- 1). Soak the roots of the dwarf Fuji apple tree in a bucket of water for half an hour to an hour just before planting.
- 2). Use a rototiller or garden fork to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 18 inches.
- 3). Dig a hole equal the depth and two to three times the width of the apple tree's root system. Arrange the roots so that they are not compacted. Place the roots into the hole at a level that allows the bud union, which is the area where the roots and trunk join, to remain 2 to 3 inches above soil level.
- 4). Return half of the loosened soil to the hole and add 2 gallons of water. Finish back-filling and use your foot to firm the soil. Water until the top layer of soil is completely saturated.
- 5). Place 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch around the tree, keeping it 2 to 3 inches away from the trunk.
- 6). Add 2 to 3 gallons of water every two to three weeks during the growing season.
- 7). Feed each spring with 10-6-4 fertilizer. Apply 1/2 pound during the first year after planting. Increase the amount by 1/2 pound for each year of maturity. Sprinkle the fertilizer over the entire root zone, all the way out to the edge of the canopy. Do not allow the fertilizer to come into contact with the trunk.
- 8). Cut the tree back to a height of 24 to 28 inches at the time of planting. Clip off damaged branches as often as necessary.
- 9). Prune in late winter or early spring to remove side branches that are less than 18 inches long, beginning the first or second year after planting. Cut back the main branch in March, to a height of 18 to 24 inches above the top set of limbs.
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