Apple trees are one of the most common fruit trees grown commercially and at home. They are part of the genus Malus in the family Rosaceae which also includes 42 to 55 closely related species such as crabapples, crabtrees, and wild apples.
There are around 7500 different cultivars of apples and they come in red, green, yellow, and colors and can come in various sizes such a dwarf, semi-dwarf, and full sized trees depending on their rootstock.
Down below, you’ll find everything you need to get started growing you own, propagation techniques, cultivar suggestions, winter care advice, and harvesting and storage tips along with suggested techniques to fight various diseases and pest infestations. Plant your apple tree today and happy gardening!
We all know pruning is good for apple trees but to promote the best harvest ever, you should also be thinning your apples. Thinning is the process of removing some of the small, developing fruits so the tree can put its energy into the remaining pommes. Learn when and how to thin apples in this guide. Read more now.
‘McIntosh’ is the perfect choice for gardeners who want to grow apples in cold regions. The thick-skinned fruits have soft, honey-sweet, cider-flavored flesh that is ideal for making applesauce and for fresh eating. Looking for a classic? Learn how to grow and care for ‘McIntosh’ apple trees in this guide. Read more.
An important part of growing apples is knowing why, when, and how to prune the trees to encourage healthy growth and the best fruit production. This is a yearly process that you need to take care of to ensure an abundant harvest. Learn all about when and how to prune apple trees in this guide. Read more now.
Pink Lady apples are delicious as well as being gorgeous to look at with their pink skin over a pale greenish hue. “Pink Lady” is the marketing name for a few different apple cultivars that meet defined criteria. Learn about all the history of these apples and how to grow them at home in this guide. Read more now.
If you’re growing apple trees, there may come a time when you wish to propagate one of your favorites. There are three main ways to start new apple trees: from seed, via stem cuttings, or by grafting. In this guide, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for each of these three methods and learn the pros and cons. Read more.
Apple scab is an extremely common and costly disease that ruins homegrown and commercial harvests alike. Caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis, this disease can be controlled if you catch it early and keep on top of management. Learn how to identify and address apple scab in this guide. Read more now.
Apples have been a part of human culture for millennia and are one of the most popular fruits consumed today. Do you want to enjoy your own supply of juicy homegrown apples harvested from your own orchard? Learn everything you need to know about how to plant and grow apple trees in this guide. Read more now.
Selecting the best apple tree varieties can be disappointing and fruitless (pun intended) if you don’t pick the right trees. Cold hardiness, flowering groups, and chill hours can be overwhelming, and don’t get me started on the trouble with triploids. Read more to learn about picking the right ones for your yard.
Fireblight can quickly infect apples, pears, and plums, leaving them sickly, ugly, and unable to produce as many healthy fruits. Our guide discusses this serious bacterial disease, how to manage fireblight infections in your trees, and even how to prevent infections from happening in the first place. Read more.
If you find yourself with a bumper crop of apples, you’ll likely want to put some of your harvest up for winter storage, either fresh or as preserves. The fresh fruits will keep their delicious flavors and perfect textures for months when stored in the best conditions. Learn how to store your apple harvest in this guide.
If you’re growing apples in your orchard, you’ll harvest the best quality fruit if you know how to judge the maturity of your crop. There are a number of factors that will help you estimate when your apples will be ripe for picking. Learn when and how to harvest your apples in this guide. Read more now.
If your apples have green dimples on them, they do not have a fungal disorder. Your fruit lack calcium and have apple cork spot. You can prevent this from happening in the future by liming your soil or spraying your trees with calcium. Read on to find out how to diagnose and prevent this physiological disorder.
‘Honeycrisp’ apples are a game-changer with their extremely crisp flesh and sweet but tangy flavor. They’re constantly in demand on the market. Plus, the trees are disease-resistant and perfectly happy in frigid winter climates. These trees have a fascinating history and are compact enough for smaller spots.
Looking for a new favorite apple tree? ‘Braeburn’ checks all the boxes with its sweet yet tart flavor and crisp yet juicy texture. Plus, it’s easy for home gardeners to grow! Our guide explains this cultivar’s history, the best methods for growing, harvesting, and storing apples, ideas for cooking, and more.
Good things really do come in small packages with dwarf apple trees. Some are non-branching, so you can grow fruit on a tree with a tiny footprint. Others spread about eight feet wide and produce a respectable harvest. Most stay under about 10 feet tall. Check out 13 of the best dwarf tree options for your tiny space.
