How to Grow Miniature Apple Trees

Soak the tree roots in water for 30 minutes. It's important they are kept moist before planting.

Plant miniature apple trees in well-draining soil at higher elevations. Dig a hole that is deeper and two to three times wider than the root mass. Use your fingers to spread out the roots. Place the tree in the hole so the bud union is a couple of inches above ground level. Putting the tree too low will result in roots growing from the scion, which can turn a dwarf tree into a regular-sized tree.

Fill in around the roots with topsoil until the hole is about 3/4 full. Pour 2 gallons of water into the hole. Fill the remaining space with the removed, local soil.

Water the miniature apple tree with 2 to 3 gallons every two to three weeks. The water should not pool around the tree because this can cause root rot and tree death.

Space dwarf trees 8 feet apart. Allow for 14 feet between rows if you're planting several apple trees.

Pull weeds and grasses that grow within a foot of the tree trunk. Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the roots to retain soil moisture and control weeds.

Cut the very top off of bareroot trees right after planting. Trim the central leader or trunk so it is 24 inches to 28 inches high. Cut off damaged or weak limbs. Allow four branches to develop in scaffold whorls, or like the spokes of a wheel. Keep the branches that are growing from the central trunk in strong, U-shaped connections. Branches with weak, V-shaped joints should be pruned off. Allow up to four sets of scaffold whorls to grow. In early spring, cut the central leader 18 to 24 inches above the highest group of limbs. This will encourage another set to grow.

Fertilize mini apple trees in the spring. Broadcast 1/2 lb. of fertilizer on the ground under the tree drip line for every year of growth. That means a two-year-old tree needs 1 lb. of food.