The Best Apple Tree to Plant in Your Backyard

Apple trees are a classic addition to any backyard. Their spring blooms and autumn harvest provide beauty and bounty throughout the seasons. With over 7,500 varieties to choose from, selecting the right apple tree for your space can feel overwhelming. However, by considering your climate, available space, desired use, and pollination needs, you can confidently choose the best apple tree for your home orchard.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Apple Tree

Climate – Apple trees need chill hours (temperatures under 45°F) during winter dormancy to set fruit properly. Areas with warm winters should select low-chill varieties like Anna, Dorsett Golden, or Tropical Beauty Cooler zones can grow any apple

Space – Standard apple trees reach 15-20 feet tall and wide. For smaller areas choose dwarf (8-10 feet) or columnar (2-3 feet wide) varieties. Espalier training allows trees to grow along fences. Potted dwarfs work on patios.

Use – Some apples are better for eating fresh (Honeycrisp, Gala), while others excel in pies (Granny Smith, Braeburn). For multi-use trees, look for “all-purpose” descriptions. Cider varieties contain high levels of tannins and acids.

Pollination – Apples are self-incompatible and require a pollinizer variety flowering at the same time. Most apples will cross-pollinate, but confirm when purchasing.

The Best Apple Trees to Grow

For Eating Fresh: Honeycrisp

This sweet, crisp apple was developed at the University of Minnesota. It has a bright red and yellow skin with juicy, crunchy white flesh. Honeycrisp’s well-balanced flavor makes it an exceptional fresh eating apple. Its only drawback is susceptibility to disease, requiring diligent pruning and spraying.

For Baking: Braeburn

Braeburn’s high acidity and firm texture makes it an ideal baking apple. This variety produces large, red striped fruit in mid-October. The flesh is creamy colored with a harmonious blend of sweetness and tartness. Braeburn stores well, making it a good snacking apple too. It’s somewhat disease prone like Honeycrisp.

For Cooking & Eating: Gala

Gala is one of the most widely grown apples in the world. It produces red and yellow striped fruit with mildly sweet, pear-like flavor. Gala’s thin skin and crisp texture make it excellent for eating fresh too. This New Zealand variety isn’t the best keeper but offers reliability and multipurpose usage.

For Cider: Harrison

Also called the ‘cider apple’, Harrison is loaded with bittersharp tannins and acids that give hard cider bold flavor and aroma. These small, yellow skinned apples are too astringent to eat fresh but make heavenly juice and cider. Harrison is prone to biennial bearing (alternating heavy and light crops) but worth growing for cider makers.

For Low Chill Climates: Anna

Anna apples thrive in warm winter regions like Florida and Southern California. This Israeli variety is sweet, crisp, and creamy colored, similar to Golden Delicious but with low chill requirements. Anna bears heavily, even on young trees. With modest pollination demands, Anna is the ideal backyard apple tree for warm locations.

For Small Spaces: Columnar Trees

For urban and suburban gardens, columnar apple trees fit the bill. Their narrow growth habit, reaching just 2-3 feet wide, allows them to squeeze into tight spots while still producing full-sized fruit. Recommended columnar varieties include Northpole, Sunrise Magic, and Slimdwarf. These unique trees need minimal pruning and deliver standard apples on a petite frame.

For Organic Growing: Liberty

The Liberty apple was bred for disease resistance at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. It has immunity to apple scab along with high tolerance to other common diseases like fireblight, powdery mildew, and cedar apple rust. Liberty’s red, McIntosh-style apples have crisp, mildly tart flavor. For low spray or organic orchards, disease-fighting Liberty is the ideal variety.

By considering your specific needs and growing conditions, you can select the perfect apple tree for your backyard. Take time to determine the attributes most important to you before choosing your trees. Then you’ll be rewarded with generations of delicious homegrown apples suited to your taste and space.

Best Practices for Planting and Caring for Apple Trees

Once you’ve selected your ideal apple varieties, proper planting and care will get your trees off to a vigorous start. Here are some tips for success:

• Purchase dormant, bare root trees in winter – Dormant trees adapt better than actively growing ones. Bare roots are cheaper and transplant well.

• Choose disease-resistant rootstock – Rootstocks like Bud 9 and Geneva control common issues like fireblight and collar rot.

• Plant in well-draining soil – Amend clay or sandy soils with compost to improve drainage and nutrients.

• Give young trees extra water – Irrigate regularly the first 2-3 years until roots establish.

• Fertilize lightly – Over-fertilization causes excess foliage growth over fruiting.

• Prune annually – Remove crossing branches, water sprouts, and inward facing branches to shape and invigorate.

• Protect from pests – Deer, mice, and insects can damage trees. Use fencing, tree guards, and organic sprays if needed.

• Pick mature fruit promptly – This encourages new fruit bud formation for the following year’s harvest.

With proper variety selection, planting, and care, your backyard apple trees will provide a lifetime of beauty and satisfaction. The first bite of a crisp, juicy, homegrown apple is a magical experience that’s hard to beat!