Arbors and Gardeners

[DameGoode]

Hey everyone, I am thinking about getting a MacIntosh Apple tree. Any suggestions or considerations that I need to be aware of? I live out in farm-esque suburbs. Northeast Ohio. I've about an acre of land in a circle of a housing development.

[LadyLaura]

Well, if you want apples, you need two trees, or a neighbor who also has one. Unless they have created self-polinating ones these days.

If you have deer, you will need to cover the young trees with "deer netting" in the winter, or they will eat all the branches off. Deer find fruit trees to be very yummy. You also need to get the metal "scrolly stuff" for around the trunk so the rabbits/mice don't "girdle" the tree by chewing off the bark under the snow in the winter. If they chew all the way around, the tree will die.

Pick trees with a straight, single central trunk. My dad is the tree expert. Major branches shouldn't cross each other coming off the trunk, according to "the expert"...lol. I am not quite so vigilant with my trees. Pruning is a whole 'nother matter. Again, he's the expert with that one.

Planting is best done in fall or spring. Dig a $50 hole for a $.50 tree. It should be at least twice as wide and twice as deep as the tree you are planting. Be sure there is plenty of room to spread out the roots. Fill it in with good loam. Make a depressed "saucer" shape on top to hold in water. Water it every day, until the "saucer" fills up, the first season. Soaking is important, you want to make sure you are watering to the roots, for deep root growth.

Of course, you need a sunny location, but I'm sure you knew that one.

If you have any other questions, I can ask my Dad. We had a couple of rows of apple trees for many years growing up. I just have ornamentals now, crabapple and ornamental pear.

[DameGoode]

All good advice. Thank you, that was EXACTLY the advice that I was looking for. My grandpa, was also the apple expert, but he didn't PLANT them. He grafted them onto existing apples. (also, he passed on.) I knew about the trials of branches crossing nonsense... sigh.. But I LOVE your advice.

PM me, you don't happen to live close to Cleveland for consultation, do you?

[LadyLaura]

Unfortunately, I'm in CT. But Dad is still around, for expert consultation via e-mail. ;-) PM sent.