Free Shipping on Orders $199+

Growing Zone: | Garden in
Find your Growing Zone!

Garden Delicious Dwarf Apple Tree

Malus pumila 'Garden Delicious'

Regular price $14964
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Out of stock
Plant not supported in Growing Zone. Update address

Unfortunately, this item cannot be shipped to your state.

Shipping to a different address?

Shipping to your area may be delayed due to weather conditions.

Shipping to a different address?

Enter your ZIP code to check shipping availability.

Find your Growing Zone
Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: Garden Delicious requires at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily to produce a heavy crop of sweet fruit. Full sun ensures the best fruit color and prevents the powdery mildew that can occur in shadier spots.
  • Soil: These trees thrive in well drained, loamy soil that holds moisture without becoming soggy. If you have heavy clay, mix in compost to improve drainage, or plant in a raised mound to keep the roots from sitting in standing water.

Watering Requirements

During the first two years, water your tree deeply twice a week to ensure the roots establish firmly in the soil. Once mature, this dwarf variety can handle short dry spells, but inconsistent watering during fruit development can cause the apples to drop early or become small and shriveled. A thick layer of mulch around the base helps maintain the steady moisture levels needed for juicy fruit.

Pruning Tips

Since Garden Delicious blooms on spurs from old wood, you should prune in late winter while the tree is still dormant to avoid cutting off the upcoming season's flowers. Think of it like a thinning process where you remove crossing branches and "water sprouts" that shoot straight up. This opens up the center of the tree to light and air, which keeps the interior branches productive and reduces disease risk.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, organic fruit tree fertilizer in early spring just as the buds begin to swell. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers in late summer because this encourages soft, new growth that will not have time to harden off before the first frost. This late season growth is particularly susceptible to winter kill and can invite pests like aphids to the tender tips.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12 Week of March 2nd


Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Description

Crisp and Sweet Garden Delicious Dwarf Apple Tree

  • Early Season
  • 600 Hours Chilling Requirement
  • Excellent Flavor
  • Can Be Sauced
  • Makes Amazing Desserts
  • Great Keeping Apple
  • Enjoy Homegrown Apples, Even in Tiny Backyards
  • Natural Dwarf Apple Tree Can Be Grow in Large Containers
  • Fruit is Full-Sized
  • Good Performance in Hot Climates
  • Resistant to Apple Scab
  • Self Pollinating

Boost your family's "Food Security" by growing your own fruit trees. Natural dwarfed Garden Delicious Apple trees make it easy.

Garden Delicious has greenish-yellow skin, slight russeting around the stem and a pretty red blush that deepens in cooler climates. It's a great-tasting, sweet and crisp backyard orchard variety that can fit just about anywhere.

Self-fruitful genetic dwarf plant fits into most any landscape in a sunny, well-drained spot. Who wouldn't love that!

These super cold-hardy trees can even be grown in large containers. They look so darling with white springtime blossoms and cute crops that ripen for an early-season harvest.

People across the country can get their homegrown fruit fix with these fantastic small trees. Garden Delicious apples have a crisp texture and hold up well during baking and cooking.

Go ahead and take the compliments for your scrumptious cobblers and pies. Cook them down into sauces for baby. They'll keep a long time in cold storage.

Even if you already have several varieties growing in a backyard orchard, you’ll appreciate disease-resistant Garden Delicious. These crisp keepers are a great addition to your edible landscape.

Order Garden Delicious Apple trees from Nature Hills today!

How to Use Garden Delicious Apple Tree in the Landscape

Grow these in the ground with Apple Babe partners and let them decorate your landscape as special accent trees. There is something very special about fruiting trees.

After all, these small trees are quite ornamental in their own right. Bright white springtime blooms for butterflies and edible crops each year are a nice benefit.

Create a mulched planting bed, and let them grow to their full height and spread. Try them along your fence in a sweet little orchard row.

Or, place them behind your patio furniture. You'll gain a fantastic privacy screen in summertime.

Add them to your modern Victory Garden. They make a wonderful backdrop to your annual vegetable patch.

Try a row of large containers along the edge of your deck or balcony. If you live in Zone 4 or 5, water them well in late fall, then cover the containers with winter protection wrap to protect the roots.

They also make a perfect tiny shade tree for a child's playhouse, chicken coop or dog run. Add them to Children's Gardens for an excellent learning opportunity.

Keep it easy for yourself. Remove lawn and mulch underneath Apple trees!

#ProPlantTips for Care

Plant Apple trees where they will get as much full sun as possible. Give them at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Morning sun is best, as that is the “drying sun”. It helps keep your fruit tree healthy because the strong rays dry off the foliage very quickly.

Plan to water regularly, especially as the fruit is developing. Container-grown trees can be set up on drip irrigation systems to take just about all the work out of the process.

Add a three-inch layer of wood mulch to keep the root system nice and cool. Spread the mulch out three feet past the canopy.

Just be sure to pull the mulch back several inches all around the trunk. Please don’t let mulch touch the main trunk of your Garden Delicious tree.

In late winter, prune to shape the strong horizontal scaffolding branches. You'll want to eliminate branches that crowd the canopy at that time.

Keep your tree small with summer pruning for size control. Tip prune to an outside-facing bud at the height you want. Smaller trees make for easier harvests!

Place your order to grow your own great-tasting dessert apples. We'll sell out of this widely adaptable small Apple tree. If you see Garden Delicious in stock, order now!

Find Your Garden's Growing Zone!

Your Current Growing Zone:

Zone

ZIP Code:

✓ Growing Zone Set Successfully!

Your zone has been saved and will be used throughout the site.

⚠ Unable to locate a growing zone for that ZIP code.

Please check your ZIP code and try again.

Looking up your growing zone...

When ordering a tree or plant, make sure to know your planting zone.

You can determine your garden's USDA hardiness zone by entering your Zip Code below.