Description
Planting Zone Information: Gala apple trees thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8, making them suitable for a wide range of climates. It is crucial to choose a planting site that receives full sunlight for at least six hours a day to ensure optimal growth and fruit production. Well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH is ideal for Gala apple trees.
Growing Guide:
- Selecting the Right Tree: When purchasing bare-root Gala apple trees, choose healthy specimens with a well-developed root system. Planting in early spring, before the tree breaks dormancy, is recommended.
- Planting the Tree:
- Dig a hole that is twice the width of the root system and just deep enough to accommodate the roots.
- Create a small mound of soil at the bottom of the hole to help spread the roots.
- Position the tree on the mound, ensuring that the graft union is 2 inches above the soil level.
- Backfill the hole with soil, firming it gently around the roots.
- Watering:
- Provide consistent watering, especially during dry periods, to keep the soil evenly moist.
- Mulch around the base of the tree to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Fertilizing:
- Apply a balanced fertilizer in the spring, just as new growth begins.
Pruning and Care Instructions:
- Training the Tree:
- In the first few years, focus on shaping the tree by pruning away competing branches and encouraging a central leader.
- Use stakes to support young trees until they can stand on their own.
- Annual Pruning:
- Conduct annual pruning in late winter or early spring to remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches.
- Open up the canopy to allow sunlight and air circulation, promoting better fruit development.
- Pest and Disease Management:
- Monitor the tree regularly for pests such as aphids, mites, and codling moths.
- Apply appropriate organic or chemical treatments as needed.
- Harvesting:
- Gala apples are typically ready for harvest in late summer to early fall when the fruit is firm and has a characteristic sweet aroma.
- Harvest by twisting the apple gently or using pruning shears.
By following these guidelines for planting, growing, and caring for Gala apple trees, you can enjoy a rewarding harvest of delicious and visually appealing apples from your own backyard orchard.
Proud Products Guarantee!!
Plants from Daylily Nursery are guaranteed to arrive healthy and green. If you have any concerns or are dissatisfied within the first five days of receiving your plants, please email or call our office so that we can help make it right! Plants require proper care and nourishment to adapt to their new surroundings. Unfortunately, if your plants have received less-than-ideal care or were purchased for planting outside of your recommended growing zone, your purchase isn’t covered by our guarantee. Zone recommendations are provided in our listings.
Plants are delicate, living things and we take pride in shipping them thoughtfully, securely and with great care. However, once they leave our facility they may encounter issues in transit that we have no control or influence over. Please note that much of our plant material, while hardy, may arrive damaged or no longer viable if shipped in severe weather conditions. Exercise caution and use your best judgment before ordering during unusually hot or cold weather (below 32 degrees F, or in excess of 95F for shipping purposes), as these extremes may leave your plant vulnerable to damage. We are proud of our products and our reputation for providing excellent plant material. We strive to keep our prices fair and reasonable and to deliver to you the best product on the market, and for that product to arrive at our customers’ doors as pristine as the day it was packed. Please help us to ensure that you receive your plant material in peak condition and ready to plant.
Successful gardening requires careful planning, often full seasons in advance. Do your research and plan ahead for the best planting time in your area. Plants with delicate new roots need the best possible head start in getting established before winter, even hardy evergreen varieties. The optimal time for planting for most of our material is in mid to late spring, past the danger of hard frost. This allows your plants the longest possible growing season. Summer and very early fall are also suitable, as long as your plant is placed in optimal conditions and receives adequate water during the hotter, dryer periods of the summer. Late fall and winter are very risky in most areas, as our plant material ships from cozy greenhouses and will struggle adapting to very cold or frozen soil, or abrupt changes in temperature. This can easily cause damage, stunting, or failure to thrive. When in doubt about suitable planting times or zone compatible plants for your area, reach out to your local Agricultural Extension Office.
If issues with your plants arise within the first 30 days of receipt, please email or call our office. Our knowledgeable staff will review your concerns and provide guidance and troubleshooting, or a one-time replacement if necessary. The customer assumes responsibility for the cost of shipping the replacement.
Regarding orders placed for deciduous trees during their dormant period (winter or early spring) that fail to break dormancy by May 30th, we extend our guarantee beyond the five-day notification period. Please email or call us by May 30th so we can review your order and provide the necessary assistance. Please bear in mind that we may ask for photos- this aids us in assisting you with your plant. Often stress from shipping can be the cause of delayed development, which may be overcome with informed troubleshooting.
Plants are our passion and our business, and we take pride in building lasting relationships with our customers, based on reliably good service and trust in our product. However, plants are living things, vulnerable to unpredictable conditions and circumstances every day, just like people. We do our very best to provide top quality plant material, and with your help, we know that we can! Happy Planting!
