage deep root growth. Protect trees from extreme weather using covers or windbreaks if necessary."

Improper Fertilization

While a properly balanced fertilizer supports fruit production, the wrong combination can roadblock your harvest before it thrives. "Over-fertilization, especially with nitrogen, can lead to excessive vegetative growth at the expense of fruit production," says Spoonemore. "Conversely, under-fertilization can result in nutrient deficiencies that prevent fruit development."

How to Fix: "Use a balanced fertilizer or one tailored to the specific needs of your fruit tree species," says Spoonemore, who also recommends consistent soil testing to keep track of nutrient levels. "If over-fertilized, reduce or eliminate nitrogen applications and switch to a fertilizer higher in phosphorus and potassium to promote fruiting. If under-fertilized, apply the necessary nutrients as indicated by soil test results," she says.

Over- (or Under-) Watering

Too much—or too little—water is another environmental stressor that can disrupt your harvest. "Over-watering can lead to root rot, while under-watering can cause drought stress," says Spoonemore. And while you may think you're providing the right amount, watering on an inconsistent schedule or too shallowly can have the same negative effects.

How to Fix: Set a watering schedule to keep the soil moist‚ but not flooded; drip irrigation systems and soaker hoses are an easy solution. "Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the tree to conserve soil moisture, moderate soil temperature, and reduce weed competition," says Spoonemore. "Improve soil drainage, reduce watering frequency, and ensure the tree is planted in well-draining soil. Increase watering frequency and volume, ensuring deep watering reaches the root zone."