It’s fun to imagine walking out into your yard and picking apples from your own apple trees. But, of course, there are a few things to know before going to your local nursery and picking up your trees.

Before you start:

Step 1: Apple trees need two varieties to fruit. The second tree can be a crabapple that blooms at the same time as your tree.

Step 2: Evaluate the place you want to plant your apple tree(s).

A.    Does it get at least 6 hours (preferably 8) of full sun?

B.    Does it drain well?

C.    Is there enough room for the mature tree?

Step 3: Research cultivars before you got to a nursery.

A.    Any tree smaller than a standard is going to be grafted onto a rootstock that will determine the mature size.

B.    A standard size tree can grow between 20 and 30 feet tall. You will need 26 square feet.

C.    A semi-dwarf tree will be between 14 and 22 feet tall. It will need an area of about 20 square feet.

D.    Dwarf trees grow between 6 and 12 feet and need an area of about 14 feet square. A super-dwarf tree will need staking its entire life.

E.    For best pollination, make sure both cultivars are hardy in zone 4 and that the bloom time is the same.

F.    For more on root stocks:

https://apples.extension.org/understanding-apple-tree-size-dwarf-semi-dwarf-and-standard/

Step 4: After you have a few cultivars in mind, it’s off to the nursery

A.     Make sure you have a good way to transport your tree(s). 

B.     Cushion the branches and trunk when tying it down.

C.     The nursery may wrap the tree’s canopy for you, or you can cover it with a well tied-down tarp.

D.     Drive slowly, you don’t want the foliage to get wind-whipped.

           https://trees.umn.edu/sites/trees.umn.edu/files/files/best-planting-practices.pdf

Step 5: Prepare the planting site before you take the tree out of its container. Have water and back-fill ready. Water the back-fill when the hole is half full and again when it’s full. It’s good to have a slight mound around the hole to help direct the water. If necessary, have staking supplies ready.

Step 6: Planting your tree(s)

A.    Bare-root stock: this allows you to spread out the roots and easily make sure there are no stem-girdling roots. Stem-girdling roots grow around the trunk and as they increase in size, they can strangle the trunk. You can buy bare-root or wash the soil off a (smaller) container-grown tree.

B.    Container-grown stock: make sure to cut any stem-girdling roots and roots above the trunk flare (the bottom of the trunk gets wider before the roots start).

https://extension.umn.edu/how/planting-and-transplanting-trees-and-shrubs#container-grown-1399864

C.    Ball-and-burlap stock: make sure you have help or hire someone to plant the tree. Again, inspect the trunk where it meets the soil ball to look for stem girdling roots.

Step 7: Check here https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples , for advice on aftercare, pest management and harvesting and storage.

Happy growing!

Photo credits: Marjory Blare (all)