As summer gives way to fall, the apple harvest is in full swing. From galas to Granny Smiths, apple-picking season is the true harbinger of autumn. This is the season when apples reach their peak flavor, sweetness, and juiciness. We can look forward to crisp, fresh fruits, spiced cider, and classic apple pies.

Just ahead, we can anticipate these trees showing off their stunning autumn foliage. Bold shades of bronze and gold grace rows of orchard trees, and carpet the paths in between. An apple orchard in the fall is a stunning sight. Between the ripening fruits and gorgeous foliage, they embody the full color palette of autumn.

We can also anticipate the care that these trees will need in the coming months, as we prepare them for their winter dormancy. After you harvest the fruit, your apple tree will benefit from some extra care this time of year. While it will survive without much attention, it will produce more fruit with the proper fall care.

Honeycrisp Apple Tree

Gala Apple Tree

Granny Smith Apple Tree

Keep the Ground Clear

Proper cleanup reduces disease risks in the coming months.

One of the most important fall care steps for your apple tree is to keep the surrounding area clean. Whether you do this first, last, or along the way, it’s an important task. Cleaning up around the base of the tree can prevent a lot of issues. 

Fallen leaves, twigs, and fruit can sit beneath your tree and harbor pests and diseases. If you leave them on the ground, these pests and diseases can overwinter in the debris and infect the tree in the spring. 

Raking up all the debris under your tree and disposing of it is best. You can add it to a hot compost pile that reaches 140°F (60°C) or more, or leave it out for a municipal yard waste clean-up. Even better, you can use it to build a bonfire on one of the cool autumn nights ahead. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5QVRNWZEVc&list=PL_YKZKVmyNHhrEEEYmco-rhSj-PJiGVen

Inspect for Pests and Diseases

Dark spots on leaves often indicate fungal problems nearby.

When it comes to fall apple tree care, inspecting for pests and diseases is as important as any other action you can take. If you want to ensure long-term health and bountiful harvests, this is a must. 

It’s good to handle this one before your tree loses its leaves. Often, the leaves can tell us a story that we may otherwise miss. Examine those leaves along with the bark and branches. Fruit can also indicate the presence of pests and diseases.

Look for common diseases like apple scab, which leaves dark, velvety spots on fruit and leaves. Powdery mildew is common and typically less worrisome, but treating with some neem oil is a good idea anyway. 

Insects will typically be dormant by now, but look for signs anyway. You want to catch an infestation before spring comes around and the population explodes. If you notice signs of pest infestation, using a dormant oil is a valuable solution. This will help break pest cycles. 

Prune Damaged Wood

Cut damaged wood carefully to prevent pest infestations later.

Fall isn’t the time for major pruning. That can cause unwanted new growth that is more vulnerable to cold damage. However, it’s a perfect time to clean up any dead, damaged, or diseased wood.

Inspect your branches for anything that doesn’t look quite right. Branches affected by diseases or damaged can be an entry point for pests and pathogens. By removing these portions, you reduce the risk of further damage. 

Focus only on clearly broken, diseased, or dead branches. Use a clean, sharp tool to make your cuts. Clean cuts heal faster, which leaves less time for pathogens to make their way in. 

Cut just outside the branch collar, and avoid making any major cuts that could stimulate new growth. New growth at this point won’t have time to harden off in time for winter.

Water Deeply

Slow, deep soaks protect roots from cold damage.

Watering your apple tree in the fall is an important aspect of care. It’s especially important if you’ve had a dry summer or fall. Apple trees need adequate moisture to reduce stress in winter. Though it might not sound right, moisture will prevent damage to the roots when the ground freezes.

Deep watering before the ground freezes will help your tree to store moisture that it will use during dormancy. This is especially important for younger trees that have shallower root systems. These are more vulnerable to stress. 

Avoid frequent, shallow watering. Opt, instead, for a slow, deep soaking once every week or two. Once the ground freezes, stop watering as the roots won’t absorb the water at this point. If you’re having a rainy autumn, adjust your watering accordingly.

Add Compost

Composting under the canopy feeds both tree and soil.

Adding compost around the base of your apple tree in the fall is an excellent way to care for it. It’s actually one of the best ways to support both the tree and the surrounding soil. 

After the leaves drop and you clean up under the canopy, spread a two to three-inch layer of compost. Spread it out in a wide circle to the drip line, but leave a few inches of space around the trunk.

Over the winter, soil microbes and earthworms will slowly work the compost into the soil. This makes those nutrients available to the apple tree right when it begins its spring growth. 

Mulch  

Mulch slows weeds while feeding the soil beneath.

Top off your compost with a hefty layer of mulch. You can use wood chips, straw, leaf mulch, or pine straw. They will all do the trick. This covers your compost, which helps to hold it in place. It has other benefits, too. 

Mulching before the ground freezes insulates the roots of your apple tree. It protects the roots from extreme swings in temperature, and it slows down the growth of weeds as an added bonus. The combination of compost and mulch mimics a natural ecosystem. 

Avoid Fertilizers

Trees store energy best without late-season fertilizer.

Fertilizers are usually a beneficial part of caring for fruit trees, but in the fall, we don’t recommend it. Fertilizers, especially those high in nitrogen, encourage new leafy growth. This late in the season, that growth won’t have time to harden off.

A flush of growth late in the season can weaken your apple tree when it is supposed to be preparing for dormancy. It needs to shift its energy into dormancy and root health. This stress can make your tree more susceptible to winter injury.

Instead of fertilizer, focus on building your soil. I talked about using compost and mulch around the base of your tree, and that is precisely how you build that soil health. The organic amendments break down slowly, enriching the soil gently. 

When the tree wakes up in spring, those nutrients are available to help it get started. If a soil test reveals that your soil is lacking in nutrients, wait until late winter or early spring to add fertilizer. This aligns with the tree’s natural growth cycle.

Optional: Protect the Trunk

Wrapping the trunk helps prevent sunscald and damage.

Protecting your apple tree’s trunk is an optional aspect of fall care. It’s up to you, based on your environment, to determine if it’s worthwhile. The changes of the coming season can be hard on the trunk of your tree. 

For one thing, once the leaves fall, your trunk will get a lot more sunlight than it was getting before. It will be more vulnerable to burning as a result. There is also the issue of sunscald. Rapid temperature changes can cause splitting bark, which stresses the tree.