Do you want to know how to plant apple trees without employing the services of a professional? You can grow apple trees in four easy steps, as shown in this guide.
I had long desired to get to my backyard and pluck fresh apples to satisfy my love for nature. I thought it would be a difficult task until 2007 when I saw apple trees in my friend’s home in Vancouver. Guess what?
I learned how to plant some in our home, and I will show you how to be a proud owner of apple trees in your orchard. Here we go.
Four Steps In Planting Apple Trees
1. Prepare the ground for planting your apple tree.
Preparation and choosing the ground to plant your apple is the first step to successfully growing a tree. The site where you plant your apple should be habitable and enhance its fruit production. So, consider the availability of the following.
- Where it can get up to 8 hours of sunlight per day
- Soil with a PH level between 6 and 7.5
- Preferably a loamy soil
- Spacious so that it will not grow under the shade of a building or a bigger tree.
- Clear the ground around the site and dig a hole whose depth is about 2 inches longer than the seedling’s root and two times its width.
- Get the apple seedling or rootstock.
Carefully choose the nursery. There are local farmers around who can help you out with this; go to them and purchase. You can also plant the seed to get the seedlings.
If you are trying out as a commercial farmer, then choose high-yielding tall apples, but for home orchards, the dwarf species will do. Do your due diligence to get your plant from a reliable source with proven records of breeding quality apples.
3. Plant The Apple Rootstock
After preparing the site and selecting which apple to plant, carefully follow these steps to plant your tree.
- Soak the root or root ball in water to soften the hardened soil around the root.
- Carefully loose the soil around the root so that the root hair that has acclimatized to a stationary position will be released to burrow into the soil in its new home.
- Place the plant in the hole in a straight and upright position, ensuring that the ground level is the same as where the tree trunk started.
- Fill the hole with soil.
- Add some organic soil as a cover after planting.
- Take care of the apple tree as it grows
You don’t go to sleep, leaving your new baby tree at the mercy of the environmental condition. There is a need for tendering and care to assist the tree to grow till it bears fruit.
- Mulch the soil on top (allowing a little space between the tree and the mulch gives the plant good water retention and prevents weeds. It will, in turn, aid the growth of the tree.
- Use a net guide to prevent rabbits and rodents from eating the tree bark.
- Water the tree regularly, but allow the previous watering to be fully absorbed before the next. It is to avoid water logging.
- Support your tree with one or two guides tied to the young tree to stabilize it against the wind till the root is properly established.
What Is The Best Time To Plant An Apple Tree
The Apple tree is a temperate region fruit tree. In these regions, some months in the year are usually snow and icefall periods (Between October and February) when no real planting can take place.
So, it is best to plant apple trees in March when the frost is dissolved. May and the beginning of June also represent a good time since it corresponds to the time in which all tree species are planted in a general way. We can find the nursery plant in two forms: bare root and potted nursery.
How Long Does An Apple Takes To Grow
If you want to grow a dwarf tree, keep in mind that it takes only 2 to 3 years to produce fruit after planting. To control the tree’s height, it’s best to graft it onto Mark rootstocks, which will limit its mature size to just 6 feet.
The dwarf apple tree is usually preferred by gardeners with small spaces to grow apples.
On the other hand, apple trees grown directly from seed can take 6-10 years to bear fruit, so a lot of patience is needed to tend your baby plant to maturity carefully. It takes work to ensure your trees bear healthy fruit, from pruning apple trees to pest control till harvest time.
When the seed method is used for growing apples, the seeds are likely to grow into a full-size tree, even if they are from a dwarf tree. The fruit of the seedlings is not likely to resemble its parent because many varieties of apples are hybrids but are produced by grafting.
In the second case, the tree from graft, cutting, or layering, 2 or 3 years after the operation, will be able to start bearing fruit.
If the apple tree is young and in the formation stage, it is expedient to remove the first apples so that it can focus all its energy on growing and not on ripening the fruits.
How To Make Apple Trees Grow Faster
Every apple farmer or owner always asks these questions before choosing the type of apple to plant. Which apple grows faster? How can I make my apple grow big balls? How can I make my apple tree grow much fruit every year? It all depends on the effort put into its care and using the technique I am about to show you here.
