Apple trees, like many perennial plants, endure a prolonged juvenile stage before reaching maturity, during which they experience complex developmental changes. These transitions impact ...

You want to plant when the trees are in their dormant stage. Most trees break dormancy by late April. Choose a spot in your yard that gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun every day, all year long.

They're also naturally resistant to scab, so they'll require less maintenance than other apple trees. Zones: 4 to 9. Size: Standard trees grow 15 to 20 feet tall and wide; dwarf varieties are smaller.

Manchurian crabapple (Malus mandshurica) is commonly used to pollinate apple trees. Dwarf varieties of apple trees should be no more than 20 feet away from another tree for successful pollination.

How to prune apple trees. Get your tools: Use sharp, clean pruning tools like bypass pruners, loppers, and a pruning saw. Disinfect your tools with rubbing alcohol or a bleach solution (1 part ...