Over the years I have planted quite a few dwarf fruit trees. I've enjoyed some great harvests along with some very pretty landscapes.

You can't expect 100 percent success every season because our weather doesn't permit it. But when a great year comes along and you're invested in apples, pears, peaches, cherries and apricots, it's worth the effort.

Besides, the trees usually go through a blooming phase during the off years that spells spring enjoyment. The long, strong, curved green leaves of peach trees, for example, provide a pleasant change from cottonwoods and elms. Dwarf fruit trees also can add some fall color to your landscape even if you didn't get the produce.

They bring a diversity in bark texture, pleasant winter silhouettes, strong blooms, enticement for birds and bees, vigorous green foliage and intriguing summer shapes. And when they do produce, you'll harvest the best-tasting fruits there are.

You can plan on sour cherries, apples, peaches and pears just about every year. As for apricots, plan on once every few years, depending on the variety and the weather. Apricots tend to bloom early and can get hit with a frost.

Variety is a big factor in time of bloom or harvest and in disease problems. The primary disease of apples and pears in our area is fireblight. Some apple varieties have strong resistance to fireblight. Check with your local nursery for the latest information.

Dwarf fruit trees usually are developed by attaching a regular-sized top to a root base that keeps normal development in check. Some dwarfs have another section inserted above the root stock called an "innerstem," which further restricts top growth. This doesn't affect the size of the fruit; a miniature or dwarf Delicious apple tree, for example, may top out at 6 to 8 feet, but the produce will be full-size.

To develop fruit, most apples need another variety for cross-pollination, although a tree of another type in a neighbor's yard may do the job. If not, Golden Delicious is a good general cross-pollinator and has a great flavor to boot. Pears need a pollinator, but most cherries are self-pollinating.

Ripening time is also a factor in selection. The apple Prima can be ready to pick in August, Liberty is mid-September and Mutsu is October. Granny Smith, the popular big green tart variety, generally won't be ready until November, which sometimes is asking a little too much for our climate. Some apples keep longer than others after harvesting: Mutsu keeps longer than Delicious, for instance.

For more information, go to the Colorado State University Extension Web site, www.ext.colostate.edu, and click on "county offices" for the address and phone number of the office in your county. They have reliable information to help you in your selections.

Dale Langford is an area lawn and garden specialist.