- 1). Ensure that the apple tree is growing in the most ideal soil conditions. Apple trees grow best, and fastest, when they are planted in a sandy loam to sandy clay loam soil with good drainage. If you have a heavier soil with poor drainage, add large particulate matter (like bark chips) to the soil. Additionally the ideal soil pH for growing apples is 6.5 so add a soil acidifier (aluminum sulfate) or an alkaline soil amendment (granulated lime) to the soil to correct any pH problems.
- 2). Fertilize your apple tree with 10-10-10 or 10-6-4 fertilizer every spring. The amount of fertilizer you use will depend on the tree's age. Use a ration of .5 pounds of fertilizer for every year of age as a rough guideline for how much fertilizer to use. Fertilizer is vital because without sufficient nutrients an apple tree will never grow at its maximum rate.
- 3). Water the tree on a regular schedule if it is newly planted or selectively water during dry spells for established trees. Keeping the plant moist, especially during the growing season, is another crucial factor that, if neglected, can inhibit growth.
- 4). Use your pruning shears to selectively prune your tree. This step is one of the more challenging steps for many gardeners but with practice, it becomes much easier. To understand how pruning affects the rate of tree growth you have to keep in mind that the tree has a limited amount of energy it can spend throughout the growing season. By selectively pruning you can help your apple tree focus the amount of energy you want it to spend on growing and the amount it spends on developing fruit. Always remove any broken or dead limbs from the tree. In addition, prune the tree so it develops a strong, single leader and selectively prune lateral branches as you see fit. Remember the less fruit growing on the tree, the more the tree will spend its energy to grow.
- 5). Mulch the base of the tree with 2 to 3 inches of mulch. Mulching your apple tree will help it grow faster by helping the tree retain water, fight off weeds that sap nutrients from the soil, and regulate soil temperatures.
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