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Granny Smith Apple Tree

$14995 $33995
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Your Plants are Guaranteed to Grow

Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If your tree arrives damaged or dies within 30 days, we'll replace it for free. If it dies after 30 days, but before 1 year, we will replace it for just 50% of the current price.

Free Shipping on All Orders

Relax... we've got you covered with free shipping on every order! We ship out so many huge plants, we've negotiated a low rate with our carriers... and we pass those savings on to you! Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!

Is Now a Good Time to Plant?

Yes! Fall is one of the best times to plant!

Landscaping experts often recommend planting in fall instead of waiting until spring. Here’s why:

  • Cooler weather puts less stress on newly planted trees and shrubs.
  • Fall soil is still warm, which helps roots grow and get established.
  • Cooler temperatures mean less water is lost through the leaves, making it easier for plants to stay hydrated.
  • Even after top growth slows for winter, roots continue developing below ground.
  • Fall weather often brings more rain and less heat, making new plants easier to care for.
  • By spring, your plants already have a head start. Their established roots can support strong new leaves, branches, and flowers.
  • Trees planted in spring must establish their roots while also dealing with rising temperatures and summer heat.

Plant this fall, and your trees can spend the cooler months getting settled instead of waiting until spring to get started!

Planting your Granny Smith Apple Tree

Planting Instructions for Granny Smith Apple Tree (Malus domestica 'Granny Smith')

  1. Site Selection and Soil Preparation:
  • Location: Choose a sunny spot with full sun (at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight). This is crucial for proper fruiting and tree health. Ensure the tree has good air circulation to help prevent disease.
  • Soil: Granny Smith apple trees prefer well-draining, loamy soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. If your soil is heavy clay or sandy, amend it with organic compost to improve structure and fertility.
  • Pollination: Granny Smith apples are partially self-fertile, but for best fruit production, it is recommended to plant another apple variety nearby for cross-pollination (such as Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Red Delicious).
  • Digging: Dig a hole that is twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball. This allows the roots to spread out and establish well in the soil.
  1. Planting:
  • Place the tree in the hole, ensuring the graft union (where the tree was grafted to the rootstock) is about 2 inches above the soil line. This prevents the scion from rooting, which can affect the tree's growth and fruiting.
  • Backfill with the original soil, mixed with compost if necessary. Gently firm the soil to eliminate air pockets, but do not compact it too tightly.
  • Water thoroughly after planting to help settle the soil around the roots.
  • Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree, leaving a gap around the trunk to prevent rot. Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Care Instructions

  1. Watering: Water your Granny Smith apple tree deeply and regularly, especially during the first year while it establishes its root system. Water once a week, soaking the root zone. Once established, you can reduce the frequency but ensure consistent moisture during dry periods and while the fruit is developing.
  2. Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or similar) in early spring just before new growth begins. Repeat feeding in early summer if needed, following the manufacturer's instructions. Adding compost or organic matter around the base annually can also boost soil fertility.
  3. Monitoring: Watch for signs of nutrient deficiencies, such as yellowing leaves, and adjust your fertilization plan accordingly. Also, keep an eye out for pests or diseases, as apple trees are susceptible to issues like aphids, apple maggots, and fungal diseases.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care

Pruning: Regular pruning is essential for apple tree health and fruit production. Prune your Granny Smith apple tree in late winter or early spring while the tree is still dormant.

  • First-year pruning: After planting, prune the tree to create an open, balanced shape, focusing on removing weak or crossing branches.
  • Subsequent years: Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches each year. Thin the canopy to improve airflow, which helps prevent fungal diseases. Always prune to encourage a strong, central leader or open vase shape for proper fruiting.

Pest and Disease Control: Apple trees are susceptible to pests like codling moths, apple maggots, and aphids, as well as diseases such as fire blight and powdery mildew.

  • Use organic insecticides like neem oil or apply dormant oil sprays in late winter to control pests.
  • Regularly inspect your tree for signs of disease or pest damage, and treat immediately if problems arise.
  • To prevent fungal diseases, ensure good airflow through pruning and avoid overhead watering.
  1. Thinning the Fruit: To ensure your apples grow large and healthy, thin the fruit in late spring once the apples are about the size of a marble. Leave about 6 inches of space between fruits on each branch. This reduces stress on the tree and helps prevent biennial bearing (where the tree produces heavily one year and very little the next).