When an apple or any tree is exposed to good weather conditions, enough space, pollinators, and closely guided pruning during the first drop in June, the tree will produce big, juicy fruits.
- The first thing to do is choose a fast-growing apple tree species to grow, like the delicious red and yellow dwarf variety.
- Plant a nursery (rootstock) that is at least two years old to buy time and get your baby tree to bear fruit early enough.
- Allow the apple tree to go through the chill hours and dormancy period to prepare for the fruiting season. It is common in fruit trees found in temperate regions.
- Immediately after the dormant period in early spring, prune your apple trees.
- Remove weeds around the root of the tree and mulch it so that all the nutrients will be utilized solely by the tree when the competitors are weeded out.
- Use organic fertilizers or compose produced from your kitchen remnants to boost the apple tree’s performance in speedy growth.
- When the flowers turn into clusters of fruits, carefully thin out smaller apples. This method of pruning enables the few remaining apples to grow bigger and stronger.
How far apart to plant apple trees
When planting apple trees in the spring, you must keep the distance between the trees. Small varieties must be spaced 3.5 x 3.5 meters apart; for medium-sized plants, 6 x 6 meters; the large ones will measure 9 x 9 meters. This measurement is for a large-scale planting in hectares. But for a home orchard, 3 to 4 meters apart will do because, in most cases, dwarf varieties are planted.
Expert Tips For Planting Apple Trees In Your Backyard
These tips are what experienced arborists used to get 95%
to 100% survival rate on their tree plants.
- Avoid planting in extreme weather, like very hot or very cold times, especially for bare-root ones.
- Get disease-resistant species from proven breeders.
- Support the baby apple tree with a stick to avoid the wind blowing it off.
- Make sure to plant at least two different apples. This will allow cross-pollination, which the apple needs to produce big, juicy fruits. This second tree needs to be of a different variety and have concurrent flowering.
- Plant bee-attracting plants near your apple
- Prepare the apple tree for winter by wrapping it to prevent injury and mulching the root area to prevent frost from settling on it.
Best Soil To Grow Apple
The apple tree is a natural growing plant, but for it to bear good fruit, it needs special care. The soil for planting an apple tree must be suitable and have optimal acidity. Therefore, before planting a plant, it is necessary to study the acidity of the soil, after which it can be grown.
The seedling of an apple plant can be planted without prior treatment, provided the soil is in the normal range. Well-drained soil with a PH between 5 and 7 is best for apples to grow and yield the best fruit. The soil must be loose so as to be able to drain water, and apples generally do not thrive on water-clogged soil.
Planting Apple Trees Bare Root
A bare-root tree is basically a tree whose roots are not covered by anything. Bare-root apple plants are dormant (not actively growing) perennial plants dug up and stored with no soil around their roots. Usually, these plants are dug during their dormant state and kept chilled until it is time to ship them to you at a much-reduced cost.
What are the characteristics of the bare-root apple tree
- They have their bare roots exposed.
- They are cheaper to purchase since they do not have a substrate or container around the root area.
- Lighter to transport, the weight of the plant is drastically reduced for easy transportation.
- It is only available during the winter months and for a limited time due to the vegetative stop that the plants carry out during the winter.
- Bare-root apple tree nursery is prone to damage.
- Needs extra care while planting for it to survive.
Other tree plants that are propagated this way include Cherry, Apricot, Nectarine, Plum, almonds, and many more.
Precaution to take before planting a bare- root apple tree.
- Remove the wrapping, usually plastic, surrounding the roots as soon as you receive your order, and put them in a container with water to hydrate them.
- Keep them submerged for at least half an hour. Depending on your choice, you can also soak them overnight.
- Cut off any dangling abnormal roots.
- Make sure the root arrangement is radial and not all facing one side.
- Make sure you plant your bare-root apple nursery after the winter closes or, better still as soon as you receive your order.
- If the ground is not ready for your baby tree, keep them in a damp dry, and if possible, put some soil around them and wet them regularly but not clogged before. planting
What Climate Do Apples Grow
The climate strongly determines apple tree survival, fruiting, and flavor. Three climatic conditions that affect apple growth must be considered: cold, sun, and wind. since regional climates vary, the best performer that is noted to yield well in your location should be the utmost goal when choosing apple nurseries or seeds.
