Apple trees thrive in full sun with a soil pH of 6.2 to 6.5 and can benefit from yearly fertilization. When properly placed in good growing conditions an apple tree will grow vigorously, eventually making it difficult to harvest if not properly tended to on a regular basis. Pruning lightly to moderately on a regular basis is key, pruning severely will cause adverse effects, and should be avoided. Make sure to thin out the branches and cut back suckers. Apples also tend to overproduce and this weight can damage your tree. Go through when the fruit is about the size of an olive and selectively thin out some fruit, this will help reduce the stress on branches, relocate energy to plant and remaining fruit growth, and discourage bumper cropping. Trees planted in ideal growing condition with proper pruning and maintenance will create a healthy tree with stronger resistance, although, apples, some varieties more then others, can still be prone to a few diseases and pests, and thus can benefit from a pest management regiment.

A apple tree can grow very large with no staking required, to quite small, even shrub like, it all depends on which root stock the apple variety is grafted to. There are a variety of options to suit every household.

Dwarf- A dwarf apple tree will grow 8-10′ tall and wide. They are usually the earliest to mature and bear fruit, and typically produce 1/4-1 bushel a tree. They usually benefit from staking.

Semi Dwarf- A semi-dwarf apple tree will grow 12-15′ tall and wide. They are slower to bear fruit then dwarf, but will produce a larger amount, typically 5-10 bushels a tree. They commonly do not require staking.

Standard- A standard apple tree will grow 18′ x 18′ or larger. They often take longer to bear fruit, but bear the most fruit, typically 10-20 bushels a tree. They are very sturdy and require no staking.

Columnar- A columnar apple tree has a upright, narrow habit, usually growing 8-10′ tall but only 2-3′ wide. They are perfect for very small yards and can be container grown.

In order for apples to set fruit they need to be pollinated. Apples are most commonly pollinated by honey bees. Most apple varieties require or benefit from cross-pollination to get a good fruit set. Cross pollination will occur when two or more differing varieties of apples are planted within the same vicinity and bloom at the same or overlapping times. Our pollination chart provides a list of apple varieties we commonly carry and their pollination needs.

More about apple pollination

There are thousands of apple varieties and each one is unique and suited for different uses. Some apples are better for storing, while some are best eaten right away. Some apples are great for baking, but some just turn to mush in the oven. Along with apple pollination, this chart gives a selection of the best uses for the varieties of apples we commonly carry.