Granny Smith Apple Tree

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

12-15 Feet

Mature Spread

8-10 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Granny Smith Apple Tree brings that crisp, zesty bite straight from your backyard. Tart, juicy fruit holds its shape beautifully in pies and turns snack-time into a refreshing crunch. The tree adds seasonal charm too—spring blossoms, glossy summer leaves, and a handsome harvest of bright green apples.

Grow it as a standout in the lawn, train it flat as an espalier along a fence, or choose a dwarf form for large containers. With full sun and simple, steady care, Granny Smith rewards reliably and stores well for baking and fresh eating long after harvest.

Granny Smith Apple Tree Care

Provide 6–8 hours of direct sun. Plant in well-drained loam or sandy loam with pH 6.0–7.0; avoid waterlogged spots. Water deeply to maintain even moisture, especially during bloom, fruit set, and the final 4–6 weeks before harvest. Mulch 2–3 inches to conserve moisture, keeping mulch a few inches from the trunk.

Feed in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fruit tree fertilizer; don’t overdo nitrogen. Prune in late winter to open the canopy, remove crossing wood, and strengthen scaffold branches.

Thin fruit to one apple every 6–8 inches after natural June drop to improve size and reduce limb stress. Hardy in Zones 5–8 (check local performance). Not self-fruitful—plant with a compatible pollinizer (e.g., Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady/Cripps Pink) within 50–100 feet.

Granny Smith Apple Tree Spacing

On dwarf rootstock: space 8–10 ft on center; expect about 8–12 ft tall × 8–10 ft wide. On semi-dwarf: space 12–16 ft on center; expect 12–16 ft tall × 12–14 ft wide. For a single specimen, allow 8–10 ft of clearance from walls or paths for airflow and easy picking. Espalier: plant 6–8 ft apart along a fence or warm wall.

Containers (dwarf only): start with an 18–24 in diameter pot, at least 16–18 in deep, with large drainage holes; keep the graft union 2–3 inches above the soil line and remove any suckers below it.

Why Grow Granny Smith Apple Tree?

• Signature tart-sweet flavor and firm texture ideal for baking and fresh snacks
• Consistent producer with excellent storage life under cool conditions
• Four-season landscape appeal—from spring bloom to fall fruit
• Flexible training options (central leader, espalier) to fit tight spaces
• Dependable performance with straightforward pruning, thinning, and feeding

Plant Granny Smith in a sunny, well-drained spot beside a good pollinizer, and enjoy baskets of crisp, bakery-ready apples you grew yourself.