We plant an apple tree in the spring correctly: the timing and rules for planting a seedling

A well-kept garden that bears fruit regularly is the pride of any gardener. But to achieve this, you must initially work hard.

The main part of each garden, as a rule, is made up of apple trees. they are distinguished by their unpretentiousness and good survival rate in almost any conditions.

Therefore, if you decide to plant an apple tree in the spring, the following detailed material on when and how to do it correctly so that the seedling quickly takes root and soon begins to bear fruit will be useful to you.

Content

1 When to plant an apple tree in spring, in what month: terms
2 Algorithm for spring planting of an apple tree: how to properly plant a seedling
3 Further care of the apple tree after planting in the spring

When to plant an apple tree in spring, in what month: terms

The optimal time for planting an apple tree in a permanent place in spring is the period before budding on the tree (i.e. the plant should still be sleeping).

At the same time, an important condition for spring planting is already a positive air temperature, and not only during the day (it should already be +5), but also at night.

You should not wait for the ground to completely thaw out, it is very good to plant seedlings with an open root system immediately after the snow melts, but the ground has not yet had time to warm up very much.

Thus, it is highly desirable to have time to plant while the seedlings are still "dormant", otherwise it will definitely negatively affect their survival rate and disrupt the natural cycle of development.

As for the approximate dates, depending on the climatic characteristics of the region, spring planting of an apple tree is recommended from late March-April to early May.

Advice! The best time to plant seedlings is cloudy and calm weather, early morning or late evening.

When is it better to plant - in spring or autumn

It is believed that all fruit trees, including apple trees, are still best planted. in the fallsince during this period, plants only grow roots, which means that the seedling will definitely not grow. Moreover, it is recommended to do this before the onset of stable frosts, that is, you should have about a month in stock (3-4 weeks).

Important! It is also not recommended to plant an apple tree too early in the fall, because shoots must have time to mature well in order to successfully survive the winter.

However, if you are late, and frosts are expected within 1-2 weeks, then it is better to play it safe and postpone planting the apple tree until spring (you can save the seedling by digging it in the garden, or by planting it in a container and putting it in the basement).

Thus, the approximate dates for planting an apple tree in autumn in different regions is the second half of September - the end of October.

By the way! It is also believed that pome crops - apples and pears - are best planted in autumn, and stone fruits - cherries, plums, apricots - in spring.

In general, due to the fact that the apple tree is a fairly winter-hardy crop, it can be planted both in autumn and spring.

However, planting an apple tree in spring has its own advantages:

Throughout the season, you will have the opportunity to respond in time to any negative factors that prevent the development of the seedling (drought, diseases, pests) and take measures to eliminate them.
A sufficient amount of moisture in the soil in spring improves the survival rate of the tree, which reduces the period of its adaptation to a new place.
When planting in spring, you can prepare a plot and a planting hole in advance (even from autumn), the soil in which will completely settle by spring, and therefore the possibility of burying the root collar of the seedling will be excluded.

Thus, when planting in spring, the apple tree has excellent chances to grow stronger during the season and be well prepared for the coming winter.

Note! Apple tree seedlings with a closed root system can be planted all year round - from April to October, unless it is recommended to do this in the middle of summer, when it is very hot.

Video: in what time frame is it better to plant seedlings of fruit and berry crops

Planting dates in spring in different regions

Naturally, depending on climatic features, the timing of spring planting of an apple tree in different regions will differ:

So, in the south of Russia, you can plant an apple tree in the second half of March or early April.
But the gardeners of the Middle Strip (Moscow region) should wait until the 2nd decade of April.
In Siberia and the Urals, apple seedlings should be planted in open ground only in late April-early May.

According to the lunar calendar in 2020

Choose the optimal date for planting seedlings can help you moon calendar.

So, favorable days for spring planting of an apple tree in 2020, according to the lunar calendar, are:

in March - 26-29;
in April - 11-15, 24, 25;
in May - 2-10.

Of course, it is not always possible to get to the dacha on the appropriate days, so the main thing is not to plant an apple tree and any other crops on unfavorable dates according to the lunar calendar (the days of the Full Moon and New Moon, as well as the period when the Moon is in Aquarius, since this is barren and dry sign -italicized).

