Garden Q&A: Is October a good month to plant apple trees?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions    

If you plant your tree now, by the time spring arrives, it will already be settled and ready to grow strongly. File picture

Question

Is October a good time to plant apple trees, or should I wait until later in the winter or spring?

Answer

October is actually one of the very best times to plant apple trees or any tree, for that matter. 

The soil is still warm from summer, and now that the rain has returned, roots have the perfect conditions to establish before winter sets in. 

By the time spring arrives, your tree will already be settled and ready to grow strongly.

This is also when bare-root trees become available from nurseries. Bare-root stock is usually better value than container-grown plants, easier to handle, and often establishes more quickly because the roots make direct contact with your soil straight away. 

Planting in October gives you the widest choice of varieties, the healthiest start for your tree, and sets you up for good growth and future crops.

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