How to Grow an Apple's Rootstock

Select a planting site with a soil that ranges from sandy to clay loam. Apple trees prefer a pH of 6.5. They also require well-draining soil and full sunlight.

Place the rootstock in a bucket, and fill it with enough water to cover the roots. Allow it to soak for 30 minutes.

Remove any weeds from the planting site. If applicable, dig up the grass in a 4-foot diameter circle around the planting site so that the grass will not compete for nutrients with the apple rootstock.

Dig a hole 2 feet deep and twice as wide as the root ball.

Place the rootstock in the hole and spread out the roots gently. The bud union should be about 2 inches above the level of the soil. If bud union is lower than this, add some soil to the hole underneath the roots. The bud union is the point at which the scion joins the rootstock, or the area of the graft. It typically looks like a slight bend.

Fill in the hole, tamping the soil down around the roots to eliminate air pockets.

Give the rootstock 2 gallons of water to thoroughly soak the soil. Every two to three weeks, continue to give the tree 2 to 3 gallons of water.

Apply mulch around the apple tree. Spread it about 2 to 3 inches deep to discourage weeds.

Apply a 10-6-4 fertilizer every spring. Add one-half pound of fertilizer to each year of the tree for the correct amount of fertilizer. For example, if the tree is one year old, use one-half pounds of fertilizer. The following year, use 1 pound. When the tree is 15 years or older, use 7.5 pounds.