Cold: Apples generally thrive well in cold climates, which is the reason why they are a temperate region fruit. Essentially, the apple tree uses the cold wintertime to rest. It is called the chilly period of between 400 and 1000 hours, depending on the variety planted.
Sunlight: After the winter cold, apple trees enjoy and grow well under a wet or humid summer with bright sunlight during the day. The temperature that gives the best yield falls under 32o C or 90o F.
Bad Climate: As much as you wish your apple to perform well, you need to know that there are extreme conditions that will not favor its growth. Such conditions are strong winds that can affect the young apple plants, too-hot temperatures above 35o C, and hard frost.
CONCLUSION
Now that you’ve learned how to plant an apple tree, you need to understand that there are different apple tree varieties and different weather conditions; a good knowledge of what type to plant will give you the best yield either on the orchard farm or in your backyard based on your location and the available soil.
To get a very good and disease-resistant apple, check (link here or call to action). As an apple tree owner, you must know more about the types and maintenance calendars. Knowing these maintenance cultures helps you to grow high-yielding, healthy, and sweet apples.
FAQ
Q1. How to prune apple trees?
Pruning apple trees is essential for their health, fruit production, and overall shape. First, remove any dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Then, thin out areas where branches are overcrowded, ensuring that air and light can penetrate the canopy.
Avoid leaving stubs and make clean cuts that are near the branch collar. For thinner branches, use loppers; for larger ones, use sharp pruning shears. For the best results, it’s recommended to prune apple trees annually.
Q2. When to prune apple trees?
It is best to prune apple trees in early spring, just before the new growth springs out, or late winter. It helps the tree heal quickly, reduces the risk of disease, and sets the stage for spring growth.
Q3. How long do apple trees take to grow?
Apple trees, from the time of planting a sapling, generally take about 4 to 6 years to produce their first fruit. But it depends on the variety of the apple tree, soil quality, and overall care. Dwarf varieties might bear fruit earlier, typically in 2 to 4 years.
Q4. Can you grow apple trees in Florida?
Yes, apple trees can be grown in Florida, but they require varieties suited to the state’s warm climate. Apple tree varieties like ‘Anna’, ‘Dorsett Golden,’ and ‘Tropic Sweet’ have been developed specifically for warmer zones and can produce fruit in Florida’s conditions.
Q5. Can you grow apple trees in Texas?
Absolutely! While Texas has diverse climates, there are apple tree varieties suitable for each region. In the cooler parts of Texas, traditional varieties can be grown. In warmer regions, low-chill or even no-chill varieties are preferred. Popular choices for Texas include ‘Golden Dorsett,’ ‘Anna,’ and ‘Ein Shemer.’
Q6. When to spray apple trees?
Apple trees should be sprayed at various times throughout the year for different purposes. Start with a dormant oil spray in late winter to target overwintering pests. As buds break in the spring, use fungicides to prevent diseases like apple scab.
Continue with regular fungicide treatments and introduce insecticides when flower petals fall to target common pests. Always read and follow label instructions when spraying.
Q7. How tall do apple trees grow?
The height of an apple tree can vary significantly based on its type and variety. Dwarf apple trees can grow between 8 to 10 feet tall, semi-dwarf trees between 12 to 15 feet, and standard apple trees can grow upwards of 20 feet or more.
Q8. Where to buy apple trees near me?
To buy apple trees, consider visiting local nurseries or garden centers, as they often carry varieties suited to your region. Additionally, there are numerous reputable online nurseries that ship trees directly to consumers. Before purchasing, research the best apple varieties for your area.
Q9. How to pollinate apple trees?
Most apple tree varieties are not self-pollinating and require another apple variety nearby to facilitate cross-pollination. The process typically involves bees transferring pollen from the flowers of one apple tree to another.
To ensure adequate pollination, plant two or more different apple varieties within 50 feet of each other. If space is limited, consider grafting a branch from another variety onto your tree or using a pollen brush to transfer pollen between flowers manually.