Apple Tree Guide

Despatch & Planting

We despatch all year round, usually within 3-5 working days of receipt. Trees are supplied bare-root Autumn-Spring and in containers/ex container from late Spring to Autumn.

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Choose the best apple trees for your garden

Cropping time & yield is an estimate and can vary with conditions. Yield estimates based on mature trees.

Miniature Apple Trees – Rootstock M27

This is ideal for a small garden and is also the best choice for container growing. The very smallest stock of all, easily maintained at around 6’ in height and with a similar spread. Plant 6-8’apart. Ideal for growing in a small lawn, the garden border (can be underplanted with annual flowers or herbs) and perfect for a 20” container. Crops early in life.

Crops can be expected 1-2 years after planting.

Yield estimate – 12-24ib’s according to variety with a required area of 72 x 72” minimum – less if grown in a container.

Dwarfing Apple Trees – Rootstock M9

Dwarfing equals a tree of about 8’ in height; the spread is usually the same. This tree is often preferred over more vigorous stocks for commercial orchard planting these days, as it is precocious and heavy cropping and can be planted at higher density. It’s great for smallish gardens too, lawn planting, or for a larger container. Crops early in life; plant trees 8’ apart. No ladders are needed to harvest the weighty crop.

Crops can be expected 1-2 years after planting.

Yield estimate 25-40ib’s according to variety with a required area not less than 84” x 84”

Semi-Vigorous Apple Trees – Rootstock M26

A good compromise between a dwarf and a more vigorous tree. Heavy crops on a tree ideal for grass or orchard planting, adaptable to most soils. Matures to a height of 10-12’ with the same spread. Plant about 12’ apart.

Crops can be expected 2-3 years after planting.

Yield estimate 60ib’s average with a required area of 10 x 10’ minimum.

Vigorous Apple Trees – Rootstock M106

More of a traditional orchard style tree, making a handsome large specimen of 12-15’ and the spread is the same so allow 15’ between trees. Excellent for less inspiring soils, heavy crops can easily be achieved once established.

Crops 2-3 years after planting.

Yield estimate 90ib’s+ with required area of 14×14’ minimum.

Very Vigorous Apple Trees – Rootstock M25

Not for the faint hearted as this tree can mature to 20’ or more but where the requirement is for a very large tree then it will grow vigorously and quickly. Plant 20’ apart. Ladders required for harvesting.

Crops 3-4 years after planting.

Yield estimate 120ibs+ with a minimum required area of 18×18’

A Half Standard Apple Trees

is a tree on the M106 stock but it is a year older when it comes to you. Conversely this does not necessarily mean it will fruit more quickly because being older it will often receive a bit of a ‘check’ after planting, but it will be a more substantial looking tree on planting and it will already have a trunk clearance.

Crops usually 2-3 years after planting.

Yield estimate 90ib’s+ with required area of 14×14’ minimum.

Cordon Apple Trees

Are just ideal for planting against a fence or wall, and can also be grown with a post/wire support system. You only need to allow about 30” between trees so they make good use of a limited space & are heavy cropping considering, and also quite precocious. Easy to prune and maintain, early into crop – often recommended as a better tree than fan/espalier trees for the less experienced as pruning is less involved and the trees need much less space. Cordon trees are supplied on M9 stock and grow to 6-8’ in height but do not spread. They can be planted the traditional way, at a 45 degree angle, or upright.

Crops 1-2 years after planting.

Yield estimate 6-10ibs with a required area of 30×30” approx.

Mini Cordon Apple Trees

Are cordon trees grown on a smaller rootstock, M27. This allows for a slightly more compacted planting ratio and the tree will be slightly shorter and more slender in appearance, but they need good hearty soil to perform at their best.

Crops often the first year after planting.

Yield estimate 5ib’s with a required area of 24×24”.

Fan & Espalier Apple Trees

Often sought for wall planting as they grow flat. A fan has an outline rather like a dove tail, whereas an espalier has one main upright stem with laterals produced from it usually in 3 sets up the main trunk. Both have the same application & both need 6-8’ in height and the same spread.  Plant 6-8’ apart.

Crops 2-3 years after planting.

Yield estimate 30-35ibs approx.

Stepover Apple trees

Is the very smallest of all trees. It has a very short trunk of barely 18” with two laterals which grow flat at the top, in a shape rather like a capital ‘T’ Stepover trees are usually used for edging a border or lawn, and whilst crops are usually quite light the fruits produced are large and well flavoured because they receive nearly all the available sunlight. A setpover can also be grown against a low wall which would otherwise be too short for a traditional fan or espalier tree – under a window for example. Although very short, stepovers do spread lengthways a bit so allow 5-6’ between trees.

Crops 1-2 years after planting.

Yield estimate 3-5ibs with a required area of 18 x 72” approx.

Supercolumn Apple Trees

Are the most convenient and easy to prune trees for smaller gardens or where an intensive growing system is required. Supercolumns allow for a wide variety to be planted in a small area and have many applications around the garden. Plant just 2’ apart, in a row as free standing trees, or to align a path or walkway. They can be grown in 18” containers, or used against archway or pergola. The growth is upright and slender, the fruits are borne all up the stem. Very easy to maintain and recommended to beginner and more experienced alike. The height is controllable but 6-8’ is usual.

Crops often the first year, or 1-2 years after planting.

Yield estimate 5-8ibs with a required area of 24×24”

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