Value of a Fruit Tree in the Yard

Having a fruit tree in your yard not only makes sense from a monetary perspective, it is also an enjoyable hobby. Backyard fruit trees have the capability of producing hundreds of dollars of fruit each year, but the value goes beyond that--a fruit tree can provide a learning experience for children and nutrition for the entire family.

Fruit Value

The value of fruit is one of the primary reasons people buy fruit trees for their yards. Backyard fruit trees offer a large supply of fruit. An apple tree, for example, can produce as many as 20 bushels of apples each year. That's approximately 840 pounds of apples, and a typical tree has 20 prime producing years. Using the low end of the 2009 value for fresh apples, which was approximately $1 per pound, a single tree produces nearly $17,000 worth of fresh fruit during its prime years, in addition to the value produced during the non-prime years.

Tree Value

Another thing to consider is the value of the tree itself. Many fruit trees, even young ones, can sell for hundreds of dollars, though it is also possible to find bargains at local nurseries. The value of a mature tree is somewhat difficult to quantify, simply because mature trees are not generally sold by the individual tree, though it may be possible to buy an orchard or grove of trees. Still, the overall value could be thousands of dollars for one tree.

Nutritional Value

Many fruits are high in a variety of vitamins and antioxidants that are essential for proper human nutrition. For example, many fruits are high in Vitamin C, which helps bolster the immune system. This is especially true of citrus fruits and other fruits originating in the tropics. An orange has 53 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams and grapefruits are even higher.

Educational Value

The value of fruit trees can also be seen in the education they can provide to a family. Parents can teach children about how trees produce blooms and how those blooms eventually produce fruit. Fruit trees also help teach about the value of bees. If you must use fungicides or pesticides, you can use that practice as a lesson to children as to why it is always important to wash fruit before eating it.

Cautions

Fruit trees can become an added expense if, to keep trees healthy, it is necessary to use chemicals in sprays. Further, the presence of a fruit tree can attract undesirable pests such as rats. On the up side, such things can also serve as learning experiences, helping those in your family understand what large-scale growers often must deal with every day to make a living as a fruit producer.