Many people today do not dare to move to the metropolis. The environmental situation in these regions leaves much to be desired. Therefore, many want to buy a private house with a small plot. The size of the land does not always allow you to split a large garden, but still there is almost always a place for several fruit trees.
The true queen of all gardens is the apple tree. This tree can be found in almost every garden. Varieties of apple trees are so diverse that each owner will be able to choose the right option for himself. Today, dwarf apple trees are tall, tall, half-dwarf, with a spreading crown, wedge-shaped. The ripening period is different, long-term storage of the crop is possible. Summer residents living in Siberia or the Far East, it is better to choose regionalized cultures adapted to the special climate of the region. So you can get a good harvest of juicy, delicious apples.
Landing place
Many are interested in: how to plant an apple tree correctly? After all, there are some recommendations, considering which, you can get a good harvest in the future.
First of all, you should choose the right place for planting an apple tree. The place where young plants will be planted must meet the following requirements:
- good lighting;
- protection from the wind;
- fertile land.
A good sunny place contributes to excellent fruiting. Please note that tall trees do not grow nearby. The shadow that they will create adversely affects the development of the young tree, reduces the quantity and quality of fruits.
The site should be well protected from strong winds. But it should be well ventilated.
Of course, fertile land enriched with useful substances and trace elements also affects the quality of the crop.
Want to plant some apple trees? Then it’s better to do it in one place. Alternating plantings with other plants is not recommended. So you can achieve good pollination, which means abundant fruiting. In addition, it is easier and more convenient to process plants from the negative effects of pests and diseases with this placement.
Experts also recommend choosing several different varieties with different ripening periods. For example, in a personal plot it is recommended to plant such a combination of fruit trees: White Bulk, Cinnamon Striped and Lobo, Aport and Gold or Melba.
Soil features
Soil is an indicator of future fruiting quality. Therefore, those who do not know how to plant an apple tree should pay attention to the composition of the soil in the chosen place. The plant is unpretentious to the choice of soil, but it should not be:
- boggy;
- rocky;
- crushed stone.
Apple tree is a plant that loves loose soil. It is able to pass moisture and air to the roots of the plant. It is not recommended to plant the plant in places where groundwater lies close. The minimum distance to them should be more than 2 m. Under such conditions, we can say that the apple tree will bear fruit for a long time and abundantly. If groundwater is close, how to plant an apple tree? Experienced gardeners recommend laying a slate sheet at the bottom of the planting pit. When the root reaches this depth, it will change the path of its growth. In this case, groundwater will not harm the plant, no matter how far they are.
The ideal soil for the culture under consideration is loamy. How to plant an apple tree in an area with a completely different soil composition? It is enough to correctly approach the preparation of the soil. To do this, clay soil should be mixed well with sand or peat. Humus must be added to soil containing a lot of sand. Peat can also be used for these purposes.
When to plant
A tree transplant is stressful for a plant. Therefore, it is so important to know how to plant an apple tree. To new conditions, the best adaptation of the plant occurs during the termination of sap flow. This is the time when the plant goes into the stage of sleep. The growing season ends in September-October. It lasts until the kidneys awaken. Therefore, planting seedlings should occur in the fall or spring.
In winter, the trees are in a state of complete rest. But replanting plants during this period is not recommended, because young roots can die if they fall into the cold, frozen ground. In winter, apple trees are transplanted only in certain regions, using technology only for adult plants with a developed root system.
But when and how to plant an apple tree? This question cannot be answered unequivocally. Often, everything depends on the climatic conditions of the region. In regions with a warm climate, seedlings are recommended to be planted in mid-autumn. In cooler areas, where sharp drops in temperature are often observed at the end of October, seedlings should be planted in spring.
Landing pit
It should not only pre-select a place for the plant, but also prepare a hole. The place where the seedling will be planted must be prepared a month before planting the crop. During this period, the soil warms up and settles, and the plant can easily adapt.
It is necessary to dig a round hole, folding the ground in 2 heaps nearby. It is recommended to pour the earth into special containers or onto soil previously covered with plastic wrap. Fertile soil, which is located in the upper soil layer, must be put together in one pile. Pour a layer poor in micronutrients into another. The optimal pit volume is 1 m.
