Apple Tree Variety & Positioning?

[SamBee]

I am new to this self sufficient-ish lifestyle and want to get an apple tree this weekend. I'll try to provide as much info as I can so you can help me.

Our garden is in Bournemouth 1.5km from the coast

I'm looking to plant an apple tree in the same corner of the garden where there is already an established pear tree. My first question is, is there a problem with this, or they wont interfere with each other in a way i should know about.

The pear tree is placed in the bottom corner of the garden next to a south facing hedge. My second question is how much space should be given between the two trees and how close to the hedge can it be, without it growing over onto the garden behind.

Another question is what sort of varieties are best suited to this part of the country, and can you get any of them in self-fertile varieties?

My last question is, is there anything else you need to know from me, or anything else I should know from you?

Thank You!

[Green Aura]

The distance between the trees depends on their rootstock - fruit trees are grafted onto different roots to control their size. If your pear tree is a dwarf rootstock then you can get a dwarf apple and plant them fairly close together - ours were about 6-8ft apart. If it's any bigger then you need to leave more space.

Sorry can't be more precise than that.

[Odsox]

Welcome to the group.
There are not really an self fertile apples so it really all depends if you neighbours have apple trees within bee flying distance.
If not, or you don't want to trust the bees then I would suggest one of the many "family" trees that are getting popular. They have 2 or 3 different varieties grafted onto a single rootstock, so they pollinate each other and the varieties will have been chosen for just that purpose.
That way you can have a single dwarf tree and benefit from a variety of fruit.

[SamBee]

Oh wow, okay that is interesting. Two more questions then, how do I know if the pear tree is dwarf rootstock, I'm not familiar with this term, so I'm just assuming it means it has shorter roots or not?

&I'd like to trust the bees, except with their population in decline, and this garden not being frequented by them that often i think the best option would be one of these family trees. I know you're in Ireland, but do you know if they're available in garden centres, or will I have to purchase one from an online catalogue.

I aim to make the garden a paradise for bees this summer. :)

Thank you for the advice so far.

[Green Aura]

The rootstock determines the size of the tree - so a dwarf tree stays small enough to reach the top and pick the fruit without a ladder. There are different ones. Google Ken Muir and his site has loads of info.

Odsox is right - if you're only planning on one apple tree and your neighbours don't have one nearby, you need a family tree. Again Ken Muirs site will give info.

[SamBee]

Thank you fro all your help. In the end we got a dwarf rootstock Scrumptious tree, and it is planted half way between the pear and the cherry tree along a south east facing hedge.

There's a variety of tree on Ken Muir's site called a minerette, they look really nice as potted plants, I could imagine having one either side of the front door.