Welcome David ,

my best experience with a compact, or “Spur” apple tree is my Stark Spur Granny Smith. It was advertised to ripen slightly before ‘regular’ Grannies, so I’ve assumed the compact spur habit’s may hasten ripening by a small degree. Having nothing to compare it to, I don’t know? As is, it’s the last apple I (or the raccoons) pick.

Just found this: “Spur-type apple trees produce fruit earlier than do the nonspur types and usually are recommended.”

I love the tree’s growth habit. With growth buds ‘bunched’ closer together (than normal) the size is naturally limited with the fruit spurs (also) closer together; thus an equal amount of fruit on a slightly more compact tree. You still have to prune them… but they’re definitely not as vigorous as a ‘normal tree.’

OK… I’ve just given up on finding a good ‘online’ description of a compact spur apple tree - of which I think you're speaking… And I couldn’t find a list of “compact spur” varieties, or cultivars. Wanting to post a basic description for other readers, here’s my best recollection: A “Compact Spur” apple tree is a mutation generally found as a branch on the parent tree by an observant picker or pruner. They seem most common among commercial varieties, such as Rome, G. Smith, Yellow and Red Delicious; I would presume due to the vastly increased odds of such mutations given the many thousands of acres of these trees. Their leaf buds and fruit spurs form closer to each other, perhaps up to twice as close; thus they don’t grow as leggy or lengthy as their parent.

With that – pollination would be specific to the particular variety and can usually be recommended by the source of the tree. I’ve found ‘bloom-time’ most important with regard to pollination and wouldn’t expect a spur tree to be (that much) ahead of its parent variety [I realize my near constant use of the term “Variety” in place of the more accurate term “Cultivar” may bother some of our more knowledgeable readers, but as not to confuse the rest I’ll continue to use the term Variety – though I may never learn to spell it..].

My conclusions regarding my G. Smith spur and “Stark Spur Golden Del.” is there’s not that big a difference between them and normal trees on a rootstock of preference. You have to prune both! If you’d like a tree with the potential to fill any space necessary I’d plant a ‘regular’ tree; keep it pruned back to a couple-buds-worth of expansion each year, or let it take off. You haven’t that option with a Spur Tree; they’ll only get ‘so big.’

Also, you’re quite limited with varieties of Spur Trees. If wanting one of those varieties and finding it as a ‘Spur,’ I went for it. But I wouldn’t limit my varietal selection to the short-list of Spur Trees… I’d go for the Apple you want – then learn to prune! Pruning’s a blast - like sculpting, you’re in total control! I’ve 27 fruit trees and bet you couldn’t tell the (two) spurs from the rest. The spurs do appear to have denser foliage, with their leaf buds closer together; and though I’ve never had disease problems, in a more humid location you might take less air circulation into consideration.

…So, off the top of my head that’s prettymuch what I’ve learned & remember of Spur Trees… Given the choice, I’d take one over not – but I wouldn’t limit my selection to a spur simply because it’s a “Spur.”