Pink Lady® Apple Tree

The Pink Lady apple tree (Malus domestica ‘Pink Lady’) is a compact apple tree, reaching an overall height of 15-20 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide. This low chill variety is not as cold tolerant as other varieties, only tolerating temperatures down to 0 degrees. This particular apple tree does best in USDA growing zones 6-9 and only requires 200-400 chill hours in order to properly produce fruit. One of the harvest season’s later producing trees, these make great apples for baking, adding a fresh touch to your holiday dessert dishes.

Location: Be sure that the location you plan to plant your tree will receive full sun which means at least six hours of direct sun each day. If the area receives more than half a day’s shade then the tree will not perform well. Drainage is essential so if you have an overabundance of clay, some soil amending may be required. The pH range of the soil (for the best results) is 6.0-6.5 and a soil test can determine this easily. Testing kits can be found at your local gardening center to test the acidity of your soil. If the soil is mostly sand then amending peat moss into the sand will help with moisture retention otherwise more frequent irrigation will be needed.

Planting Directions (in ground): Now that you have found your ideal planting location for the Pink Lady apple there are some basic steps for planting the tree. You can raise the acidity of the soil if necessary using lime or wood ash. To lower the pH you can amend sulfur, sphagnum peat or aluminum/iron sulfate into the soil.

1) Make your planting site hole twice the width of the root ball and just as deep.
2) Gently comb your hands over the root ball to free up the roots before planting. Take care not to be to rough with the roots.
3) Place your new Pink Lady apple tree in the hole and be sure it’s straight as you begin to back fill the hole. Tamp down the soil as you fill the hole to prevent air pockets from forming.
4) Water the planting site to settle the soil and then mulch around the base to prevent competing weeds and grasses from growing around the area.
*Tip: Make sure your mulch is not touching the base of the trunk as this can encourage rot and fungus from forming.

Planting Directions (potted tree): Most wouldn’t think you cannot grow an apple tree that isn’t a dwarf variety in a pot. With the Pink Lady apple you can definitely grow a happy, healthy apple tree in a pot! Growing this way will also help maintain the tree at a more manageable height.

1) You will want to start off with a fairly large pot for the apple tree to have enough space to stretch out its root system. A ten gallon or even a fifteen gallon pot will be a good size to start with. Plastic pots may not be a good selection as they can get hot in the sun and aren’t insulated against the cold.
2) Select a well draining, quality potting soil mix to fill the pot.
3) Some light trimming of the roots is encouraged before potting the tree to prevent it from becoming a root bound mess in the pot. Snip the roots so they are about ½ inch from the inside wall of the pot.
4) Be sure you add enough soil to the bottom of the pot so the graft union will be level with the rim of the pot. Fill the pot until there is about a 2 inch space from the rim to the top of the soil.

Watering (in ground): Your Pink Lady apple will benefit from a regular watering habit each week. You may need to water more often in times of extreme heat or drought. The soil surrounding your tree should be moist, but never saturated. Light green leaves can be a sign of over watering, while drooping leaves can be a sign of both over or under watering.

Watering (potted): Water slowly when you irrigate the tree to ensure even moisturizing of the soil. When the tree is in a dormant state, only provide enough water to keep the soil slightly moistened. As soon as you see newer growth coming out of the tree you can water whenever the top 2 inches of the soil feels dry.

Pruning (in ground): 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. Low hanging, droopy branches should also be removed. As a branch declines with age it should be cutback to let younger branches take over and produce better.

Pruning (potted): Once you have your tree potted and comfortable, prune the branches back to about