How to help newly planted miniature apple tree thrive?

Question

Hi all, I have a miniature apple (Pink Lady vs Cripps Pink) that I bought from Bunnings and planted more than a month ago (March). I noticed that the leaves are all dry. I have been watering this on a daily basis and had placed fertiliser (Blood bone) and recently with powdered egg shells and water from washing rice or even banana peels soaked in water for watering. Am I doing something wrong here?

Thanks.

mxv588t · Answer

Thanks! That actually makes sense! Will do your recommendations!

MitchellMc · Answer

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @mxv588t. It's wonderful to have you join us and many thanks for your question about apple tree care.

Just to start with, apple trees are deciduous, so they naturally lose their leaves in autumn and go dormant over winter. Given we’re now heading into the cooler months, it’s quite normal for leaves to dry off and drop, especially in the first season after planting.

From what you’ve described, it sounds like you may actually be doing a bit too much rather than too little:

* Daily watering can be excessive, particularly as temperatures drop as the soil may be staying too wet
* Additives like rice water, banana water, eggshells etc. aren’t really necessary and can sometimes upset soil balance rather than help
* Blood & bone is fine, but only needs to be applied lightly and not too frequently

My suggestion would be to:

* Ease back on watering and aim for deep watering a few times a week rather than daily (and less again as it gets cooler)
* Stop adding extra homemade fertilisers for now
* Let the tree settle and go through its natural seasonal cycle

As long as the structure of the plant is still firm and you see new buds or growth come spring, it should bounce back just fine.

Here's a helpful guide: How to grow and prune an apple tree.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell