Most people do not realise that fruit trees will not continue to produce good quality fruit indefinitely and will over time need to be replaced. A sign that the fruit tree is getting to the end of its life is that it produces less blossom in spring and that the quality of the fruit it is producing is poor or diseased. Although there are sprays and other treatments that can be tried, it is sometimes better to just start again with a new tree as these treatments are rarely effective in a domestic situation.
When looking for new fruit trees it is a good idea to buy from a reputable garden centre so that you know that you are getting a good quality product. Buying from advertisements for fruit trees out of the newspaper or from supermarkets may result in trees that are poor quality resulting in a disappointing crop the following year.
Some fruit trees are sold as patio varieties and can be grown in large pots. These are ideal if you are not certain where in the garden you want to plant your new tree or want to keep the tree small. They can usually be planted out in the garden at a later date if required.