- 1). Grow fruit trees in the right regions. Citrus trees like lemons and limes are sensitive to cold and only survive in subtropical, frost-free conditions, while stone and seed fruit trees -- peaches, nectarines, cherries, apples, pears -- are hardier to cold and grow in a wider range of areas. If your fruit tree is dying, your region might be too cold for the variety. Grow sensitive fruit trees in 30-gallon pots with drainage holes if you live in a cold area, so you can take them indoors in the winter.
- 2). Increase the nutrition around your fruit tree's roots. If the tree's leaves are yellowing and dropping off, it might not be receiving enough drainage, air or nutrition. Use a garden fork to turn over the top 6 inches of soil around the fruit tree, to loosen any impacted earth and aerate the roots. Mix a combination of half quick-draining soil and half organic compost into the 6 inches you've loosened, to increase the nutrients available to the tree, and give the tree better drainage.
- 3). Increase the fruit tree's watering. Some fruit trees, like limes, require extensive moisture in their soil. If your tree's leaves are yellowing or dropping, it might also be a sign of lack of water. Give the fruit tree at least 2 inches of water every week, to maintain soil moisture around its roots. If you live in an especially hot, dry area, increase your watering to 2 inches twice a week. Increase your waterings to biweekly when the fruit trees are blooming and bearing fruit.
- 4). Feed the fruit trees every spring with an organic or fruit-specific fertilizer, to increase the tree's resources for spring growth, blooming and fruiting. Follow manufacturer directions in regard to quantity and application. Always combine fertilizer application with a watering to help the fertilizer soak into the soil.
- 5). Prune fruit trees in late winter or early spring, before their spring growth begins. If the tree has failing leaves, or is refusing to bloom, it may be that it's not getting enough sun or air. Prune away any dead or damaged wood or foliage, and trim several shoots along each branch. Cut away any inside wood that's not receiving enough light. This process opens up the tree to both air and light for blooming and fruiting.
- 6). Learn your fruit tree's age to judge whether it should be fruiting. Fruit trees don't bear fruit until they're mature, and every fruit tree has a different maturity rate. Apples, pears and cherries generally mature in two to three years, while plums and citrus trees can take up to five years. If your tree isn't old enough to bear fruit, give it time.
- 7). Plant second and third seedlings to encourage pollination and fruiting. Some fruit trees, like limes, apples and avocados, may be self-infertile, meaning that a tree's flowers can't pollinate other flowers on the tree. These trees need pollinators to fertilize their flowers and produce fruit. Plant pollinators within 20 feet of the original tree, in locations that get full sun for eight hours a day. Amend the soil with a combination of half quick-draining soil and half organic compost before planting.
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