Big Easy Tree Removal Publishes Homeowner Guide on Selecting Low-Chill Apple Tree Varieties

NEW ORLEANS, LA – October 07, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –

Big Easy Tree Removal, a tree care and management company based in New Orleans, has published a homeowner guide identifying the apple tree varieties best suited to the region’s mild winters, giving property owners across the Greater New Orleans area a local reference for selecting, planting, and maintaining fruit trees in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a.

The guide addresses a common misconception among area homeowners that apple trees cannot be grown in the Gulf South. According to the company, the challenge is not the climate itself but variety selection, since most standard apple cultivars require far more chill hours than the region provides. Winters in and around New Orleans typically deliver between 200 and 400 chill hours, well below the 800 or more required by popular varieties such as Honeycrisp.

To address that gap, the resource focuses on low-chill cultivars developed for warm regions. It identifies Anna, which requires roughly 200 to 300 chill hours, and Dorsett Golden, which needs fewer than 100, as the most dependable pairing for the area. Ein Shemer and TropicSweet are presented as additional options for homeowners seeking variety and an extended harvest window. The guide notes that most apple trees are self-infertile, meaning at least two compatible varieties must be planted for cross-pollination and fruit production.

Beyond variety selection, the guide covers considerations specific to the region, including drainage in the area’s heavy clay soils, spacing for airflow to limit fungal disease, and rootstock choices suited to warm, wet conditions. It also outlines hurricane-season precautions, advising homeowners to stake young trees, keep canopies pruned to reduce wind resistance, and inspect for weak branches before storm season, which runs from June through November.

“Homeowners are often surprised to learn that apple trees can thrive here at all, and the difference almost always comes down to choosing the right variety and planting it correctly,” said a spokesperson for Big Easy Tree Removal. “This guide is meant to give people in our area a practical starting point grounded in the conditions we actually deal with.”

The publication reflects the company’s broader focus on regional tree care education for residents of New Orleans and nearby communities, including Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Slidell, Covington, Mandeville, Hammond, River Ridge, and Laplace. Big Easy Tree Removal provides tree planting, trimming, removal, stump grinding, fertilization, support systems, and preservation services throughout the region.

The guide also arrives several months after the company expanded its service portfolio with the addition of Termite Treatment Services, introduced in February. The termite treatment offering broadened the company’s role beyond traditional tree work into pest management that affects both trees and surrounding property, complementing existing preservation and fertilization services aimed at maintaining long-term tree health in a climate where moisture and pests place ongoing pressure on landscapes.

Company representatives noted that fruit-tree planting introduces its own maintenance requirements, from managing pests such as fire blight and apple scab to monitoring for structural weaknesses that can develop in storm-prone conditions. The guide encourages homeowners to plan for these factors before planting rather than after problems appear.

Big Easy Tree Removal indicated that the apple tree guide is part of an ongoing series of educational materials addressing tree selection and care questions common to the Gulf South. The company stated that future resources will continue to focus on the specific conditions faced by area property owners, where climate, soil, and seasonal weather create planting considerations that differ substantially from other parts of the country.

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For more information about Big Easy Tree Removal, contact the company here:

Big Easy Tree Removal
Loyd Gay
504-732-1166
info@bigeasytreeremoval.com
New Orleans, LA 70130