Pink Lady Apple Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on July 26, 2022

Planting instructions

Choose a site for your pink lady apple tree with well-draining soil and full sun exposure. Unpot the sapling and tease out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the tree in the hole, spreading out the roots. While holding it upright and steady, fill in around the roots with topsoil. Tamp down soil as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the root zone to conserve moisture and hinder weed growth, being careful that it does not touch the trunk.

Watering and nutrients

For the first weeks after planting, water your tree every few days. Once you see robust new growth on the tree, you can scale back watering to once a week. If you’re experiencing very hot or drought-like conditions, it may need additional watering. Check by digging down about 2 inches. If the soil is dry at that depth, give your tree a drink. Fertilize your apple tree throughout the growing season with a product that is designed specifically for fruit trees.

Pollination

Pink lady apple trees, like most fruit trees, are not self-fertile. That means you will need at least two trees, which are cross-pollinated by bees and other insects. Good pollinators for the pink lady include the Gala apple tree, the Fuji apple tree, and the Granny Smith apple tree.

Pruning

Your pink lady apple tree needs regular pruning, which is best done in late winter or early spring, before bud break. Remove any dead, diseased, or damaged limbs, as well as those that are growing vertically. Remove any suckers that sprout from the base of the trunk as well as branches that are too low. Pruning off about one-third of the remaining branches will encourage new growth and aid production.

Pests, diseases, and animals

The best way to deal with pests and diseases is to ensure that your tree is healthy and well-fed and watered so that it’s able to handle stressors itself. Common pests include aphids, apple maggots, and codling moths. Horticultural oil or a chemical insecticide can help control them. Diseases of the apple include anthracnose, bitter rot, and fire blight. A copper fungicide may help with any of these. Animals that are drawn to apple trees for their fruit include deer and rodents, such as squirrels and rabbits.

Harvesting

Your pink lady apple tree may have a light harvest in the first year after planting, but it will take several years before it has grown enough for a full harvest. You’ll know your apples are ready for picking when they develop a pinkish-red color and taste sweet. Ripe apples will release easily from the tree with a swift upward pull. Handle the fruit carefully and store it in a cool, high-moisture environment.

Achieving maximum results

Many gardeners find pruning fruit trees to be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Seasoned fruit tree growers know that there is no one right or wrong way to prune your tree, and if you make a mistake, your tree will not be harmed by it. Prune your apple tree to a central leader shape. This means there is one strong, central branch that arises from the trunk, with other, secondary branches all radiating out from it. When making your cuts, keep them sharp and clean, and cut about a quarter-inch away from an outward-facing bud. Slant each cut away from the bud, and it will encourage growth. You may also need to prune to thin out fruit, especially when the tree is still young and growing. Thin so that fruit is spaced 6 to 8 inches apart on each branch.

Compare Similar Products