[wooley1000]

We had a Japanese maple in our garden that shrivelled and died it must have been 20 years old. After it stopped growing it's leaves I decided to chop it down.

I want to replace it with an apple tree.

1. Which is the best cooking apple tree with a good yeild.

2. Can I use whats left of the old maple as a support for the young tree or do I have to dig it out.

3. Whats the best time of year to buy and plant the new apple tree.

We live in mid / north wales very close to cadair idris mountain and we do not warm up or defrost untill about 2 weeks after people in the valley below us about 6 miles away.

The soil is rich but I have noticed that one old chap always adds lime to his soil - should I do this or should i just keep putting a good compost down.

Any advise would be very gratfully accepted.

[gillie]

1.  We like Howgate Wonder.  Some years we get HUGE apples, some years (like this one) they are just very large and very numerous

2.  I would have it out.  The apple tree will not need much supporting

3.  November to March

Liming depends on what you want to grow.  I would not bother with lime for an apple

We live 500ft. up on top of the Chilterns but we grow decent apples.

Gillie

[wooley1000]

1.  We like Howgate Wonder.  Some years we get HUGE apples, some years (like this one) they are just very large and very numerous

2.  I would have it out.  The apple tree will not need much supporting

3.  November to March

Liming depends on what you want to grow.  I would not bother with lime for an apple

We live 500ft. up on top of the Chilterns but we grow decent apples.

Gillie

Thanks Gillie sounds like a good plan to me. Mark