Harvesting and Use Instructions

  1. Harvesting:
  • Timing: Granny Smith apples are usually ready for harvest in late fall, typically October to November, depending on your growing zone. The apples will develop their signature green color with a firm texture.
  • Picking: Gently twist the apples off the branch. They should come away easily when ripe. If the apples are hard to remove, they might need more time on the tree.
  • Storage: Granny Smith apples store exceptionally well. Keep them in a cool, dry place, and they can last for several months. For longer storage, refrigerate them to preserve their crispness and flavor.
  1. Uses:
  • Culinary Uses: Granny Smith apples are renowned for their tart flavor, making them ideal for baking, pies, and tarts. They also hold their shape well when cooked. These apples are equally delicious when eaten raw, adding a crisp, tart bite to salads, snacks, and sauces.
  • Preservation: Granny Smith apples can be used for making apple cider, applesauce, or apple butter. They are also great for freezing or dehydrating for long-term use.

Winter Care

  • In cold climates, protect the trunk from frost cracking or sunscald by wrapping it with a tree wrap or painting it with white tree paint in late fall.
  • Mulch heavily around the base to insulate the roots but avoid piling mulch against the trunk to prevent rot.
What Customers say about the Granny Smith Apple Tree:

The Granny Smith Apple Tree thrives in Zones 5-8

Growing Zones for the Granny Smith Apple Tree

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Granny Smith Apple Tree.

Your Growing Zone
Recommended Zones 5-8
Mature Height 12-15 ft.
Mature Width 8-10 ft.
Cannot Ship To AZ, CA, ID, OR, WA
Sunlight Full Sun
Botanical Name Malus domestica 'Granny Smith'

Plants that Make a Difference

For 20+ years, our team has shipped healthy, established plants to gardeners like you- all across the country. Every plant is selected and cared for by our plant experts before it ships to your door.

  • 20+ Years Experience

  • Superior Quality

  • Free Shipping on All Orders

  • Guaranteed to Grow

Granny Smith Apple Tree - NationwidePlants.com

Beware- not all Granny Smith Apple Trees are the same.

Be sure to get superior fruit trees, grown by experts.

Better Roots Make Stronger Plants: Some nurseries send you "bare root" fruit trees to save on shipping. Even worse, others have started digging them right out of the ground before shipping. This causes major transplant shock and long-term damage. We send you Granny Smith Apple Trees in soil-filled containers- ensuring a well-developed root system that is ready to grow and produce!

Healthy Plants: We've seen other nurseries grow tall fruit trees in tiny pots to save on shipping. This leads to a "root bound" tree, where the roots have outgrown their pot- they cannot absorb water and nutrients. They quickly dry out during shipment, leading to an unhealthy tree.

Granny Smith Apple Tree - NationwidePlants.com

Granny Smith is the classic tart green apple- the go-to for pies, and crisp enough for fresh eating.

  • Tart, crisp green apples whose firm flesh holds its shape in pies, tarts and cobblers
  • Late harvest, typically October to November
  • One of the best keepers: apples last for months in cool storage
  • Needs a pollination partner like Fuji or Gala- or choose a Pollination Pack. Grows in zones 5-8

Not all plants are created equal

The Difference Is in the Roots

Every plant we ship has grown in a nursery container with its roots protected, so it arrives healthy, established and ready to thrive in your yard.

A full, branched Nationwide Plants tree in a nursery pot next to a thin bare-root tree with exposed roots Ours: container grown Theirs: bare root
Nationwide Plants Other Nurseries
How it's grown Grown in a nursery container, roots protected the whole time Pulled or dug from the field, tearing fragile roots
How it arrives Arrives in its pot with soil intact Arrives bare root, exposed and drying out
Before shipping Growing naturally until it ships Held dormant in a cooler, then shocked by a hot shipping box
Root health Strong, well-developed roots with room to grow Crammed into a small pot until it's root bound
Height Measured from the top of the soil Often includes the pot and roots
After planting Settles in quickly with less transplant shock Arrives stressed and can take years to recover, if it does

The height you see is the height you plant.

We measure every plant from the top of the soil, not the bottom of the pot. Many nurseries include the pot and roots, so a "5–6 ft." tree from them might stand only 4 ft. tall once it's planted.

Comparisons reflect common practices across the online plant industry, not any single company.

Honest Measurements: Some nurseries measure trees including the pot and roots, so their "6-7 ft." tree may only be about half that size when planted. We measure all of our plants from the soil line, so the height you see is what you can expect after planting.