Almost all domestic apple trees need a second tree that blooms simultaneously to produce an abundant harvest of fruits. While there are a few self-fruitful types, they’ll produce better with a pal. Learn all about pollinating apple trees, which types work together, and how to encourage pollination in this guide.
Apple trees are particularly prone to pest problems, which can range from sapsucking insects that drain your tree to wiggly worms that can ruin your fruit. Chances are, you’ll encounter at least one of these at some point. Learn how to identify and control 11 of the most common apple pests in this guide. Read more now.
Irrigation is a crucial element of fruit tree care. For healthy apple trees with abundant yields, it’s important to provide sufficient moisture. In this guide, we cover how much water apple trees require – which depends on a variety of factors – and how and when to provide supplemental irrigation. Read more now.
Do you have a white powdery coating on the leaves of your apple trees? Are trying to figure out what it might be? It’s likely powdery mildew and it needs to be managed. This disease is found in every region of the world that grows apples and damages leaves, limbs, fruit, and may even make an apple harvest impossible. Read on to learn how to recognize this pernicious disease and how to treat it.
If your apple trees drop their fruits prematurely, you could end up with reduced yields. A variety of different factors can cause premature apple drop, and being aware of them can help you to manage or even prevent this issue. In our guide, we’ll cover what premature apple drop is and what can cause it. Read more now.
If you’re seeing lots of straight, upright branches forming on your apple tree, they’re likely water sprouts. These growths are a sign of trauma, and you need to deal with them as soon as possible – they aren’t good for the growth of your tree, and they can reduce your harvest. Learn how to identify and remove them.
Are your apples covered with flyspecks or large blotches? Fear not. While these diseases look horrible, they are superficial. You may even be able to rub them off! Read on for information on how to prevent and control sooty blotch and flyspeck.
Although cedar apple rust won’t kill the junipers or apples and crabapples it infects, it can surely debilitate them. What can you do if you are faced with this complex disease? Read more now on Gardener’s Path to discover how to identify and learn how to control cedar apple rust on either of its hosts.
Apple bonsai are dramatic, striking trees in a small package. They produce full-sized fruits on a teeny-tiny tree. Oue guide explains how to grow your own bonsai apple trees, from selecting a specimen to potting, pruning, and shaping them for the most impact. We’ll also help you manage problems that might pop up.
Apple maggots are the larvae of small flies that lay their eggs in orchard fruits, especially apples, quickly turning the ripening fruits inedible. To catch these pests before they ruin your pie dreams, learn everything you need to know about apple maggots – including a variety of control options – in this guide.
Are you growing any apple trees in your yard? If they’re less than ten years old, they can be highly susceptible to several winter maladies: sunscald, pest infestation, and the ravages of other types of hungry critters. Find out how to keep your apple trees warm, safe, and happy during the winter. Read more now.
Soggy breakdown disorder is a particular problem in Honeycrisp apples, and the fruit can be hiding this issue even though it looks fine on the outside. Read more now to learn how to prevent soggy breakdown in your homegrown harvest by conditioning the fruit before storing it at the proper temperature.
Growers typically plant resistant apple varieties to control the major pathogens in their region. What can home gardeners do to prevent the occurrence of diseases on their apple trees? Read more to discover prevention techniques, learn ways to identify common diseases of apples, and implement control methods.
Armillaria root rot is a serious fungal infection that attacks many different plants. This fungus can devastate apples and most other kinds of fruit trees. Resistant to fungicide treatments, it is difficult to control. Learn what makes this pathogen so hard to control and how to prevent infection in your apple trees.
Since southern blight can infect hundreds of plants and live in the soil for years, it is a severe threat to apple and crabapple trees. Especially if you live in the south, learn how to prevent this disease and keep it at bay with rigorous sanitation.
The complex of apple black rot cankers, black rot on fruit, and frogeye leaf spot can cause serious losses on apples and crabapples. However, you can minimize the damage by removing dead tissue and mummified fruit. Read on to learn the details of controlling these diseases.
Crown gall bacteria can infect apples, crabapples, peaches, pears, nectarines, apricots, and plums throughout the world – causing unsightly growths that can girdle the trees and kill them. Read on to find out how to prevent this soil-borne disease from attacking your fruit trees.
Bot rot (white rot) can result in cankers on the limbs and twigs and fruit rot that may not show until your apples or crabapples rot after storage. Fortunately, this fungus only infects trees that are stressed. Read on to learn how to prevent infections from occurring.