Unfavorable days, according to the lunar calendar, for 2020 for planting apple seedlings in spring, the following dates are:

in March - 9,19-21, 24;
in April - 8,15-17, 23;
in May - 7,13-14, 22;
in June - 5,9-11, 21.

According to the lunar calendar, from the magazine "1000 Tips for Summer Residents".

Algorithm for spring planting of an apple tree: how to properly plant a seedling

In order for the tree to quickly adapt, take root and grow, as a result, you should carefully prepare for planting.

Selecting a seedling and preparing it for planting

When choosing a seedling, it is necessary to give preference to varieties that have proven themselves perfectly in the conditions of your region, in other words, you should purchase exactly zoned apple varietiesthat have a sufficient level of winter hardiness for your local climate.

Worth knowing! Saplings can be either with an open root system (OCS), and with a closed one (in a container).

Of course, it is better for beginners to take seedlings in a container, and experienced gardeners can also purchase from ACS.

Also, the apple tree seedling must comply with the following main criteria:

The general appearance of the seedling should be healthy, without signs of wilting, damage from diseases or pests.
The seedling itself should not be older than 2 years, since at this age it adapts faster.
The height of the seedling should be within 1-1.5 m (low-growing below, vigorous above): any deviation up or down indicates improper care or excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers.
It must have a well-developed root system (without any growths and neoplasms), that is, in addition to the main root, there must be several lateral ones (the older the seedling, the more roots it has), the length of which can be about 20-25 cm, however, they should not be overdried and broken;

Even if you are buying a seedling with a closed root system, the lateral roots tend to stick out of the container.

Advice! To check that a seedling is indeed with a closed root system, it must be grasped by the trunk and shaken. If it fits tightly, everything is fine.

In the lower part, on the trunk, you should clearly see the grafting site (the joint of the rootstock and the scion), which will guarantee that this is a varietal tree, and not a wild.

As a rule, the vaccination is done by budding method (they also say "grafted with an eye"), less often with a handle (ie copulation).

It is also worth evaluating the quality of the upper part of the trunk (grafted part). The wood must be ripe and strong, without any mechanical damage, sunburn, frost cracks and cracks in the bark, and the trunk itself must be flat and not bent.

Important! It is highly desirable that the seedling with ACS does not have any signs of the beginning of the growing season, i.e. was dormant (there were no leaves on it).

However, container seedlings with a closed root system (CCS) are often sold in the spring during the growing season. In this case, you also need to carefully evaluate their appearance, especially the color of the leaves.

Video: how to choose the right apple seedling

Preparing for landing

Immediately before planting, the roots of the seedling should be washed from the old soil, then dipped in a clay mash, and then the tips of the roots should be renewed by cutting them slightly. This is all the more necessary if they are too long, or you will notice that there are damaged, sick and broken ones (to a healthy place).

Some gardeners recommend completely soaking the seedling in water (you can add Kornevin) for a day or at least an hour, which will help restore biological processes in the roots and saturate them with moisture, especially if you see that the roots are slightly dry (and this in no case should be allowed).

Suitable place in the garden

Choosing a good place to plant your seedling is another important factor for successfully growing trees. So, apple trees (like many other fruit trees) grow well in open and sunny areas, but at the same time they are well protected from drafts.

The ideal option for planting an apple tree would be a place that, on the north side, will be protected from the drying winter winds. This can be your country house, some kind of outbuilding or a fence..

In this case, the tree itself, of course, should be placed on the south side, so it will receive the maximum amount of sunlight.

Also culture doesn't like lowlands very much (but suffers) and especially wetlands, therefore, it is better to plant it in more elevated areas (even better, directly on the hills).

In other words, at the landing site moisture should not stagnate in the springwhen the snow melts. Otherwise, the plant will simply underpin the root collar, and it will die.

By the way! Despite the fact that pome crops (apple and pear) are crops with rather "strong" root collars (compared to stone fruits, the same apricots and peaches), it is better to plant them on a hill (hill) in the zone of risky agriculture.

The location of groundwater is also of great importance when planting an apple tree. They should be no closer than 1.5 meters to the soil surface.

If the groundwater is close, then you have no choice but to make an artificial embankment and plant a seedling on it.

Important! Of course, you should not plant apple trees near large spreading trees (especially nuts), as this will negatively affect their growth and productivity (if the seedling can grow and bear fruit at all).

