Grower Tips

Getting a bareroot tree off to a strong start is all about the details. While it might look like a simple stick in the ground now, the way you plant it today determines its health for the next twenty years.

You’ve done the hard work of getting your bareroot apple tree in the ground—now comes the most important part of early tree care: Watering.

When you plant a new apple tree, you aren’t just planting for this season—you’re building the "skeleton" of a tree that will produce fruit for decades. One of the most overlooked steps in this process is staking.

You’ve picked the perfect spot, dug the hole, and watered your new bareroot apple tree. Now comes the part that makes many new growers nervous: The first prune.

Every grower wants a tree that grows fast and produces big, juicy apples. But when it comes to fertilizer, more isn't always better. To get the best results, you have to feed the roots, not just the soil.

There is nothing quite as beautiful as the first spring blossoms on a young apple tree. It’s a sign of life, health, and the promise of fruit to come. However, at Wafler Nursery, we recommend doing something that feels a bit painful: Pinching them off.

When most people think of pruning, they imagine trudging through the snow with shears in hand. While winter pruning is important for structure, summer pruning is where the magic happens for your fruit.