Planting and cultivating apple trees is a very rewarding experience if it is done right. Harvesting ripe, crunchy apples you can share with family and friends is one of the best things to do.
Again, if you want the best results then you must use the right approach.
A lot of research must go into finding out how to grow apple trees successfully.
That includes the lifespan of apple trees. so How long do apple trees live?
Apple trees are prone to pests and diseases so extra care must be taken here. The good news is that there are varieties that are disease resistant so you might as well save yourself the stress and select one.
Keep reading to find out the average lifespan of apple trees, factors that affect it, how to keep your apple tree alive for longer and a lot more.
Apple Tree Life Span
How long do apple trees live? The answer depends on what type of apple tree it is and the conditions provided for it.
Most apple tree breeds can live for as long as 35 to 50 years and some can live much longer. However, the average lifespan of an apple tree is 15 to 50 years.
Dwarf apple trees live for about 15 to 20 years and semi-dwarf trees, for 20 to 25 years. Here is a compilation of common apple tree breeds and their average lifespan:
Apple Tree Variety Av. Lifespan
Red Delicious 35 to 50 years
McIntosh is 30 to 45 years
Golden 40 to 50 years Delicious
Gala 25 to 40 years
Dwarf Gala 15 to 20 years
Fuji is 35 to 50 years
Dwarf Fuji 15 to 25 years
Honey crisp 35 to 45 years
Empire 20 to 30 years
Crabapple 15 to 30 years
Though this can vary depending on the tree’s overall health. Large and healthy trees with excellent root systems may live up to a hundred years.
The difference between smaller trees like dwarf and crabapple trees is that the root systems of standard apple tree species grow much larger and stronger. Thus, the larger trees may support themselves for a longer time.
Factors That Affect Apple Tree Life Span
There are lots of conditions that can affect how long an apple tree lives. A few are correctable.
Factors affecting the lifespan of an apple tree:
1. Competition with other trees
2. Not getting enough sun exposure
3. Too much or not enough water
4. The wrong kind of soil and climate
1. Competition with other trees
If many apple trees are planted near themselves or other trees, they are not likely to have a long lifespan.
This is explained by the fact that they compete for resources like soil nutrients, water and sunlight. They may survive but they won’t thrive as well as if they were spaced out properly.
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2. Not getting enough sun exposure
Just like competition for resources, lack of sun exposure can shorten the lifespan of apple trees. An apple tree that does not receive adequate sunlight for the recommended amount of time will be weakened and can easily die.
A location with full sun or at least partial sun is essential for apple trees to stay healthy and flourish.
3. Too much or not enough water
The next big factor that determines if an apple tree will live long or not is if it gets enough water or excess water.
A dehydrated apple tree will be weakened, unable to produce fruit and will eventually die and one that is drowned will develop root rot or other diseases and suffer the same fate.
4. The wrong kind of soil and climate
The ideal kind of soil to plant apple trees in is rich, quality soil with high organic content. It should also not retain water for extended periods.
Apple trees do well in weather that is cold in winter, moderate in summer and has medium to high humidity. Apple trees don’t like extreme cold and heat.
Planting apple trees in heavy, waterlogged or dry soil can adversely affect their longevity.
How Long Does It Take for an Apple Tree To Bear Fruit?
The majority of the apple trees are cross-pollinating. That means you need to plant two different types of apple trees for the flowers to pollinate successfully. If you buy a single apple tree and there are no other compatible apple trees in the neighbourhood, your tree can look pretty and thrive.
But it may never bear fruit. It is your job to research your tree’s pollination requirements and make sure it has a compatible pollinating partner.
Standard apple trees take 5 to 10 years to produce their first fruits while dwarfs take just 2 or 3 years.
Factors That Affect Fruit Production
Things that can make your apple tree not produce fruit or do so scantily:
1. Lack of proper fertilization
2. Extreme weather conditions
3. Poor pollination
4. Lack of water
5. Inadequate sunshine
6. Low soil quality
What Age Do Apple Trees Stop Producing Fruit?
There is no particular age when an apple tree stops producing fruit. On average, a mature apple tree keeps yielding for 10 to 30 years if all conditions are satisfied.
Dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees produce fruit for their entire lifespan which is about 10 to 20 years. But it becomes increasingly difficult to yield fruit past 30 years old and it is unusual to find apple trees still producing at 35 years.
It takes some time for apple trees to begin to produce but once they do, you can harvest apples for many, many years.
How to Make an Apple Tree Live Longer
If you want your apple tree to live long and healthy, this is the right place to learn what to do and what to avoid. First and foremost, provide all the favourable conditions for apple trees to grow in.
Find the right type of soil to plant them in. Well-draining loamy or sandy soil is fine.
Avoid clay soil because it does not drain fast. Next, plant them in a spot where they can receive full sun for a minimum of 6 hours daily.
If temperatures in your area usually exceed 90 degrees, plant them in a location that gives a little shade. Excessive heat is also harmful to apple trees.
Mulching can help combat dryness and moisture loss. Just add organic mulch at the base of your apple tree to keep the soil from drying out easily.
With mulch, you don’t need to water your apple trees frequently. Lastly, apply fertilizer for bigger, better apples but don’t use too much to prevent stimulating foliage growth.
FAQ
What is the oldest living apple tree?
What apple tree is the oldest still standing?
The Old Apple Tree was a reputedly the oldest apple tree in the Pacific Northwest. It was located near Vancouver, Washington, in the United States.
Do apple trees produce Apples forever
No, this is because fruit trees don’t last forever.
Can you cut the top off an apple tree?
Cutting the of apple trees is bad , especially fruit trees, they do it themselves.
Can an apple tree live 100 years?
Average lifespan of an apple tree is 50-80 years except in striking exceptions
How old are apple trees when you buy them?
1 to 2-year-old
Why do apple trees stop producing?
The absence of flowers, insufficient pollination, or low temperatures during bloom are likely to blame for the lack of fruit.
Do you need 2 apple trees to produce fruit?
Apples are not self-fertile. For a healthy fruit set, plant at least two distinct apple tree kinds 50 feet apart.
Why does my apple tree only produce apples every other year?
Most of a fruit tree’s energy is used up during a large fruit crop for fruit growth; little energy is left over for flower initiation.
What month should you trim an apple tree?
Pruning an apple tree won’t harm it at any time of the year, although it’s generally best to do so in late winter, just before spring.
Do apple trees grow back after being cut down?
The good news is that your apple tree can regenerate even if you have to chop it down to the ground.
Conclusion
How long do apple trees live? Generally, the larger the apple, the longer it lives.
The average lifespan of most apple tree varieties is 15 to 50 years. Smaller trees might make it to 25 years.
Fruit production reduces and eventually stops as apple trees grow older.
Now you can recognize all the factors that can affect the apple tree’s lifespan. Hopefully, you can provide all that your apple trees need to live a long and productive life!
