Hope you have more luck than I am having. My trees are about 15 years old
and I had some great fruit years ago, was using Ortho's Orchard Spray, came
in powder form 2 tbsps to a gallon and for years I had fantastic apples.
Along came regulations Ortho's Orchard Spray not available any more, nothing
absolutely nothing helps any more..i JUST GAVE UP and buy my apples from
Sam's Club
"DEM" wrote in message
...
I just planted 2. One is a Yellow Delicious semi-dwarf and the other is
a Granny Smith. They are about 15 ft apart.

Besides adding a tree spike food about 2 ft from the base of each and
watering each day until they seem to establish, is there more i need to
do this first year? They are each about 5ft tall with some leaves. There
is a stake to keep them somewhat straight and both are pretty much in
full sun area.

I live in Norfolk USA area (Zone 7). I expect the squirrels to get most
of the fruits, but to be able to garner smoking wood for the fireplace
and smoker, and many a few apples.


I live in Zone 8-9 clear across the USofA from you but have also
planted semi-dwarf apples trees. I had them in the ground in Spring
and I was amazed how much they grew this past summer.

I pretty much handled the planting as you have described. I use my
weed-eater a lot so I did protect the small trunks with PVC pipe.
I also have the trees planted inside a 3" diameter circle which not
only helps keep the weeds down but it allows more water to reach
the roots.

Keep in touch! I'm hoping for a few apples this time next year.

Donna
inWA