At what distance to plant

The distance between apple tree seedlings is of great importance and affects the stability of the crop and the life of the apple tree in the future. Therefore, in order to properly plant, it is necessary to draw up a preliminary diagram of the placement of trees, taking into account their strength of growth and crown growth.

So, apple trees on a vigorous rootstock are planted at a distance of at least 5-7 meters from each other (as a rule, 5 to 4), on a medium-growing one - 3-4 m (as a rule, 4 to 3), on a weakly growing rootstock - 1-3 m (semi-dwarf - 3 by 2, dwarf - 3 by 1.5).

By the way! Column-shaped apple trees (columnar apple trees) are sometimes even planted according to the scheme of 0.5 m in a row and 1 m in aisles.

Remember! The closer you plant trees, the more difficult it will be for you to control their crown in the future, in other words, you will need regular and mandatory pruning, including summer pruning.

Required soil

The best land for growing an apple tree is loam, although it will also grow well at sandy loam soil and light black soil.

Thus, the soil should have a light texture (be loose, warm up well, it is easy to pass water and air to the roots) and neutral acidity.

Certainly less successful for growing apple trees is sandy and clayey soil, but if you can create when landing in such a land good drainage, then the culture will fully take root and will grow successfully even under such conditions.

Important! When planting an apple tree seedling in excessively sandy soil, add a little clay and more compost to it, and sand in clayey soil, which will help balance the soil composition.

Advice! In a cold and harsh climate, as well as if the ground is heavy, or the site is very waterlogged and the groundwater is very close, then it is recommended to plant an apple tree (and any other fruit trees) on gentle hills ("According to Zhelezov").

Preparing the landing pit: when to dig and what sizes (depths)

To plant a tree, it is necessary to prepare in advance (dig and fill with nutritious soil) a planting hole, having done this in the fall or at least 1-2 weeks before the procedure. During this period, the soil will just have time to settle to the desired level.

Important! When digging a planting hole, the top layer of soil is thrown aside for further use.

Planting pit depth for the apple tree should be within 50-80 cm, width - 60-100 cm (on average they make 60 by 60).

As a rule, a planting hole for a seedling closed root do just 2-3 times larger than the container itself.

The bottom immediately fits drainage layer 10-15 cm from broken brick or small stones (the same crushed limestone or expanded clay), and then the prepared nutrient mixture is poured.

Important! If you have to plant in clay soil, then in addition to the obligatory drainage layer, you also need to dig the deepest hole possible.

How to prepare a nutrient mixture (substrate) or how to fill a planting pit

So that the apple tree can easily adapt to a new place and strengthen for further growth, when planting, it is recommended to fill the planting pit with a nutrient substrate, in other words, add the whole complex of macro- and partly microelements.

For this, the planting pit is filled with a specially prepared soil mixture (which is thoroughly mixed to a uniform consistency), which may include the following components (mineral and organic fertilizers):

all horse fertile soil (upper 20-30 cm), which you removed when digging a hole;
a bucket or two (8-16 kg) of good humus or compost;
a bucket (8-9 kg) of non-acidic peat (if possible);
a bucket (8-9 kg) of sand (if you have relatively heavy soil);
1-2 cups (200-500 grams) superphosphate or 400-600 grams of bone meal (organic analogue of phosphorus fertilizer);
half or 1 cup of potassium sulfate (100-200 grams) or 2-4 cups (200-400 grams) wood ash (organic analogue of potash fertilizer).

Either instead of superphosphate and potassium sulfate, just use 300-400 grams of nitroammophoska (it contains 16% nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) or even better diammophoska.

Worth knowing! When planting a tree (even in spring), it is not necessary to specially add nitrogen fertilizers (another thing if it is a complex fertilizer), since they stimulate vegetation to the detriment of root development (especially when planting in northern regions).

Important! However, many gardeners do not recommend at all to lay mineral fertilizers in the planting pit, but to apply them in the future, as top dressing.

After filling the pit with a nutrient substrate in its middle, it is necessary drive in a wooden peg, which will serve as a support for a young seedling.

Direct landing

Planting an apple tree in the spring, carried out according to all the rules, will allow the tree to quickly settle in a new place and grow. As a result, the seedling will be able to take root safely during the season and fully prepare for wintering.

