Planting Apple Trees From Pots - Ask Extension
I just received three apple trees in the mail. They are 5-6 feet tall in 3-gallon pots. The ground is still frozen so I can't plant them yet. The soil...
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Planting Apple Trees From Pots #894337
Asked March 13, 2025, 4:02 PM EDT
I just received three apple trees in the mail. They are 5-6 feet tall in 3-gallon pots. The ground is still frozen so I can't plant them yet. The soil in the black plastic pots is fully thawed. Do I water the pots until planting? Can I plant them as soon as I can work the soil. I found lots of information on planting trees just nothing about receiving late winter potted trees and waiting to plant them.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
The ground will probably be thawed this weekend so that is good news. Keep them damp but not soggy until they can be planted. Be sure to test soil moisture at a depth of about 2 inches. A finger works fine.
Too much or too little water will kill your trees.
https://extension.umn.edu/how/planting-and-transplanting-trees-and-shrubs
https://www.almanac.com/plant/apples
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples
https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/how-to-grow/fruit-trees/apple-trees/planting?srsltid=AfmBOorKkaQdzslwFLlpivR0ol5mdmPg6iE6exh0tbtzx3ayo_v2x86L
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1401
Too much or too little water will kill your trees.
https://extension.umn.edu/how/planting-and-transplanting-trees-and-shrubs
https://www.almanac.com/plant/apples
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples
https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/how-to-grow/fruit-trees/apple-trees/planting?srsltid=AfmBOorKkaQdzslwFLlpivR0ol5mdmPg6iE6exh0tbtzx3ayo_v2x86L
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1401
