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How to Plant Apple Trees
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Where To Grow Apple trees are tolerant of most soil conditions - extremes of acid or alkaline soil will need to be corrected before planting. Perfect conditions are a crumbly soil with medium fertility and slightly on the acid side. |
Soil Preparation
Soil preparation is best done a month or more before planting so that
the soil has time to settle. Dig a 60cm (2ft) deep by 1.2m (4ft) square
hole, incorporating as much organic material as possible - aim to get the soil crumbly.
If the tree is being planted in soil which has previously been fertilised for other crops, do not add more fertiliser - too fertile a soil will result in too much tree growth at the expense of too little fruit growth.
If the tree is being planted in a lawn, prepare as above, working in three handfuls of bonemeal or other long-lasting fertiliser.
When
and How To Plant Apple Trees
Planting apple trees should be done any time during the winter and early Spring months,
October to
December being the best months.
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Planting is simple - in basic terms, dig a hole large enough to easily take the roots, place the tree in the hole and cover the roots with soil up to the surrounding ground level. Simple enough, but bear in mind a few points. Don't add any fertiliser to the soil at this time - it may burn the roots and it will only encourage tree growth at the expense of fruit growth. |
| The tree should be planted to the same depth as it was in the pot (or the soil mark on the trunk in the case of bare-rooted trees). If in doubt, make sure that the joining point between the rootstock and scion (see previous section entitled rootstocks) is at least 5cms (2in) above ground level. Having planted the tree, firm down the soil using your boots to ensure the soil is in good contact with the roots. Water well if the conditions are dry. |
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Trees on the following rootstocks will need staking throughout their lives -
M9, M26 and M27. Stakes should be 5cm (2in) diameter and in general
about 1.5m (5ft) high - 60cm (2ft) below ground, and the remainder above
ground.
The stake should be 8cm (3in) or so from the main stem. Tie the trunk to the stake in one or two places using plastic ties available from garden centres. Do not use wire or anything which could cut into the tree trunk. |
The ties will need to be checked for the first couple of years to ensure that growth of the tree trunk has not caused them to become too tight.
More vigorous varieties will also need staking during their first two years after planting - after this time the stakes can be removed.
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VEGETABLE PLANNER |
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