A harvest for life: planting and caring for apple trees correctly

The ideal planting time for apple trees is autumn (October to November) or spring (March to April). Autumn is considered the best time for planting as the tree can take root before winter. With the right planting time you create optimal conditions for healthy growth and a successful harvest.

The apple tree is one of the oldest cultivated plants and apples are one of the most popular types of fruit in Germany. Over 30 vitamins and numerous trace elements make them real health boosters. It's no wonder that apple trees are not only found in large orchards, but are also often used in private gardens and larger landscape projects. In this article, we as a tree nursery give you a comprehensive overview of variety selection, planting, care and harvesting - specifically tailored to the needs of landscape architects, gardeners and landscapers and planners of larger outdoor areas.

Apple varieties: variety for every location

When choosing the right apple variety, not only taste plays a role, but also suitability for the respective location and resistance to diseases. The following varieties have proven successful both in home gardens and in larger planting projects:

• Malus 'Boskoop': A well-known variety with high acidity and firm flesh. Ideal storage apple for gardens and orchards.
• Malus 'Elstar': Good yielding tree for small to medium-sized areas, sweet-sour taste, particularly resilient.
• Malus 'Cox Orange Renette': Medium-sized, aromatic fruits. Is well suited for historical gardens and park designs.
• Malus 'Gravensteiner': Old apple variety that is valued for its intense aroma. Particularly suitable for ecologically oriented projects.
• Malus 'Pinova': Very robust and resistant, ideal for orchards or as a decorative element in gardens.
• Malus 'Roter Boskoop': A variation of the Boskoop with red skin and high fruit quality. Popular in traditional orchards.

Site selection and soil preparation

Choosing the right location is crucial for the growth and productivity of the apple tree. Apple trees thrive best on permeable, nutrient-rich and humus-rich soil. Landscape architects and landscape gardeners who want to integrate apple trees into parks or larger projects should make sure that they have enough space so that the crown can fully develop. A windbreak is particularly recommended in exposed locations.

Planting: timing and technique

• Planting hole size: At least twice as wide as the root ball.
• Drainage layer: For heavy soils, a layer of gravel or sand is recommended.
• Planting spacing: Tall trunks should be planted 6-8 meters apart, espalier and bush trees require smaller spacing. For large projects such as avenue plantings, additional distances must be planned depending on the variety.

Education and care

A training cut is essential in the first few years to promote the desired crown shape. Shoots that are too close together or grow steeply inwards are removed. After about five years, the training pruning transitions to maintenance pruning, in which primarily old fruit wood is removed to make room for young wood.

• Build-up pruning: Promotes even crown development.
• Maintenance pruning: Maintains tree health and ensures stable yields.

Discover our large selection of apple trees at the Kleinziethen location

Care and protective measures

In order to keep the apple tree healthy in the long term, regular care is necessary. In addition to pruning, this also includes mulching the tree disc, fertilizing in spring and protecting against pests. The use of biological plant protection products is recommended in projects close to nature.

Tips and tricks for apple harvesting

• The right time to harvest: You can recognize ripe apples because they can be easily removed from the branch. A simple trick: Turn the apple 90° upwards - if it comes away easily, it is ready to harvest.
• Core test: If the cores are brown, the apple is ready to harvest.
• Storage: Store apples in one layer in wooden boxes at 2-6 °C and high humidity. Ideally, they should be stored separately from vegetables to avoid loss of flavor.

With the right choice of variety, a thorough location analysis and targeted care measures, apple trees can be ideally integrated into a wide variety of garden and landscape projects. Whether as a single tree, as an element of an orchard or as a design element in parks - apple trees not only offer culinary enjoyment, but are also an ecological enrichment for every green concept.