I think that we are all starting to begin to realize that the vast majority of us should make at least some change in the way we lead our lives. Nearly all of us could take more exercise on a regular basis and many of us could vastly improve our diets by introducing more fresh fruit and vegetables. A great way in which to get more fresh fruit is to grow your very own fruit trees in your backyard. Unfortunately, for most of us, we have a backyard which is a rather small space and therefore we are severely limited in which plants we can grow.

A great many of us understand that the fresher the fruit the healthier it is for us. Unfortunately the longer fruit is stored the lesser the vitamin and mineral content. Although most of us are beginning to understand the many advantages of eating organic produce the additional cost often means that few of us can afford the luxury. Happily, by growing fruit trees in our backyards, we can produce 100% organic fruit that is the freshest possible (we pick it and immediately eat it).

Most of us live in an urban environment where it is common to have backyards which offer only a very small space in which to create a garden. Such backyards are unsuitable for large mature trees which can be the cause of many problems. The roots can damage foundations, branches can push against walls and windows and they also block light. The most obvious problem is that such a large item in a small space will simply look ridiculous.

Even in the smallest space something wonderful can be created. Professional garden designers can create the most wonderful plans but, with a little time and effort, it is possible to do this yourself. To do it correctly you will need to study a little to understand which are the best plants to use and how to use them.

Adding a point of interest to a smaller backyard can be problematic but one solution can be the addition of fruit trees. During the different seasons of the year a fruit tree will look vastly different. Even in the winter, a bare tree with frosted branches from which icicles hang, can look great but it is in the spring when it will look its finest. Spring is when the fruit tree will be covered in sweet smelling and fantastic looking blossom why, by fall, will (if fertilized) develop into fruit ready for harvest.

It is now possible to purchase dwarf fruit tree varieties, these are created by grafting the main stem of a fruit tree to special dwarf root stock. Modern dwarf root stock, such as M9, is more reliable than older types of dwarf root stock. M9 root stock can lead to a fruit tree which remains very small but produces more fruit.

Modern compact fruit trees can be used in small backyards as the dwarf variety produces a large amount of fruit from the smallest of bushes. A dwarf fruit tree will rarely be larger than 1.8m high but the growth can be limited still further by planting it in a container. By following an annual pruning regime you can restrict the growth while retaining a suitable shape.

Spur apple trees are amongst the types of tree most appealing to those who only have a small space for a backyard. A spur apple tree has an extremely upright habit and a fully grown tree can be up to 1.8m high but very narrow indeed. In fact when the fruit develops it creates a look as though the tree only consists of a trunk with leaves and fruit. Such a tree is sometimes referred to as a "midget" fruit tree and is superb for growing in containers.

A good garden design should include variety and those with a small backyard will be pleased to hear that there are a number of different fruits which can be grown on a dwarf variety. Such fruit trees are plums, pears, cherries, figs, Kiwi fruit, peaches, nectarines and more. Not only does such variety look great but it also means that you have a wider choice of organic fruit for the table.