How to properly water an apple tree and other fruit trees in spring, summer and autumn: how much water is needed for watering

As you know, moisture is the basis of nutrition for any plant. For young seedlings, timely watering is needed in order to settle down in a new place as quickly as possible, and for already fruitful trees, proper watering is the key to a high-quality future harvest.

Next, you will learn about when and how to water the trees, how much water they need depending on age, what are the rates and frequency of watering.

By the way! All the basic principles and rules for watering apple trees and other fruit trees are the same.

How often and how much to water the trees

It is important to understand that there are many conditions to consider when watering.

As a rule, the following factors (conditions) are distinguished, on which how often to water and how much water to pour under apple trees and other fruit trees directly depends:

• type (composition) of soil;
• age;
• weather and season.

Soil type

It's simple: if the soil is heavy, then it retains moisture better, if light, then the water does not retain at all. Respectively:

• On clay and chernozem soils - in the summer they water 1-2 times a month, in the spring and autumn - no more than 1 time.
• On sandy soils - 2-4 times a month in summer, and in spring and autumn - 1-2 times.

To saturate an earthen lump to the required depth (on average 40 cm), on light sandy loam soil, about 1.5 times less water is needed than heavy loam. This should also be considered!

Tree age

As a rule, the watering rate, depending on the age of the tree, is approximately 15-20 liters for 1 year, i.e.:

However! It should be borne in mind that stone fruit trees (cherries, cherries, plums, peaches, apricots) are less hygrophilousthan pome fruits (apple, pear)... At the same time, the frequency of watering remains unchanged, but the amount of water should differ (by 1.5-2 times).

For example, on the Internet you can find the following picture:

• 2-3 year old seedling - 30-60 liters;

Note! It is especially important to monitor the humidity in the first year after planting, especially if it is done in the spring. Watering is necessary often and little by little (every week or 10 days, 20-30 liters). If you notice that the leaves have begun to wilt, then urgently carry out intensive watering.

• 4-5 year old tree - 60-100 liters;
• 6-7 fruiting tree - 90-140 liters;
• 8-10 year old adult tree - 120-200 liters.

Advice! Many gardeners believe that the main criterion for a plant to have enough water is moisture and stagnation of moisture on the soil surface. In other words, if you are pouring, and the water does not leave, it means that it is time to stop watering.

Weather conditions and seasons

In early spring, trees are never additionally watered, because during this period, the land is still wet after winter (snowmelt). Therefore, the first spring watering is carried out only in April-May during budding (before flowering) - it is enough to water once.

If summer is very hot and dry (there is no precipitation at all, it is clear all the time), the air temperature rises to +30 and above degrees, then newly planted young trees, water preferably 2 times a week. If summer is cool, occasionally it rainsthen Once a week will be more than enough.

Of course, so often you do not need to water adult and fruit-bearing trees, maximum 2 times a month in case of extreme heat and 1 time - in mild summer.

By the way! Of course, everyone has heard about the autumn water-charging irrigation. However, not every summer resident knows at what time and how to properly perform it. Therefore, we will talk about this important event in a separate paragraph.

An approximate watering schedule for mature trees

1. During the budding period (before flowering) - in the spring (April-May).
2. After flowering (after 2-3 weeks) - in summer (June).
3. During the period of fruit filling (up to 2-3 weeks of ripening) - in the summer (July-August).
4. Autumn watering after leaf fall (October-November).

Thus, most often during the summer season (from May to August), it is enough to water adult trees in the garden 3-4 times, and in dry weather - 4-5 times. And do not forget, if possible, to do water-charging irrigation, but already in late autumn.

Autumn water-charging irrigation

It's simple: it is believed that moist soil freezes less and has greater thermal conductivityin other words, the heat from the lower layers of the soil will warm the roots of plants during the cold period.

How long does it take?

• After falling leaves, on the eve of cold weather (even at a positive temperature).

When is winter watering especially necessary?

• In case you have sandy loam soil and autumn does not spoil with frequent and heavy rains, and winter is not snowy.

It is worth understanding! Of course, if autumn is wet and cool, then you can completely do without water-charging irrigation.

How much water is required?

• You need to wet the entire earthen lump, which contains the root system of the plant (about 30-50 cm deep), i.e. from 60 to 200 liters (for young and large old trees).

And after watering (for example, the next day), many gardeners also advise loosen the soil in the near-barrel circle, because loose earth freezes less.

Of course, if your plants are on a good layer turf or just growing lawn grassthen nothing no need to dig.

Video: what is water-charging irrigation and how to carry it out correctly

How to water trees properly

Tips and tricks for proper watering of apple trees and other fruit trees:

• It is possible to determine that the earthen lump is dry and the tree urgently needs watering, as follows: dig a hole on the bayonet of a shovel (25 cm), take a handful of earth from the bottom, if it is dry, then water it urgently.
• As for the time of day, then ideal to water trees in the early morning, it is possible in the evening, but during the day it is very undesirable, only if the weather is cloudy.
• For easy watering and initial water retention, you need make rollers on the projection of the crown your tree is about 10 centimeters high.

The trunk circle should correspond to the dimensions of the projection of the crown of your tree.

In general, ideally, you need to water according to the crown projection, but this is not necessary. However, no need to pour under the barrel.

• Watering ice water from a well or well - the idea is clearly not the best. Too cold water has a depressing effect on all plants. Another thing is ordinary summer cottage water (with a temperature of 16-20 degrees).
• Naturally, no need to carry buckets: take the hose and move it along the near-barrel circle, and first measure how many minutes it takes to draw 1 bucket (10 liters).
  

  As a rule, 1 bucket (10 liters) is filled in 0.5-1 minute (30-60 seconds), depending on the pressure.

• The soil do not overdry.
• In the same time do not water too often. Earth in the trunk circle of a fruit tree must dry.

If the ground is constantly wet, then the roots of the fruit tree may begin to rot from an excess of moisture.

• In other words, you need follow the watering schedule... Watering is necessary rarely, but abundantly, in order to soak the entire root ball (up to 30-50 cm deep).

With sudden changes in humidity (either too dry or too wet), young trees can throw off their foliage.

• Late spring or early autumn precipitation, especially summer rains in no case cannot replace individual watering of the tree... Even when there is a relatively long and rather heavy rain, it will moisten as much as possible the surface layer of the soil (by 3-5 cm), but not necessary 40 cm

Late autumn, winter, early spring are another matter. The temperature is at a minimum, which means that evaporation is minimal, moreover, during this period the trees do not vegetate, therefore, they need less moisture.

• There is an opinion that it is better not to water the trees during the beginning of leaf fall.

After all, otherwise you can provoke a re-vegetation. Autumn water charging irrigation preferably already after falling leaves.