By David W. Lockwood
University of Georgia
Volume XXVIII
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You can grow apples in most of Georgia, though the best
varieties will differ
within the state. Local growers, gardeners or nurseries, or
your county University
of Georgia Extension Service office, can tell you the best
variety for your
yard.
Varieties with disease resistance are best.
Size and spacing important
considerations
The size of a mature apple tree depends on several factors,
including variety
and rootstock. Varieties such as spur Arkansas Black or spur-
type Red Delicious
tend to be compact trees, while Mutsu (Crispin) and Jonagold
are quite vigorous.
Within the same variety, the rootstock can vary the size from
full size to
“semidwarf” (half to three-quarter size) to “dwarf” (25
percent to 40 percent
of full size).
Whatever you plant, most apple trees need to be cross-
pollinated by a different
variety. So unless you already have apple trees within about
50 feet, plant
at least three varieties to make sure you get good cross-
pollination.
Consider yield
You may be tempted to plant several trees when just a few may
yield more apples
than you’ll need. With good care and accommodating weather, a
mature dwarf tree
can easily produce more than a bushel of apples. A semidwarf
tree can produce
3 to 5 bushels, and a standard-size tree can yield more than
10 bushels.
Dwarf trees start to bear fruit earlier than either semidwarf
or standard trees.
The fruit quality will be better, too, and more uniform
throughout the tree.
Tree support and irrigation, though, are essential for dwarf
trees.
Site selection and purchasing
Selecting a good site to plant apple trees is crucial to
their success. Frost
damage and disease pressure is greater in low areas. Apple
trees need full sun
to do their best.
The soil should be deep (at least 24 to 30 inches of rooting
depth), well-drained
and moderately fertile. Avoid drought-prone areas.
Buy trees from a reputable nursery. There are several
excellent nurseries in
the Southeast, but trees don’t need to be locally grown to be
adaptable to Georgia
growing conditions.
Planting considerations
Before planting, protect the tree’s root system from
freezing, overheating
or drying out. The best time to plant bare-root fruit trees is
late winter to
early spring, several weeks before it will start growing.
Dig a hole deep enough to allow the tree to be set as deep or
slightly deeper
than it was in the nursery. The bud union, which separates the
variety from
the rootstock, should be 1 to 2 inches above the ground.
Prune long roots so they will fit in the hole instead of
bending them to fit.
Don’t put any fertilizer in the planting hole. This could burn
the roots.
Cover the root system with soil, working the soil around and
under the roots
to avoid leaving air pockets. Water the tree well, and then
fill the hole to
a point slightly higher than the surrounding ground.
Prune new trees when you plant them. The ideal tree to buy is
a whip 4 to 6
feet tall. Bigger trees aren’t better trees. After you plant
it, cut the tree
off 6 to 8 inches above the height you want for the bottom
limbs — usually
about 2 feet above the ground.
Depending on the variety and rootstock, a dwarf tree may
produce its first
crop in the second or third year after you plant it. A
semidwarf tree should
begin bearing within three to four years. A standard tree may
not bear any fruit
for its first five to seven years.
You can get more information on fruit tree care at your
county UGA Extension
office.
