Moving Apple Tree: Pot - to garden

oldfsnet

Hi all,

First time post here...we are looking to move a small Apple Tree that we inhereted when we moved in here from its current pot into the garden now we are coming to the end of some work.

Just looking for advice please on what sort/mix of soil nutriants we should be looking for if possible and perhaps when is the best time to do so - currently we have  pretty well drained garden and there appears to be quite a bit of landfill and going back in time the area was a quarry.

Attached pictures are of the tree in its current pot and proposed area it is to go.

Any help and guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

pansyface

Firstly, is it likely to grow much bigger? You can get an idea, if you don’t know the type of rootstock that it’s on, by seeing how much it grew last year. You don’t want it to be poking you in the eye every time you walk past it in years to come.

So planting it away from the paving would seem to be the answer. But then, you don’t want it to be a bother when you mow the grass either. And you don’t want its bark to get cut by accident if you use a strimmer - that way lies disease. So planting it away from the edge of the grasswould seem to be a better idea......
Hmm.

As to soil, if you want it to be really happy, splash out on three bags of John Innes No. 3 compost and dig a hole and infill with the John Innes.


Good luck.

oldfsnet

Mmmm..good points, Thanks. I don't think it has grown too much 
 in the last three years since we moved in - it does (or did) have quite a bit of blossom and bore quite a few fruit - probably a bit better each year.

It could probably do with some pruning to hopefully encourage a less "spread" growth ?

Thanks.

pansyface

Its naturally preferred shape and growth rate depend largely on the variety. Some apples spread, like Bramleys, whereas some tend more to the vertical, like (in my experience) Ellison’s Orange. Some trees are naturally vigorous, even on a small rootstock (Bramley), whereas others are naturally petite (such as Pitmaston Pineapple).

You can prune it to whatever shape suits you, but it might be at the expense of the amount of fruit it produces.