From our nursery to your door

How We Ship Your Plants

Every order is hand-selected, watered and carefully packed so it arrives healthy and ready to plant. Here's what happens after you place your order.

  1. Hand-Picked for You

    Our team selects the best plant available for your order. For privacy trees, that's the tallest and fullest. For fruit trees, it's the best branched.

    Why it matters: Many online nurseries ship whatever is next in the row.

  2. A Deep Drink Before the Trip

    Every plant gets a thorough watering right before it's packed, so it starts the journey fully hydrated.

  3. Roots Sealed In

    We wrap the pot and roots in plastic to lock in moisture, so your plant has water to drink all the way to your door.

    Why it matters: Bare-root plants are often shipped with their roots exposed and drying out.

  4. Braced for the Ride

    Cardboard inserts are secured inside every box to hold your plant in place, so it won't slide, tip or get damaged in transit.

  5. Shipped Only by FedEx

    We ship your trees exclusively with FedEx. We've found they deliver the fastest and handle live plants the most gently.

And if anything goes wrong, every plant is backed by our 1 Year Warranty.

Healthy Roots Make a Huge Difference

  • Never buy bare-root plants. These trees are starved of nutrients, and have a low survival rate.
  • Beware of nurseries cut corners by growing in small pots. These "rootbound" plants are weak, struggle to absorb nutrients, and die quickly after planting.
  • Some nurseries try to sell oversized plants, but chop off vital roots so they can cram the rootball into a narrow box to save on shipping!

You Want Granny Smith Apple Trees Grown by Experts

Some nurseries ship thin, underdeveloped fruit trees grown in tiny pots to save money. These weak, "root bound" trees can spend years recovering before they give you a real harvest.

Nationwide Plants only sends you strong Granny Smith Apple Trees, selected and cared for by our plant experts, with healthy, developed roots. A strong start helps your tree settle in quickly and begin bearing fruit, often around 2-5 years after planting.

Read more about the Granny Smith Apple Tree

Granny Smith Apple Tree – Crisp, Tart Apples for Snacking and Baking

The Granny Smith Apple Tree is a must-have for any apple lover! Famous for its bright green skin and refreshing tart flavor, the Granny Smith Apple is prized for its versatility in both cooking and fresh eating. These firm, crisp apples are perfect for baking into pies, adding to salads, or enjoying fresh for a healthy snack. With its long storage life and high yields, the Granny Smith Apple Tree will provide an abundance of delicious fruit every fall, while also adding beauty to your landscape with its spring blossoms and vibrant foliage.

Key Benefits of Granny Smith Apple Tree

  • Tart, Crisp Apples: Granny Smith apples are known for their signature tartness, which makes them a favorite for baking into pies, cobblers, and sauces. Their crisp texture also makes them great for fresh eating or adding a refreshing crunch to salads.
  • Long Storage Life: One of the best apple varieties for storage, Granny Smith apples stay fresh and firm for months when stored properly. Enjoy your homegrown apples well into winter!
  • High-Yielding: The Granny Smith Apple Tree is a heavy producer, providing you with plenty of fruit each season. Its late ripening time (October to November) gives you a steady supply of apples when other varieties have finished harvesting.
  • Disease-Resistant and Low-Maintenance: This variety is more resistant to common apple diseases like scab and mildew, making it a low-maintenance option for home gardeners.
  • Beautiful Spring Blossoms: In addition to its fruit, the Granny Smith Apple Tree produces lovely white-pink blossoms in spring, attracting pollinators and adding ornamental value to your landscape.

Ideal Placement and Uses

The Granny Smith Apple Tree is a versatile addition to any garden or orchard, offering both beauty and a bounty of delicious fruit:

  • Backyard Orchard: Plant Granny Smith as part of a home orchard or edible garden to enjoy fresh apples and a plentiful harvest year after year.
  • Cooking and Baking: This apple is perfect for culinary use. Its tart flavor and firm texture hold up well in pies, tarts, sauces, and preserves.
  • Pollinator Gardens: With its spring blossoms, the Granny Smith Apple Tree attracts bees and other pollinators, supporting your garden’s ecosystem while improving fruit set for a better harvest.
  • Containers and Small Gardens: Dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties of the Granny Smith Apple Tree can be grown in containers, making it a great option for patios, balconies, or smaller yards.

