Can I Plant Apple Plants in Peat or Soil?

Nutrients

• Apple trees, like many other plants, soak up water from the soil that is laced with the nutrients they need to survive. These nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, calcium and several other elements. Unfortunately, not all soils have these types of nutrients in excess. Sandy soil, for example, drains well but does not hold nutrient content. Peat, the partially decayed remains of moss and other biomatter, is a valuable additive to soils such as sandy soil. Add peat at a 50 percent mixture with poor soil to infuse it with enough nutrients for developing apple trees.

Drainage

• Soil that drains well is essential to many types of plant including apple trees. Soil that remains moist for too long is an invitation for bacteria and infestation. These pests will eat away at the roots of the tree, cutting off its ability to feed itself from the ground. An apple tree that devotes its energy to fighting away root rot, mildew and fungus such as fire blight, may not produce fruit and can, if left untended, die from neglect. Because of this, too much peat, which retains too much water, is not suitable for apple trees.

Aeration

• Although roots grow underground, one of the ingredients roots ingest is oxygen. This happens best in soil that is properly aerated, either by an artificial aerator or by natural aerators such as earthworms and subterranean insects. Soil such as peaty soil, which is tightly packed and not loose enough to aerate can choke the tree's root system. Instead, mix peat soil with sand or other poor soil until the consistency is such that the soil breaks apart easily in your hand. This will ensure the tree has adequate access to both air and water.

Attraction

• Nutrient rich peat may be a healthy improvement to poor soil, but it will also attract others to areas where peat is plentiful. In the case of the earthworm, this is beneficial to the apple tree, since the worm prefers decaying plant matter and aerates the soil in its search for food. This nutrient rich soil can also attract fly and beetle larvae and these pests can damage and even destroy fruit trees.