Red Prairie Spy Apple Tree

The Red Prairie Spy Apple Tree (Malus 'Red Prairie Spy') not only looks beautiful, but also produces juicy and sweet apples for you to enjoy!

Whether you love baking with apples or packing them for lunch by themselves, this one's for you! You’ll never want a different kind of apple after trying this one.

Planting and Application:

This late-harvesting tree is truly one of a kind! You’ll be grateful you chose the Red Prairie Spy Apple Tree as one of your yard’s apple trees.

• This tree provides abundant harvests when planted near a pollinating partner! All fruit trees are happier with company.
• You can harvest these fruits in late October! What a perfect time to make caramel apples or a fresh apple pie for Thanksgiving. These apples store very well for long periods of time!
• This tree grows from 10-15 feet in height, being a great height for a small yard or abundant orchard!
• The Red Prairie Spy Apple Tree thrives in zones 4-8. Need to find your hardiness zone? Use our map to locate yours!

#ProPlantTips for Care: 

This fruit tree isn’t too needy! All you have to do is give it basic needs and a friend for pollination!

• Provide your Red Prairie Spy Apple Tree with a full sun location. All fruit trees love to bask in the sun for nourishment.
• Well drained soil is also recommended! This ensures that the soil doesn’t get filled with too much water leading to root rot or drowning!
• You will want to get a pollination partner for this tree so you can have a great harvest! This is very common with all fruit trees.
• Many people wonder how to prune an apple tree. Luckily, we have a blog all about it here. The best time to prune is late winter! This will keep your tree looking and feeling healthy as can be!

Red Prairie Spy Apple Tree Frequently Asked Questions

When to Plant Red Prairie Spy Apple Trees

Planting Bareroot trees as soon as you can dig a hole in spring and until hot weather, the earlier the better. Plant container Apple trees throughout the growing season with complete success - that is the benefit of container plants - to extend the planting season. Your County Agricultural Extension Office is a great resource for first and last frost dates in your area.

How to Plant Red Prairie Spy Apple Trees

Dig a large hole only as deep as needed to accommodate the bareroot or container root ball, and twice as wide. Add Nature Hills Root Booster to speed root establishment. Remove the pot or bag and situate it into the hole so the top of the soil (soil line if bareroot), is level with the new location's soil being careful not to plant too deep. Water in again very well and backfill with the same soil you dug up, tamping down gently to ensure there are no air pockets.

Top off with a 3-4 inch thick layer of Arborist mulch. Consider staking your tree to keep its trunk growing straight for the first year to ensure it stands tall against strong winds and drifting snow.

When to Prune Red Prairie Spy Apple Trees

Trim off any broken branches from delivery as soon as you take them out of the box. Prune and trim apple trees while dormant, in late winter or early spring, before you see new growth.

How to Prune Red Prairie Spy Apple Trees

Dormant prune to:

• Remove any double leaders or narrow crotch angles
• Eliminate any crossing branches
• Thin interior branching and leave the fruiting spurs and strong branches in place opening up the canopy
• Branching at least 24-36 inches above the ground

Prune Apple trees in the summer to:

• Control size and shape by reducing the length of longer new growth on vigorous trees
• Remove water sprouts on the main trunk or older branches in the crown
• Remove suckers at the base of the trunk
• Thin fruit during heavy years on established trees

How to Care for Red Prairie Spy Apple Trees

Growing an apple tree is easy when proper soil, good drainage, attention to moisture, and regular fertility are maintained. Once you've chosen an apple tree that works for your climate, in the size you need for your landscape, and its pollinator (if needed), then you've accomplished half the battle!

• Apple trees do best in full sun and well-drained soil
• Water your apple trees when it gets dry - especially during the fruit production stage, and drought periods to keep it stress-free
• Use arborists' wood chips to mulch over the roots of your apples and have your soil tested to see what your soil may be lacking before adding fertilizers
• Maintenance pruning and shaping

Apple trees will tolerate a wide range of soils, so long as water and nutrients are not limited and the pH level is adequate.

How to Fertilize Red Prairie Spy Apple Trees

For the first year, water alone is most important. It is always best to get a soil test to see what your soil is lacking before adding more fertilizers. Once established, a fertilizer routine may be beneficial. We do offer some excellent slow-release organic options, applied according to the package directions.

Fruit trees need more phosphate and it's possible to apply too much nitrogen which affects the soil's pH. Test soil acidity or alkalinity using a pH Tester.

Fertilize in spring when you first see new growth emerging.

• Don't overdo it
• Phosphates are your friends
• Pay attention to pH in areas with extremely high or low soil pH
• Follow the directions

Red Prairie Spy Apple Tree Pollinating Info

Red Prairie Spy is not self-fruiting and needs a pollinating partner. Pair with one of these varieties:

• Cortland Apple Tree
• Pink Lady Apple Tree
• Fuji Apple Tree
• Golden Delicious Apple Tree
• Granny Smith Apple Tree
• Honeycrisp Apple Tree
• Red Jonathan Apple Tree
• Pixie Crunch Apple Tree
• McIntosh Apple Tree

Harvest Times for Red Prairie Spy Apple Trees

Red Prairie Spy’s are typically ready to harvest in late September through early October.

Early-Season? Mid-Season? Late-Season? The terminology can be confusing for new apple tree growers. Weather, climate and your tree determine when it's ripe.

For Apples:

• Early-season is usually June-July
• Mid-season can be August-September
• Late-season can be from late September-November

The growing season consists of spring, summer, and fall, and varies with climate and weather. Areas with longer growing seasons in the warmer hardiness zones can greatly affect the harvest times for each particular apple variety grown in your area. Learn which growing zone you are in.

What Shipping Options Do You Offer?

NatureHills.com works closely with our growers and nursery professionals to ensure we ship when it is most appropriate for your area. Our goal is to deliver the hardiest plants by avoiding extreme high and low temperatures. Check out our shipping schedule for more information and to learn our wills and won'ts when it comes to shipping plants. Find your Red Prairie Spy Apple Tree for sale here at NatureHills.com!