When properly placed in good growing conditions, an apple tree will grow vigorously, eventually making it difficult to harvest if not properly tended to. With proper maintenance, apple trees can grow strong resistances to potential disease and pest problems.

SUNLIGHT
Apple trees thrive in full sun and prefer morning light. They need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight. If planted in partial shade, they may yield less fruit, and the apples are often smaller and less flavorful.

SOIL
While apple trees can grow in a wide range of soils, they prefer fertile well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5-6.5. Compact or clay subsoil should be avoided as these can cause water-logged conditions leading to root rot. Soil can be improved with amendments such as enriching compost, or well-rotted manure.

FERTILIZER
In nutrient rich soil, withhold using fertilizer until the tree begins bearing fruit. Otherwise, apply fertilizer in early spring before the buds open and again in late summer. Make sure to evenly distribute the fertilizer around the tree and water thoroughly afterwards so the nutrients reach the roots. Alternatively, nutrients can be given with a nice layer of compost or manure.

PRUNING
Prune lightly to moderately in late winter or early spring when the tree is dormant.
-Trim dead, damaged, or diseased branches.
-Branches that grow down or straight up.
-Sucker branches.
-Crossing or rubbing branches.
Keep in mind that severe pruning will cause adverse side effects, such as lowering yields, damaging the tree’s structure, and making it more susceptible to disease, and should be avoided.
Apple trees tend to overproduce and the weight can damage the tree. During the growing season when the fruit is about the size of an olive, selectively thin out some fruit. This will help reduce the stress on the branches and relocate energy to the rest of the tree and remaining fruit growth to give better quality fruits.

An apple tree can grow very large with no staking required to quite small, even shrub-like; it all depends on which rootstock the apple variety is grafted to. This makes it possible for every household to pick an apple tree that suits their space and needs.

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

SEMI-DWARF
A semi-dwarf apple tree will grow 12-15 ft tall and wide. They are slower to bear fruit than a dwarf, but will produce a larger amount of about 5-10 bushels a tree.

STANDARD
A standard apple tree will grow 18 ft tall and wide or larger. They often take more time to bear fruit, but produce the most at about 10-20 bushels a tree.

COLUMNAR
Columnar apple trees are upright with a narrow habit, usually growing 8-10 ft tall, but only 2-3 ft wide. They are perfect for 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 have multiple uses too!

Cooking - Chefs and apple pie enthusiasts rejoice over cooking apples. They tend to be larger than other apples, tarter, and keep a firm flesh that doesn’t break down easily when cooked.

Freezing - Another way to store apples, freezing allows for more ready-made versatility than storing the whole apple. Apples are typically cut before freezing, which makes them instantly prepared for smoothies, sauces, cobblers, and more.

Fresh Eating - The perfect snack directly from tree to hand. Fresh eating apples are sweeter and have a pleasant texture compared to others.

Winter Keeping (storage) - These apples are usually crisp, tart, and have a thick skin, which helps them store easy in cool, dry places. They’re harvested later in the season, giving them a robust flavor.

Young Bearing - Just as the name implies, young bearing apples produce fruit in roughly 2-3 years after planting. Perfect for apple lovers that can’t wait to get their hands on those juicy fruits.
Along with apple pollination, our pollination chart gives a selection of the best uses for the varieties of apples we commonly carry.