How to Apple Tree:

A How To about Apple Trees

by Nicky Rogers

You can eat 'em straight off the tree, or in a pie, or squeezed into juice or made into cider, or sauce, but there's no getting around the fact almost everybody loves apples in one form or another. And with the variety of apples to choose from, it’s no wonder they are such a popular fruit.

The first apple trees, called wild apple trees or crab trees, originated in England and are the ancestors of all apple trees grown throughout the world today. As you know from the Johnny Appleseed myth, growing an apple tree can be fun, rewarding, and educational, but you still need to know a few things before embarking on the apple tree journey.

Your first consideration is the type of apple tree you want to grow and since there are so many varied types of trees, you need to decide what you're looking for in your apple.

Do you plan to cook your apples? If so, pick an apple tree that will give you good cooking apples such as Golden Delicious, Empire, Jonagold, Stayman, and Rome. All of these are good for pie making, cooking, or baking.

Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious, and Braeburn apples aren’t as good for cooking and are best eaten fresh.

Another consideration when choosing your apple tree is the adult size (the height and spread). An apple tree’s ultimate size is dependent on its rootstock.

So what the heck is a "rootstock?" Before purchasing an apple tree, be sure to first ask about what kind of rootstock the tree has, and if your vender is worth his salt, he'll tell you all about "rootstock." If not, it's time to find another live tree vender!

If the rootstock is a seedling, the apple tree will grow full sized, being a standard size tree. But if the rootstock is size-controlled or dwarfing, then the tree will be smaller than the standard apple tree. Fortunately, rootstock does not affect the type or quality of the fruit the tree produces; however, rootstock does affect how quickly the tree will bear fruit and can negatively impact the tree's ability to fight pests and disease.

The right location to plant your tree is also essential to growing a producing apple tree. Apple trees can grow in most types of soil as long as there is enough water and proper drainage, as well as sufficient nutrients in the soil. Try to plant your tree at a slightly elevated level to help avoid over-exposure to frost. Dig your hole approximately 24 inches deep and twice the diameter of the rootstock.

Do not add fertilizer at this time. This can burn the roots and kill or stunt the tree.

When an apple tree is planted on top of a small hill, the cold air will flow down the hill and not accumulate around the tree, and this is what you're aiming for: plant the tree in the least likely place to experience frost or cold spots. Apple trees should receive enough direct sunlight so they won't be covered in shade for more than five hours during the day. Pat down soil well.

When choosing a spot for the tree, you need to factor in the tree's rooting needs. Rootstock determines how much space a tree will need to grow. Make sure the soil surrounding the tree is free from weeds and grass. Grass will compete with the roots for the water and nutrients and prevent the tree from reaching its full growth and productivity in the quickest time.