When is it better to plant apple trees in the Moscow region, timing and soil preparation, tree care
A properly planted apple tree is distinguished by active growth, good fruiting, resistance to climatic conditions, pests and diseases. Therefore, the choice of the period when to plant apple trees in the Moscow region is a very important moment for the successful cultivation of a tree. But in addition to choosing the season and time, you need to pay attention to other important factors: selection of a variety, a healthy seedling, care after planting.
Features of planting apple trees in the Moscow region
In the Moscow region, planting an apple tree should be carried out in spring or autumn. The best option is to plant a tree in the autumn - from the last days of September to mid-November.
Attention should also be paid to the quality of the soil for planting. The fact is that the apple tree does not take root well in swampy areas, in places of shallow groundwater.
If it is not possible to plant the plant in another place, before planting in such soil, it should be drained with sand or gravel.
Planting in spring can be done from the last days of April to mid-May. Before disembarking, be sure to make sure that the ground is warmed up. This can be done with a shovel. You can find out that the soil has warmed up to the optimal temperature if the shovel enters the ground at the level of the bayonet.
Which variety should you choose?
The choice of variety depends on when the summer resident plans to harvest. Summer varieties bear fruit from late July-August. Such apples differ in that their shelf life reaches 14 days. Autumn varieties ripen in September and retain their freshness for 1-2 months. Winter varieties delight with their harvest in October. Moreover, such apples are stored for 3-6 months.
Many summer residents plant trees of different varieties on their site. The best option is the planting of 1 summer plant, 1-2 autumn, 2-3 winter. If you want to grow only one variety in the Moscow region, you should give preference to winter-hardy varieties, since they are resistant to the climatic features characteristic of the region.
Summer varieties of apple trees
If the summer resident plans to harvest in the summer, it is better for him to focus on the varieties listed below:
- Melba;
- Moscow pear tree;
- Candy;
- Folding;
- Lungwort;
- Mantent;
- The pink is excellent.
Autumn varieties
The best autumn varieties are:
- Zhigulevskoe;
- Rossoshskoe striped;
- Brown striped;
- Antonovka;
- Spartacus;
- Anise;
- Glory to the winners.
Winter varieties
If it is necessary to harvest in late autumn, preference should be given to growing such winter varieties as:
- Moscow winter;
- Kutuzovets;
- Star;
- Golden;
- Kuibyshevskoe;
- Saffron;
- North synap;
- Richard.
When can you plant?
If the summer resident plans to plant young seedlings 1 year old, it is better to do this in the spring. This approach to cultivation will allow the root system to adapt to climatic conditions before the onset of the winter cold. Such plants need to be planted in the last days of March - early April.
If the seedling is 2-3 years old, it is better to plant it in the autumn. The choice of this season is not accidental, it allows you to save a year until the first harvest. In this case, in order for the tree to endure the winter well, it must be securely covered, carefully observe all the nuances of planting. In autumn, it is better to plant seedlings from the end of September to the last October numbers.
Choosing a landing site
In order to get a healthy plant and a good harvest, before planting, you need to choose the right place where the apple tree will be planted. It is best if it has the following features:
- the site is located on a small hill, while it is open, sunny;
- there should be no swampy soil, drafts, shade from buildings or other plants at the landing site;
- groundwater must be more than 2 meters deep;
- the soil acid-base balance should be neutral.
After the optimal place has been found, it is required to bring the soil to an optimal state, preparing it for planting a plant.
Soil preparation
The summer resident should take care of preparing the landing pit in advance. This should be done approximately one month before the planned disembarkation date. For good growth and development of an apple tree, it is necessary to prepare a mixture of the top layer of fertile soil, a mineral complex and wood ash.
Nitrogen compounds, chicken or cow manure can be used as fertilizer.
Selection and preparation of a seedling
Before planting a plant, it must be carefully examined. The seedlings should have a healthy root system, a smooth stem that is free from damage. The plant must have live buds. Before planting, do not cut small roots, as thanks to them, the plant can provide itself with nutrients and water.
The day before transplanting, the seedlings are soaked in a bucket of water. In this case, any stimulant of the root formation process should be added to the liquid. As such additives, you can use "Kornevin", "Heteroauxin", "Epin". It is also allowed to use a yeast solution made from 10 liters of water and 100 grams of yeast.
Landing scheme
For the plant to grow well and bear fruit, it must be properly planted. For this, several nuances must be taken into account:
- The hole should be made in height no more than the size of the pot, so as not to deepen the neck during planting.
- Since the soil will settle slightly after planting, a margin must be made in height.
- The seedling should be placed in the hole. In cases where the apple tree has an open root system, the shoots must be carefully straightened.
- It is required to sprinkle the earth gradually in several layers. Moreover, each layer must be watered. This approach will allow you to compactly compact the soil, eliminate all air voids from it.
- A peg is driven in next to the plant. It is necessary for support, to prevent trunk curvature.
After transplanting, the root zone is watered. Then it must be mulched. Mulch is required in order to retain moisture in the root system, to protect the planting from weeds. Also, such a covering material provides the necessary fertilizing for the apple tree.
Further wood care
After planting an apple tree, she needs to be provided with proper care. To do this, you should maintain the cleanliness of the soil, regularly carry out sanitary and formative pruning, water, protect from pests, diseases, cold weather.
Watering seedlings
In the first month, the plant is watered every week, while gradually pouring 2 buckets of water under the tree. In a dry autumn, additional watering is organized: 2-3 buckets of water are poured under the plant every day. It is not necessary to make top dressing under the tree for 2-3 years, provided that the hole is prepared for planting.
Gradually, watering is done more abundantly, but less often. 4-5 buckets of water are poured under each tree once every 3 weeks. An adult tree only needs 4 waterings in 1 season. They are organized during flowering, fruit setting. The rest of the watering is done at the time of pouring the apples, before winter.
Shelter for the winter
If the plant was planted in the fall, the seedlings need to be covered for the winter. This procedure must be performed for 2-3 years, until the plant is fully strengthened. To prepare apple trees for winter, they must be watered abundantly before the onset of cold weather. After that, the root area is carefully mulched. The mulch layer should be at least 7 centimeters.You also need to protect the tree trunk from the cold. To do this, it should be wrapped with a transparent covering material.
Treatment against diseases and pests
After planting an apple tree, it is necessary to regularly inspect its branches and leaves for the presence of diseases and pests. At this stage, such an inspection is quite easy, since the tree is not covered with a lot of leaves. If signs of a disease are found, it is better to process a young tree with folk remedies.
If after treatment the disease does not recede, it can be overcome with the help of safe biological agents, the positive effect of which is based on the vital activity of fungi and microorganisms. These drugs include "Fitoverm", "Bitoxibacillin".
To maintain plant health, care must also be taken to ensure that the support peg does not injure the trunk. This is due to the fact that the damaged tree is prone to damage by pests and diseases.
