How to Grow Cider Apples

Select a planting site that has adequate drainage, receives full sunlight and is not in a low-lying area prone to frost.

Dig a hole that is at least 2 feet deep and twice as wide as the root ball. Set the tree in the hole with its roots laid out flat. The graft union, the place where the cultivar was grafted onto the root stalk, looks like a kink or knot near the root ball. Set the graft union 2 to 3 inches above the soil line. Backfill the hole slowly, ensuring the roots are covered completely and there are no air pockets in the soil. Plant your trees in early March or April.

Apply 2 gallons of water to your newly planted trees. Resupply trees with 2 gallons of water per tree every two to three weeks for the remainder of the summer.

Cut newly planted trees back to 24 to 28 inches from the ground to encourage strong structure. Place a clothes pin at the branch crotch to force the branches to a 45-degree angle as lateral branches grow to 5 inches. This angle will produce strong branches, but some dwarf cultivars will still need extra support during fruiting. Remove the clothes pins in the fall.

Remove branches lower than 18 inches off the ground from trees in their second year. Limbs with narrow crotches at less than 45-degree angles should also be removed. The overall shape of the tree should be pyramidal with one group of four shorter branches at the top. Under the top group should be two to three additional groups of four branches, each group's branches getting longer the closer to the ground they appear. This form allows the maximum amount of light to penetrate the canopy, facilitating fruit production.

Fertilize at a rate of 1/2 lb. of nitrogen per tree applied two to three weeks after planting. Increase to 1 lb. the following year, then 1 1/2 lbs. in the third year. Increase incrementally by 1/2 lb. each year until the tree is 15 years old. At that point, apply 7 1/2 lbs. each year. Apply fertilizer in early spring before buds break. Avoid getting fertilizer within 6 inches of the tree trunk.

Keep weeds in control around young trees. Weeds often harbor unwanted pests and disease.