Step-by-step instructions for planting an apple tree in spring:

Fill the planting hole with fertile soil in advance, leaving a depression in the size of the seedling root system.
In the case of planting a seedling with an open root system, add a small mound in the center of the planting hole.

If you are planting a seedling with a closed root system, then you do not need to make any mounds, but simply place it in a prepared planting hole without disturbing the earthen coma.

Drive in a wooden support (peg) (if you have not done this in advance).
Place the seedling in the center of the mound and spread the roots along its (mound) sides down (the roots should in no case stick up!).

Important! If you have a seedling that was grafted with an eye (budding), then the budding site (eye = new shoot that grew from the grafting) should face north and the cut site should face south.

Sprinkle soil over the roots while shaking the seedling to eliminate voids between the roots.
Compact (tamp) the soil, starting from the edges at the base of the seedling.

In this case, the root collar (the place where the first root originates from the trunk, not to be confused with the grafting, it is even higher - on the trunk) should be located 3-5 cm (you can simply attach 2-3 fingers) above the soil surface. After the tree settles in loose soil, the root collar will in any case take its normal position.

If you deepen the root collar, the tree will grow poorly and gradually die (because the root collar will shake out). On the contrary, plant it too high - the roots of the seedling will be bare and may simply dry out in the summer heat or freeze out in winter.

Next, you need to make a hole (roller) along the diameter (perimeter) of the trunk circle 5-10 cm high.
Spill abundantly with water, pouring out at least 2-3 buckets (pour out gradually - wait for it to be absorbed and add more).
Tie the seedling to the prepared support with a soft twine and secure in the correct position.

Smooth out the roller, loosen the soil in the near-trunk circle and mulch it with peat, humus or compost.

Mulch will help prevent dry roots and excess moisture evaporation.

Worth knowing! Mulch should not be laid close to the trunk of the seedling, as this can cause the bark to undergo heating, and, consequently, cause the development of fungal diseases.

Video: how to properly plant an apple tree seedling

Further care of the apple tree after planting in the spring

Immediately after planting, an apple tree seedling must trim, in order to level the root system with the aboveground part (this is done for a kind of "resuscitation" of the seedling after planting, since any planting and transplantation is an injury and stress for the plant).

How to do it correctly (start shape an apple tree), read in our article on spring pruning apple trees.

Video: planting and pruning an apple tree

In the future, for the successful rooting of the apple tree, it is necessary to monitor the soil moisture and, if necessary, depending on the weather conditions, (in spring and autumn you can water 2-3 times a month, and in the hot and dry period - once a week) carry out abundant watering... And then (after each watering), if you did not mulch the near-stem circle, be sure to loosen the soil at the base to improve oxygen access to the roots.

Important! Either make a new hole every year, or initially not very deep, so that moisture does not accumulate in it in the early spring period and the root collar does not get wet.

At the same time, the soil should not be allowed to dry out, but it should not be poured (especially waterlogging is harmful at the end of the growing season - August, since it delays the ripening of annual shoots, and the plants do not have time to prepare for winter).

Advice! To determine that the apple tree needs watering, you can do the following: dig a hole on the bayonet of a shovel (25-30 cm), and then take a handful of earth from the bottom of the hole - if it is dry, then urgent and abundant watering is required.

Additional top dressing it is not worth it this year, since the seedling has already received all the necessary complex of nutrients even during planting, which should be enough for the next 2-3 years.

Note! About, how and what to feed apple trees in the spring you can read here, a after fruiting (in autumn) — here.

Throughout the season, it is recommended to closely monitor the condition of your tree so that it is not suddenly struck by any diseases and pests.

And in the future, in any case, you will need to conduct annual treatments of apple trees with fungicides and insecticidesso that protect the tree from diseases and pests.

By the way! The site has detailed articles on how how to properly spray an apple tree in spring from diseases and pests, and in the fall.

Important! If in the future you notice that apples began to rot right on the tree, then, most likely, your apple tree was hit moniliosis... And the second most popular fungal disease of the apple tree is scab.

By the way! 2-3 year old apple seedlings can give a signal yield. However, this should not be allowed (pick flowers), because the seedling in the first year after planting should focus on how to take root in a new place, and not immediately start bearing fruit.

However, if in the future you have problems with the fact that the apple tree will not bloom and bear fruit, then we advise you to take note this article, which describes the possible causes of such a sad phenomenon.