How to Plant McIntosh Apple Trees
McIntosh apples are a great eating apple with an outstanding tart flavor. These medium-sized apples grow on a hardy, vigorous tree that grows from 15 to 20 feet tall. It enjoys exposure to full sunlight. McIntosh apples ripen in mid-September. Scab and other diseases can affect McIntosh apple trees. The best time to plant McIntosh apple trees is anytime they are dormant, which means early spring. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Trim off any damaged roots on the new McIntosh apple tree with sharp pruning shears. Place the apple tree roots in a bucket of water for two hours. This will prevent the roots from drying out.
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2
Dig a hole that is a few inches deeper than the root ball of the apple tree. Make the hole twice the size of the roots. With the edge of the shovel, rough up the sides and bottom of the hole. This will encourage the roots to grow out of the hole.
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Place your McIntosh apple tree in the hole. Spread the roots out.
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4
Fill the hole 2/3 full with the soil originally removed from the hole. Do not leave air pockets since it can dry out the roots. Add enough water to fill the hole. Let it sink in, then fill the hole the rest of the way with soil.
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5
Create a water reservoir by using dirt clods to encircle the apple tree. This will make a saucer to hold water for the tree.
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6
Spread a mulch of shredded bark in a 3-foot circle. Leave a 6-inch circle between the mulch and the trunk. Fill this circle with gravel in order to deter any rodents that might be interested in chewing on your McIntosh apple tree.
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Tips & Warnings
When planting more than one tree, allow the same space between the trees as they will be tall. This allows more sun to reach all the apple trees.
Plant the McIntosh apple tree so that it is at least 2 inches above the soil. If the graft ends up beneath the soil, it may root and negate the advantages given to the McIntosh apple tree by the rootstock.
