Gala Apple Tree Malus domestica 'Gala'

1. Planting: First, choose a location with full sun, which means at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Well-drained soil is essential, but our Gala Apple Tree adapts to most soil types. Once you've selected your location, dig a hole that's twice the width of the root ball and just as deep. Then, place your tree, tamp down the surrounding soil and water to settle the roots. Finally, mulch around the tree for best results.

*Tip: Make sure your mulch is not touching the base of the trunk.

2. Watering: Your Gala Apple will benefit from a regular watering schedule each week. You may need to water more often in times of extreme heat or drought. But if you're not sure when to water, simply check the surrounding soil, down to about 2 inches. If it's dry here, it's time to water.

3. Fertilizing: It's best to fertilize in late winter or early spring. As an alternative, you can buy commercial fertilizer produced for fruiting trees and follow the instructions.

4. Pruning: Once your tree has become established and is starting to bear fruit, it will need some periodic, moderate pruning. Only prune the tree during times of dormancy, making sure to remove any vigorous, upright stems which are quite common in the upper portion of the tree. Weak, damaged, or dead branches should also be removed for even better performance. If you want to keep your apple at a smaller height simply prune yearly to encourage horizontal growth for easy apple harvesting.