How Much Water Do Apples Need?

Today’s Common Gardening Question: How much water do Apples need?

The Answer: Apple trees need around 2 inches of water every 1 to 2 weeks depending on the age of the tree, the season, and weather. Apple trees should be watered with several gallons of water (spread around the base of the tree) in order to achieve a 2 inch watering.

Failure to water your apple trees, especially as they mature of the years, results in trees that produce less fruit or misshaped and under-developed fruit.

Related Video Answer:

How to Water Apple Trees

1. Deliver water to the base of the tree, avoiding the leaves and trunk
2. Apply 1 inch of water with a watering can, sprayer, or garden hose with nozzle
3. Wait until the water soaks into the ground all around the tree
4. Continue delivering water until you’ve reached a couple of inches worth

Tips and Tricks

• Add a general-purpose fertilizer to the water before you feed the apple trees
• Only water young trees frequently, older trees require much less water
• Mature apple trees only need watered a handful of times all year long
• Wait to water older apple trees until the turn of each season
• Spreading organic compost and/or mulch around the base of trees helps retain moisture longer
• Give your apple trees a “drink” if it is hot for weeks on end

How Much Water Do You Give Your Apples?

New apple trees need watered every day, young developing trees need hydrated on a weekly basis. Older apple trees that are already producing fruit only need water when it is hot and dry for long periods of time, and the changing of the seasons.

But, that’s just one way of looking at it! Any real gardener knows there’s many ways to get something done “properly”.

Do you water your apple trees differently than what we’ve outlined here in this Q&A post? If so, we’d love for you to share about it in the comments section below!