The depth of the pit depends on the type of tree selected and on the degree of development of its root system. The walls should be sheer. For a seedling, it is imperative to create a support. Therefore, in the center of the dug hole, it is necessary to drive a strong stake with a diameter of 5 cm. Above the ground, it should rise by 40 cm. First, the stake must be burned on one side. Then he will not rot in the earth.
Soil preparation
When the pit is ready, the soil extracted from it is cultivated, choosing weed roots and stones.
To properly plant a tree with an apple tree, it is necessary to correctly lay the soil. Loosening the bottom of the pit, pour fertile soil. Then make a mixture of 1 bucket of humus, 1 kg of mineral fertilizers and 750 g of wood ash. The nutrient substrate is mixed and slightly tamped. They pour out the remaining land, and a small mound should form. A small depression should be made in it, in which the seedling will be placed. The size of the pit depends directly on the size of the root system of the seedling.
You can fill up the landing pit in another way. Compost, peat, rotted manure and humus must be added to the nutrient top layer. The pit is completely filled with this mixture. Be sure to make sure that a hill of land is formed. From the soil from the bottom of the pit, sides are formed around the landing site. It can also be scattered in the aisle.
How to plant a seedling
It should not only prepare a place for plants, but also properly planted apple seedlings. Immediately before the procedure, it is necessary to trim all the ends of the root system with a secateurs. The same should be done with the top of the trunk and branches.
After the seedling is placed in a hole in an upright position. Gently fill the root system with the prepared soil. At the same time, make sure that the branches of the root system are directed down or horizontally. Otherwise, incorrect root formation may occur.
It is necessary to fill up the seedling in such a way that the root neck of the apple tree is 3-5 cm above the ground.
After the soil is watered well. After soil subsidence, the soil is added again to the desired level, then watered again. Water tamps the loosened soil. Experienced gardeners do not recommend trampling the ground with their feet, because this can damage the root system.
This sequence of actions ensures the adaptation of the plant. How to plant an apple tree in autumn or spring, you already know. It is enough to choose the right place, prepare the soil and plant the seedling on time.
When planting a plant in spring, for some time it is necessary to water the seedling every 2-3 days. If a color forms on it immediately after planting, it must be cut off to enable the tree to solidify well.
After planting a seedling in the autumn, it does not need to be watered.
Distance between seedlings
A small garden area often motivates owners to plant a large number of fruit plants. Many people think that this is an effective way to increase yield. But this is not so! Dense placement of trees will cause the following consequences:
- deterioration in crop quality;
- yield reduction;
- rapid defeat by diseases and pests;
- defeat of shoots and leaves by fungus.
Therefore, it is necessary to properly plant seedlings of apple, pear, apricot or any other crop. A certain planting pattern should match the characteristics of the plant. When planning a planting, the maximum dimensions of an adult tree should be considered. For low-growing varieties, the optimal planting scheme is 2.5 x 4 m, given that the stock was perfect on a dwarf plant.
Apple trees, the basis of which was a wild plant, must be planted according to the scheme 5 x 3.5 m. The distance between tall plants should be more than 4.5 m.
Of course, you should consider the features of the future apple tree. Which variety to plant - the owner decides. Indeed, new, modern columnar and dwarf fruit trees occupy a minimum of space, which means that they can be planted closer to each other.
Care for young trees
In the first year of life, the fruit plant must be regularly watered - 1 time per week. At the second watering in the spring, it is necessary to add ammonium nitrate. Make sure that the soil is constantly moist under the seedling until the shoots begin to grow. After the amount of watering is gradually reduced.
If the apple tree settles deeply with the soil, it is necessary to gently pull the seedling to the desired height. The plant needs regular inspection for pests or diseases. In the first year of life, they can cause irreparable harm to the tree.
Since August, watering of the tree stops.
Conclusion
The apple tree is the queen of all gardens. This fruit tree is unpretentious, hardy, allows you to collect a large crop. A variety of varieties allows you to get fruits both in summer and late autumn. Moreover, among a wide variety you can easily find the variety that suits you.