[jonewer]

Got home yesterday with my 4 apple trees and a quince!

This lot are going in my garden. If and when I get my lottie, there might be some more.....  

Anyway, I have never planted an apple tree before. Whats the best way of doing this?

Some kind of compost to use?
How deep or wide to dig the hole?

Thanks.

[Yorkie]

Dredging memory now but if I recall correctly:

Dig hole so that the tree will be at the same depth in the soil as it currently is in the pot, but make the hole quite a bit wider.

Fork over the bottom of the hole to break up hard layer.  Add bonemeal (?) or general purpose fertiliser.

Place tree in hole, tease out roots so they are not still going round in circles from the pot.

Backfill soil, firm in with boots.

If you want to stake the tree, put one in at a 45 degree angle so that the top of the stake points into the prevailing wind direction, and joins the tree at about 2-3' up the tree stem.  Use an expanding rubber or soft wire tie to attach the tree to the stake, ensuring that there is a spacer or twist between the stake and tree so that the tree doesn't rub against the stake directly.  Check the tie regularly so it doesn't become a tourniquet.

Water copiously for at least the first 12 months.

Remove any grass from around where you plant them.  The competition will kill the tree.