PLANT WITH CARE

The best time to plant an apple tree is in winter when it’s dormant.

You can buy bare-root trees from nurseries or order online – they will look like bundles of sticks.

Keep roots moist in a bucket of water or wrapped in a wet towel until you plant.

Choose a spot in your garden that gets all-day sun and ensure your soil is well-nourished and well-drained.

Build a raised bed if drainage is a problem.

Remove damaged roots with clean, sharp secateurs.

Dig a hole as deep as the roots and twice as wide so roots can easily spread.

Hammer a stake into the hole.

Position your tree so the point where the roots meet the stem is at surface level. Spread roots out in hole.

Backfill and tamp down the soil.

Tie tree to stake.

Water and add liquid seaweed solution to keep roots healthy.

Mulch the soil.

Water well during the tree’s first summer.