How To Grow And Care For An Apple Tree

In 2019 alone, the United States commercially produced 11 billion pounds of apples, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, making them one of the most popular fruits. Apple trees are botanically classified as Malus domestica. Malus represents the genus. Domestica refers to all domestic varieties. From there, hybrid cultivar names become Malus domestica ‘Fuji’ or Malus domestica ‘McIntosh,’ and so on.

Whether you want a single apple tree for decoration or you’ve got the interest, space, and time to tend an orchard, the first step is to decide which cultivar is best for you. Of course, you want to pick a variety you enjoy eating, but it’s even more important to pick a tree that will thrive in your particular climate zone; with apples, this matters a lot. We’ll get into specific apple varieties later, but the basic gist, per The Old Farmer’s Almanac, is that hardy apples grow well in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 5, and long-season apples live their best life in zones 5 through 8.

Most apple trees require an average of 1,000 chill hours (extensive periods of cold weather that stays between 32 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit) per year, explains Orange Pippin Fruit Trees. That’s a small window and it’s the reason why regions such as the Pacific Northwest and Michigan down through New York state and Pennsylvania are the main commercial  producers of apples here in the U.S. If you live in zone 9 or higher, it’ll be difficult to keep an apple tree productive, although there are a few cultivars that can thrive with less than 700 chill hours.

Solo trees offer spring blossoms and summer shade, but in order for an apple tree to bear fruit, it needs pollen from another variety. This means planting two different trees in your yard or relying on pollen from neighboring crab apple trees.