Got Apples?

[Grassbag251]

I'm looking to add apple trees to the "Great Plan" this coming spring. Anyone have any suggestions on what breed a guy should get? I don't want to spend a lot of money, but want something that will work. I haven't looked into it much, but was thinking of going to walmart. I heard their trees work well. Also wondering if the Arkansas Black breed can be planting and do well in SE MN. I know that trees fruit matures in Nov. which is why I like the idea of putting them in.

[10_Points or better]

I would also check into Bare root trees available at a local Nursery, they can be cheaper than a Walmart tree.

[hntrtravis]

Do research, find trees that do well in your area, with winters and such. We have planted Delicious, Honey Crisp and some others, as well as a couple different types of Pear Trees.

[BUSCHY]

Delicious is what I have. Took 4 replants to get one to take. I think only the last 2 were the Delicious so that is what I would go with in SD anyway.

[Grassbag251]

Thanks for the info guys. I think I will try a few different things and see what works best

[JEG]

All I can say is build a fortress around them to keep the deer from killing the trees the first 5-10 years. I've planted McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonathon and some others I cant remember. Check ripening dates I believe starks has a chart. I built cages around mine with cattle panels cut into 6' sections that helps but you also have to consider the rabbits and mice girdling the trunk during the winter. A coworker has bought trees from A nursery located near kellog Mn in Snake Creek and had good luck with those trees. Not sure the name will ask him for that and try to get a ph#.

[south40]

Apple trees are awesome for trail cams also. Every year we place a trail cam on a specific apple tree that must be in the right spot for deer. We usually get hundreds of buck pics off this one spot alone. This particular tree always drops all apples by the end of september. What kind of apple tree was it that doesnt mature until November? I thought most of them dropped before that.

[Grassbag251]

A coworker has bought trees from A nursery located near kellog Mn in Snake Creek and had good luck with those trees. Not sure the name will ask him for that and try to get a ph#.

I know the nursery your talking about, but can't think of the name either. I hear they are fairly reasonable also.

What kind of apple tree was it that doesnt mature until November? I thought most of them dropped before that.

The Arkansas Black apple matures later on alng with some other varieties.

[JEG]

Ok finally got the PH # for snake creek nursery 507-767-3392. Havent been able to get ahold of them yet I guess they advertise 30 different varietys of fruit trees!!

[Grasshopper]

Ok finally got the PH # for snake creek nursery 507-767-3392. Havent been able to get ahold of them yet I guess they advertise 30 different varietys of fruit trees!!

Thanks for posting this.

They are good. I bought about 40 spruce trees from them 10 or so years ago. They were in great shape and have really taken off. I think I lost only 2 or 3 trees out of that whole bunch. I was very pleased!

I've been meaning to plant some apple trees for years. I will call them too!

[Northeastwibowhunter]

i have planted many apple trees over the years and i have had hit and miss success with a variety of different kinds of trees. Not that im an expert or anything but here is a few things that really have helped my trees in thier first years of being planted. Like mention above you have to put some type of fence around them or the critters will pick them alive. And if you use larger hole fence then make sure to buy the flexible plastic tree wrap and put it around the base of the tree to keep the rabbits off them. Don't use any fertilizer for the first year at least especially the spikes, it will burn the roots and kill the tree. And i got a tip from my local nursery that really helped keep my trees healthy over the summer when i could only water them twice a week. I took a cinder block and set it next to the tree so it was somewhat level and then i set a 5 gallon bucket on it with a 1/8 to 1/4 inch hole drilled on the side of the bucket as close to the bottom as you can go. point the hole twards the roots. And fill your bucket and water that way. it slowly drains on the roots and gives the tree a chance to absorb the water. when u just dump a pale or run a hose on the tree the water passes so fast the tree doesnt get as much as it could. make sure you test the flow coming out of the hole though and adjust so that it hits the roots good. like i said im not an expert but this really helped my trees stay healthy. i lost alot of trees because i couldnt water them enough the normal way.

[Northeastwibowhunter]

oh yeah and add peat moss to the hole where you plant the tree and u dnt have to worry about using too much this helps hold the water in the ground around the roots in the early stages when you just planted the tree.

[Grassbag251]

i have planted many apple trees over the years and i have had hit and miss success with a variety of different kinds of trees. Not that im an expert or anything but here is a few things that really have helped my trees in thier first years of being planted. Like mention above you have to put some type of fence around them or the critters will pick them alive. And if you use larger hole fence then make sure to buy the flexible plastic tree wrap and put it around the base of the tree to keep the rabbits off them. Don't use any fertilizer for the first year at least especially the spikes, it will burn the roots and kill the tree. And i got a tip from my local nursery that really helped keep my trees healthy over the summer when i could only water them twice a week. I took a cinder block and set it next to the tree so it was somewhat level and then i set a 5 gallon bucket on it with a 1/8 to 1/4 inch hole drilled on the side of the bucket as close to the bottom as you can go. point the hole twards the roots. And fill your bucket and water that way. it slowly drains on the roots and gives the tree a chance to absorb the water. when u just dump a pale or run a hose on the tree the water passes so fast the tree doesnt get as much as it could. make sure you test the flow coming out of the hole though and adjust so that it hits the roots good. like i said im not an expert but this really helped my trees stay healthy. i lost alot of trees because i couldnt water them enough the normal way.

Thats a good point on the watering system. I have a drip irrigation set up off of a 55 gal drum which fills off of my gutters on my blind. My friend has a stock tank that fills off his gutters and runs a pump to water his fruit trees in his plot

[MHanson]

Thought I'd share some thoughts...

Obviously, we all know the best time to plant trees was 10 years ago, but the next best time is to plant them now. That being said, I've had some pretty good luck using Plantra tree tubes. Check out www.plantra.com - and, no, I'm not a sales rep for them.

I've bought crabapple trees through my county SWCD (soil and water conservation district - see link below) for $1 each. Then I put a tree tube on them. I've actually had the 18 inch bare rooters shoot up to the top of the tube in one growing season. The tubes protect them from deer and rodents and seems to provide a great environment for growth - shaded, only one way to go - up. I would recommend the five foot O-style tubes. They cost a bit more, but the four footers are just too short - deer browse off the tops.

I've used these on other trees around my place and have had good results as well. Of course, I've had some flops as well, but they can really make a difference.

Regarding tree cages, I wholeheartedly agree that they should be set in place and are worth the extra work. I would recommend to make them PLENTY big and recommend them on shrubs as well. I made the mistake of going cheap and putting narrow and short cages on plants and then have the deer browse everything back to the cage...so I have 5 year old redosier dogwoods, highbush cranberry, etc., that basically look like bonsai trees (2 ft tall and thick with browsed branches). On the other hand, those that have had large enough cages have grown like crazy.

I used to think "the more, the better" but now think less with cages is best

http://www.winonaswcd.org/Tree%20Sal...ee%20Order.pdf