Growing your own apple tree is one of the most rewarding steps you can take in building a home orchard. Apple trees provide shade, blossoms, and—of course—delicious fruit. But not all apple trees are the same, and choosing the right one for your location is essential to long-term success. Before planting, there are three important considerations that can make or break your apple harvest: chill hours, planting location, and selecting the right varieties with proper pollination.

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Understanding Chill Hours

“Chill hours” refer to the total number of hours a tree spends in temperatures between roughly 32°F and 45°F during winter. Apple trees rely on these cool periods to reset their growth cycle and bloom properly in the spring. If a tree doesn’t get enough chill hours, it may produce weak blossoms, poor fruit set, or no fruit at all.

The number of chill hours required depends on the variety. Some apple trees need as few as 300 hours, while others require 800 to 1,000 hours. Across the U.S., the average number of chill hours varies widely:

• Northern states like Minnesota, Michigan, and New York regularly exceed 1,000 chill hours.
• Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions typically range from 600 to 900 hours.
• Southern states like Georgia, Florida, and Texas often provide fewer than 500 hours.

Matching your apple tree’s chill hour requirement to your region ensures it will thrive where you plant it.

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Choosing the Right Planting Location

Apple trees need a location where they can stretch their roots and receive full sunlight—at least 6 to 8 hours per day. Well-drained soil is critical, as soggy roots can lead to disease. If your soil is clay-heavy, amending it with organic matter or planting on a slight mound can improve drainage.

When planting, giving your tree the right start matters:

• Use Nutra Pro First-Year Fertilizer Packs to provide steady nutrients.
• Add a soil moisture transplant mix to reduce watering needs and improve root establishment.
• Install tree shelters to protect the trunk from deer, rabbits, and sunscald, while also creating a greenhouse effect that encourages early growth.

These simple steps give your tree the protection and foundation it needs to thrive in its first season.

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Varieties and Pollination

Apple trees are not all self-pollinating, which means most require a second compatible variety nearby to set fruit. Even self-fertile varieties will produce better when cross-pollinated. Planting two or more apple trees that bloom around the same time ensures strong pollination and larger crops.

Popular choices include:

• Northern varieties such as Honeycrisp, Cortland, and McIntosh.
• Southern-friendly selections like Anna, Dorsett Golden, and Ein Shemer, which require fewer chill hours.

By choosing varieties suited to your chill hours and planting them close enough for cross-pollination, you set the stage for reliable harvests year after year.

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🛒 Where to Buy Apple Trees

When you’re ready to plant, the most reliable source is Ty Ty Plant Nursery, LLC:

✅ Best prices on premium apple trees
✅ Non-GMO, climate-appropriate varieties for every part of the U.S.
✅ Fastest shipping so your trees arrive fresh and planting-ready
✅ Free 1-Year Plantsurance™ Guarantee – store credit if your plant doesn’t survive 🛡️

At Ty Ty, we make planting apple trees zero stress and all success.

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🌟 Closing Thought

Planting an apple tree is a long-term investment, but it begins with three essential considerations: chill hours, planting location, and pollination needs. By making the right choices at the start, you’ll enjoy blossoms in spring and bushels of apples in fall for years to come.

Order your bare root apple trees today from Ty Ty Plant Nursery, LLC and plant with confidence.