Planting apple trees

There are hundreds of varieties of apples that may be grown on trees produced from seedlings that were grown in nurseries, or from grafts on existing apple tree. Bare-root apple trees should be planted in the early spring as soon as the soil can be worked.

The fruit is developed on spurs formed by branchlets of three or more years to growth, the tree yielding for many years thereafter. Standard or full-sized trees can grow up to 30 feet tall and can take six years to bear their first fruit. Use of dwarfing rootstocks can result in earlier bearing.

Most fruit trees are available in “dwarf” form; typically reaching about six feet in size, these may also be grown in large planters. “Semi-dwarf” fruit trees grow to 10 to 15 feet tall.

Apples grow best where there is cold in winter, moderate summer temperatures, and medium to high humidity.

Ample winter chilling and a relatively dry growing season allow for a greater number of varieties to be grown with less fungal and bacterial disease pressure.

Apple trees need full sun—at least six to eight hours of sunlight during the growing season. The best soil for apple trees is moist and well-drained with a neutral soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0 in order to survive and flourish. Mounding the earth to create a berm (3 feet) is an excellent idea if there is not enough space/depth where the tree is to be planted.

Fertilizer of the soil and periodic pruning and thinning of apple trees are considered necessary for good apple crops. The purpose of pruning a young tree is to control its shape by developing a strong, well-balanced framework of scaffold branches.

Periodically (about every 3 years) soil pH should be checked. The soil test report will indicate if additional liming is required.

Newly planted apple trees require watering weekly. The key is to let the water soak into the soil slowly to allow for deep watering until it’s established. In areas of poor drainage, roots will die resulting in stunted growth and eventual death of the tree. Conversely, apple trees will also perform poorly on droughty soils.

Most apples need pollen from another apple tree to produce fruit. This is called cross-pollination. Apples are strongly cross pollinated, so more than one variety with overlapping bloom dates (similar chilling requirements) are necessary for good fruit production.

Apple trees benefit from pruning. Pruning will allow an apple tree allow the tree to get light and air. Pruning should be done every year.
Planting apple trees