Apple trees do not appreciate large spikes in Nitrogen so Osmocote Plus is a good choice since its controlled-release properties provide slow but steady nutrition. Apply fertilizer to apple trees at the start of the growing season but stop in early July. Mix Osmocote into the first couple of inches of soil, but don't disturb the roots. Apply one capful of Osmocote for each two-feet of branch spread. Sprinkle the granules onto the root zone -- that's the area directly below the tree limbs. This is Bob Stohler for Marianne Binetti (who is on vacation). Keep growing.