First off you need to get a pot of dirt, seed dipper, trowel, watering can, spade, rake, the seed, supercompost or compost (super comp and comp are not needed if you pay the farmer) and an axe if you wish to cut the tree down. First use the seed with the plant pot then water. It will soon grow to a sappling Second weed the patch with the rake, you should get 3 weeds Then super comp or comp the patch, if desired Then use the sappling with the patch and you are done. If you like, you can retrieve the apples by simply picking them and then you can cut down the tree and once the tree is down, use the spade with the stump and the patch is ready for a new tree. Paying the farmer will not get your tree diseased or die and you do not have to comp the patches if you pay farmers.