The best time to plant apple trees is spring, like all other fruit trees, although you can work in the fall knowing there are risks if a harsh winter lies ahead. It is generally best to plant trees in the spring, however, if you live in an area with mild autumns and the air is humid during the winter months, they can be planted in the fall.
Apple trees should be planted during the dormant period. This usually corresponds to late fall and early winter. The dormant period is ideal because it ensures the tree has time to spread its roots so that it will be prepared to bloom during the upcoming spring and summer months.
You can plant apple trees in the fall, preferably early in the season, to give the roots a chance to grow before the ground freezes. In this case, it is better not to plant at the beginning of winter, while the tree is dormant and not actively absorbing moisture from the soil – it is best to plant in the spring, when the tree is just beginning to evaporate.
The Advantage of Planting in the Fall
Planting in the fall allows the roots of the tree to take root long enough to accustom them to the soil and prepare them for rapid growth the following spring. If you need to delay planting a tree with bare roots, you will need to bend it as soon as it appears until the weather is good for planting. Although apple merchants almost insist on planting their trees as soon as they arrive, which is by far the best idea, hauling is a common practice that keeps a bare-rooted tree in top condition for at least a week, and often longer.
When you have trees to plant, try to plant them in the ground as soon as possible (trees that come in pots with soil can keep for a few days; the bare root stump should be placed in a bucket of water for three to four days). hours before sowing). Soak the tree in a bucket of water for a few hours before planting and don’t let the roots dry out while planting. After you pick up your trees from the nursery, don’t let the roots dry out. Do not try to overdo the tree before it sits down for the winter.
If your fruit tree is planted in the winter, its roots will regrow over the winter and result in more growth during the first tree season, as well as help the tree settle in more easily in the spring when it is no longer dormant.
Plant Trees in the Dorman Period
The traditional time for planting fruit trees is during the dormant period from mid-autumn to early spring, although potted crops can be harvested all year round. In the foothills of North Carolina, apples bloom in the spring around the same time as dogwood, and the fruit can be harvested from June to November, depending on the variety. You can plant a tree that blooms at the same time as your tree to get more fruit, or a tree that blooms at different times to pick fresh apples at different times of the year.
Container grown apple trees can be planted any time of the year as long as the ground does not freeze, usually unless dry conditions prevail. If home apple growers choose to grow container grown trees, they can plant them at any time of the growing season, as long as there is enough water.
Containers, pots, or trees wrapped in bales and jute can be planted almost any time of year, with roots rooted in existing soil. Trees with bare roots, uprooted during dormant periods with no leaves or fruit, roots shaken from the ground and packed in water-bearing material, best planted in February, March, April and sometimes May (in winter and spring end).
Tips on Tree Planting and Roots
While bare-rooted trees can be planted later in the spring, they take time to settle into the landscape before winter sets in, especially in colder climates. In the milder USDA plant hardiness zones 8 and above, located on the western, southwestern, and southern coasts, bare-rooted trees can be planted in late fall, winter, and early spring. In the part of the country that is in USDA zones 6 to 8, you can start planting apple trees in early spring (before they grow) or late fall (after they go dormant).
If the soil is not frozen, spring planting of apple trees can be carried out from mid to late March to early May, ideally. If your soil is less than ideal, you can add nutrients at planting time to give your new apple tree a head start.
Routine Fertilization Is Required
You will also need to fertilize the apples every spring with an extended release all-purpose plant food to make sure the tree has enough nutrients to support a healthy apple crop. It’s a good idea to pre-treat the soil your trees will be in, mix in the compost, provide nutrients, and stimulate living organisms that will help your trees resist pests and disease.
Your goal is to have a fruit tree/plant in the ground so that the roots can get over the shock of transplanting and begin to form their root system before the summer stress and start working on leaf and fruit growth.
If this is the case, be sure to plant six weeks before the first frost so that the tree has time to properly establish itself before winter. The best time to plant trees is as early as possible in the spring, after the frost has cleared the ground, but after it has dried out a little from the melting snow. It is also possible to plant a tree at any time from autumn to spring, unless it is done during periods of frost; this is also possible in summer, except during periods of extreme heat.
While the safest time of year to plant fruit trees in Michigan is April-June, small dwarf and medium trees can be planted a little later – the key is to grow them with plenty of water so the roots can withstand this hottest time of the year.
