How to Grow Apple Trees for Beginners | Complete Apple Tree Planting & Care Guide, by Ty Ty Nursery Official on YouTube. 1 min 8 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 8 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Check your USDA hardiness zone and the tree's chill hours. Cold areas suit Honeycrisp or McIntosh, while warm areas need low-chill types like Anna, Golden Dorsett or Ein Shemer.
Pick a second apple variety that flowers at the same time and grows in your climate. Most apples need a partner tree nearby to set fruit.
Choose a site with 6 to 8 or more hours of direct sun, good airflow and well-draining soil. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Dig a wide hole and spread the roots out naturally. Set the tree so the graft union sits above the finished soil level.
Backfill the hole carefully and water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. Plant while the tree is dormant if you can.
Water the young tree consistently through the first year. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Pull off any flowers in the first year so the tree puts energy into roots and growth instead of fruit.
Spread mulch around the base and keep weeds and grass away from the trunk. Leave a small gap between mulch and bark.
Prune in late winter while the tree is dormant. Remove dead or crossing branches and shape the framework.
On mature trees, thin heavy fruit clusters so branches are not overloaded. Watch for common pests and diseases and deal with them early.
Tips and common mistakes
Plant bare-root trees while dormant, before new growth starts in spring.
Keep the graft union above soil level or the tree may rot or grow weak.
Do not let grass and weeds compete with a young tree in its first year.
Check chill hours for your area before buying, since a poor match means few or no blooms.
Questions
Do I need two apple trees to get fruit?
Most apple varieties need a different compatible variety flowering nearby. The easiest route is planting two varieties that both suit your climate, though a crabapple can also help.
When should I prune a young apple tree?
Prune in late winter while the tree is dormant. Focus on dead, damaged or crossing branches and build a strong open framework.
Why remove flowers in the first year?
Removing first-year blooms sends the tree's energy into roots and growth. You get a stronger tree and better crops in later years.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