Growing Tips for Granny Smith Apple Tree

The Granny Smith Apple Tree is easy to grow and highly productive, even for novice gardeners. Follow these simple growing tips to ensure a healthy tree and bountiful harvest:

  • Sunlight: Plant your Granny Smith Apple Tree in full sun for the best fruit production. It needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day to produce sweet, crisp apples.
  • Soil: These trees thrive in well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. If necessary, amend your soil with compost or organic matter to improve fertility and drainage.
  • Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry periods. Deep watering helps establish strong roots, but be careful not to overwater or let the soil become waterlogged.
  • Pruning: Prune your tree in late winter to remove dead or crossing branches and improve air circulation. Proper pruning encourages better fruit quality and helps shape the tree for easier harvesting.
  • Pollination: Granny Smith Apple Trees are not self-pollinating. For the best fruit set, plant another apple variety like Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp nearby for cross-pollination.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring to promote healthy growth and fruit production. An additional feeding in mid-summer can help support the development of larger, juicier apples.

Enjoy Tart, Versatile Apples with the Granny Smith Apple Tree

Whether you’re an avid baker or simply love crisp, tart apples, the Granny Smith Apple Tree is an excellent choice for your home garden. Its delicious fruit, high yield, and long storage life make it a rewarding addition to any landscape. Plus, with beautiful spring blossoms and disease resistance, this apple tree brings both beauty and functionality to your yard.

Order your Granny Smith Apple Tree today from Nationwide Plants and start enjoying the satisfaction of growing your own tart, delicious apples. With our high-quality plants and fast, reliable shipping, you’ll soon be harvesting fresh, homegrown Granny Smith apples straight from your backyard!

Frequently Asked Questions about the Granny Smith Apple Tree

Does a Granny Smith Apple Tree need a pollinator?

Yes, for a good crop a Granny Smith Apple Tree should have a different apple variety nearby for cross-pollination. It is only partially self-fertile at best. Good partners include Fuji, Gala, and Honeycrisp. Pollination Pack variants pair Granny Smith with Gala or Fuji so you get a compatible partner.

When are Granny Smith apples ready to pick?

Granny Smith apples ripen late in the season, typically October to November depending on your zone. They keep their bright green color when ripe, so check that they twist off the branch easily. If they resist, give them more time on the tree.

How big does a Granny Smith Apple Tree get?

A Granny Smith Apple Tree typically grows 12 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. Annual pruning to a central leader or open vase shape keeps it manageable and productive, making it a good fit for backyard orchards and edible landscapes.

What zones do Granny Smith Apple Trees grow in?

Granny Smith Apple Trees grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8. In colder areas, protect the trunk from frost cracking and sunscald by wrapping it with tree wrap or painting it with white tree paint in late fall, and mulch around the base to insulate the roots.

How long do Granny Smith apples last in storage?

Granny Smith apples are one of the best keepers, lasting several months in a cool, dry place and even longer in the refrigerator. Their long storage life means you can enjoy homegrown apples well into winter. They also freeze and dehydrate well.

What are Granny Smith apples best used for?

Granny Smith apples are best known for baking because their tart flavor and firm flesh hold their shape in pies, tarts, and cobblers. They are also great fresh in salads and snacks, and excellent for applesauce, apple butter, and cider.

How long until a Granny Smith Apple Tree bears fruit?

A Granny Smith Apple Tree usually begins bearing fruit about 2 to 5 years after planting, depending on tree size and growing conditions. A pollination partner, full sun, and consistent watering help it start producing, and it becomes a heavy producer once established.

When should I prune a Granny Smith Apple Tree?

Prune a Granny Smith Apple Tree in late winter or early spring while it is dormant. In the first year, remove weak or crossing branches to set an open, balanced shape. In later years, remove dead or diseased wood and thin the canopy to improve airflow and fruit quality.

Should I thin the apples on my Granny Smith tree?

Yes, thinning helps a Granny Smith tree produce larger, healthier apples. In late spring, when the fruit is about the size of a marble, thin to leave about 6 inches between apples. Thinning also reduces branch stress and helps prevent biennial bearing, where the tree crops heavily only every other year.

Which states can the Granny Smith Apple Tree not ship to?

The Granny Smith Apple Tree cannot be shipped to Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, or Washington because of state agricultural shipping restrictions on apple trees. Customers in the other states where it is offered can order it normally. Gardeners in those five states can check local nurseries for approved apple trees.
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