Is it better to plant fruit trees or bushes in a food forest?

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Choosing Fruit Trees for a Food Forest When selecting fruit trees for your food forest, consider those that are compact or dwarf varieties. These trees typically require less space and maintenance, making them ideal for smaller areas or permaculture designs. For example, dwarf apple trees like ‘Red Delicious’ or ‘Gala’ can be pruned to maintain a height of around 6-8 feet. This compact growth habit allows for more efficient use of space, enabling you to plant more trees and other plants in a smaller area.
Designing a Fruit Tree Canopy The canopy of your fruit trees should be designed to allow in sufficient sunlight for understory plants to thrive. A general rule of thumb is to plant trees with a spread of 10-15 feet apart to create a layered canopy. This spacing allows for about 50% shade coverage, which is ideal for many fruiting shrubs and perennials. For example, if you’re planting a mix of apple and pear trees, you can intersperse them with shrubs like blueberries or raspberries, which prefer partial shade.
Integrating Fruit Bushes and Other Plants Fruit bushes like strawberries, currants, or gooseberries can be incorporated into your food forest design to add diversity and texture. These plants typically require less space and maintenance than fruit trees, making them ideal for filling in gaps or creating a groundcover. When integrating fruit bushes into your food forest, consider planting them in a guild with companion plants that benefit from their growth patterns. For example, planting strawberries with comfrey or clover can help improve soil health and fertility.