Since apple trees typically grow in nutrient-rich soils, they don't need to be fertilized frequently. However, it is not recommended to apply fertilizer directly to the roots, as that may result in root burn. You may wish to fertilize your apple tree immediately after planting. However, during drought periods, you may want to water trees that are already fruiting. Once established, it will not need frequent watering. When choosing and planting your apple tree, keep in mind that while dwarf apple trees start bearing fruit two to three years after planting, a standard size apple tree can take up to eight years to bear fruit.īe sure to water your apple tree thoroughly after planting. Be sure to understand the cultivar needs of your apple tree before planting. Certain varieties of apple need three cultivars for successful pollination. For best results, plant a second apple tree nearby. After the hole is filled, press the soil and water it well.Īpple trees do not fruit well on their own and will need a pollination partner, or cultivar, planted within 100 feet (30 m). As you cover the roots with the soil, pat it down to remove air pockets. Loosen the soil of the walls and the bottom of the hole before spreading the roots, making sure that they are not too crowded. To plant your apple tree, dig a two-foot (60-cm) deep hole approximately twice as wide as the root system. For best results, soak the roots in water 24 hours prior to planting. It is best to plant apple trees in the early spring.
The tree should be between four and six feet (1.0 - 1.8 m) tall and have a good root system. Other propagation techniques include budding and layering, and are widely used for commercial purposes however, since selecting the most suitable variety is crucial to success, most home gardeners find it more convenient to buy a one-year-old apple tree from a local nursery.
Then, they are ready to be grown into a young tree that can be grafted with the desired apple variety. Apple seeds need to go through a stratification process that involves keeping them in moist conditions and subjecting them to a period of cold. While sowing seeds seems to be the easiest way of propagation, the result is often uncertain, since the seeds carry genetic information of two different varieties. Please order over the preceding summer.There are many ways to grow an apple tree. Unfortunately it is too late - by this point in the season we will have run out of trees, and even if we had trees left it would be too late for us to send them because they will have come out of dormancy. Note for customers in zone 4Įvery May we get calls and emails from customers in zone 4 who have just emerged from the long winter freeze and are starting to think about planting fruit trees. Note that we don't ask for payment for summer orders until nearer the time of shipping. We usually still have good availability over the winter, but the sooner you order the better. Customers that order over the summer have the best choice of varieties and sizes. This means the best time to order is over the summer, even if you won't be planting the trees until the following spring. Fruit trees are produced on an annual cycle and harvested in late fall. While late fall and early spring are the best times to plant, they are not the best times to order apple trees. The only thing that matters is the state of the ground - if it is frozen solid then you can't plant, but as soon as it starts to thaw it is time to plant. Frost dates are irrelevant when it comes to planting fruit trees, and indeed if you wait for the last frost date in your area it will be far too late to plant a fruit tree. If in doubt, spring planting is safer.Ĭustomers sometimes ask about planting in spring after the last frost dates. However Fall planting is only advisable if minimum winter temperatures are not likely to be much below freezing. In warmer zones (7 and above) such as southern California, areas of the Pacific North West, and some of the southern states, it is also possible, and often preferable, to plant in the Fall - usually November. The exact month for planting depends on where you live and our spring shipping dates give a rough indication of the best time in your state. For most parts of North America spring is the best time to plant new apple trees.
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