SKU: 00840369418258 Pink Lady Apple Trees Pre-Bagged Bareroot 6-12" Tall

Key Features

• Growth Habit: Upright, moderately vigorous deciduous fruit tree with a rounded canopy and strong branching structure.
• Bloom Color: White blossoms with soft pink buds that appear in mid to late spring.
• Fragrance: Sweetly fragrant flowers that attract bees and other beneficial pollinators.
• Fruit Flavor: Exceptionally crisp, juicy, and aromatic with a refreshing balance of sweetness and tartness. The flesh is slow to brown after slicing and has excellent storage quality.
• Culinary Uses: Excellent for fresh eating, fruit salads, baking, pies, tarts, applesauce, cider, juice, drying, and preserves. Its firm texture helps it retain its shape during cooking.
• Medicinal Uses: Apples are naturally rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants, and beneficial plant compounds that support heart and digestive health as part of a balanced diet. They are cultivated primarily as a nutritious fruit crop rather than for medicinal use.
• Possible Toxicity: The fruit flesh is safe and edible. Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which can release cyanide compounds if crushed and consumed in large quantities. Leaves, stems, and wood are generally considered non-toxic but are not edible.
• Wildlife & Pest Resistance: Spring flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Ripening fruit may attract birds, squirrels, deer, and other wildlife if left unprotected. Monitor for common apple diseases such as apple scab, cedar apple rust, powdery mildew, and fire blight, as well as pests including codling moths and aphids. Proper pruning and orchard sanitation help reduce disease pressure.
• Planting Zone: Hardy in USDA Zones 5–9.
• Sun Preferences: Full sun with at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal flowering, fruit color, and fruit production.
• Drought Tolerance: Moderate once established. Produces the highest-quality fruit with consistent watering during prolonged dry periods, particularly while fruit is developing.
• Mature Size: Typically grows 12–18 feet tall with a spread of 10–15 feet, depending on rootstock and pruning practices.

When and How to Prune

• Prune annually during late winter while the tree is dormant, before buds begin to swell.
• Remove dead, damaged, diseased, or crossing branches first.
• Thin crowded interior branches to improve sunlight penetration and air circulation, helping reduce disease and improve fruit quality.
• Maintain a strong central leader with evenly spaced scaffold branches.
• Remove water sprouts and root suckers throughout the growing season as needed.
• Thin developing fruit in late spring, leaving one apple every 6–8 inches along the branches to encourage larger fruit and prevent limb breakage.

Planting Instructions (Bareroot into the Ground)

1. Plant bareroot trees in late winter or early spring while they are still dormant and before new growth begins.
2. Soak the roots in clean water for 2–6 hours before planting to thoroughly hydrate them.
3. Choose a location with fertile, well-drained soil and full sun.
4. Dig a planting hole twice as wide as the root system and deep enough to spread the roots naturally without bending.
5. Create a small mound of soil in the center of the hole and spread the roots evenly over the mound.
6. Position the graft union 2–4 inches above the finished soil level.
7. Backfill with native soil, gently firming around the roots to eliminate air pockets.
8. Water deeply after planting and apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch, keeping mulch several inches away from the trunk.
9. Stake the young tree if necessary in windy locations during its first growing season.
10. Space trees 15–20 feet apart, depending on the rootstock and expected mature size.

Overwintering Steps

• Pink Lady® Apple Trees are hardy in USDA Zones 5–9 and require little winter protection once established.
• Continue watering during dry autumn weather until the ground freezes to help prevent winter desiccation.
• Maintain a 2–4 inch layer of mulch around the root zone to moderate soil temperatures and conserve moisture, keeping mulch away from the trunk.
• Protect young trunks with tree guards or wraps during winter to prevent sunscald, frost cracking, and rodent damage.
• Remove fallen fruit, leaves, and pruning debris each autumn to reduce overwintering insects and disease spores.
• Delay fertilizing until early spring when new growth begins.
• Perform annual dormant pruning in late winter to maintain structure, encourage vigorous new growth, and promote abundant fruit production.

With its crisp, juicy apples, beautiful spring blossoms, and dependable harvests, Pink Lady® Apple Tree is an exceptional addition to any home orchard. Its outstanding flavor, long storage life, and versatility in the kitchen make it a favorite among gardeners and apple lovers seeking premium-quality fruit and years of productive beauty.