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Gardeners, when growing fruit trees, try to create a special design on the site. It is for this reason that one sometimes has to forget about the taste of the fruit if the plant can be integrated into the landscape design.
The Niedzwetzkyana Dieck apple tree (Malus niedzwetzkyana Dieck) is one of these fruit trees, which is most often grown not for apples, but, most likely, to create a composition. Judging by the description, this apple tree looks decorative at any time of the year. Features of the Nedzvetsky ornamental apple tree, its characteristics, methods of reproduction, subtleties of cultivation and care - this is the topic of our article.
A little history wouldn't hurt
The apple tree, which got its name from the famous Russian scientist Vladislav Efimovich Nedzvetsky, has existed in the wild for thousands of years. Her homeland is the Asian expanses. Gradually, the plant “migrated” first to America and then to Europe.
A Russian botanist scientist, while in Kashkar (China), saw an interesting plant and tasted its fruits. The tree itself surprised us with its decorative leaves and fruits and smooth bark.
Samples of the plant with a detailed description were transferred to the German scientist Georg Dick. He was in Kazakhstan at that time and managed to grow a tree. A biologist, while in Kazakhstan, grew this tree and gave it a name. This is how the Niedzwiecki apple tree appeared in the plant catalog with a description and photo.
Today, the ornamental Nedzvetsky apple tree and its selection varieties are grown not only in gardens, but are also widely used in the landscape design of parks and squares.
Description of the apple tree
It is difficult for a person unfamiliar with a certain variety to understand what is being said without a description and photo. This is where we will begin the story about the decorative apple tree.
Features of the tree
The Niedzwiecki apple tree is described as a tall tree, growing up to 8 meters. On a powerful, smooth trunk, cracks are almost invisible. The bark without thorns is gray-brown or violet-brown, the crown is spherical, sometimes round. May be raised or spreading.
On young branches of the ornamental Niedzwiecki apple tree, the leaves are dark purple; when all the leaves bloom, the primary color remains only on the petioles. The leaves are dark emerald on top, and the lower part of the leaf blade is reddish with noticeable pubescence. The leaves are ovate, with a sharp tip, with teeth along the edges.
Flowers
The Niedzvetsky apple tree becomes especially decorative during flowering. The buds are pink-purple, and the flower itself turns bright pink or purple after blooming. The five-petal flowers are large, up to 5 centimeters in diameter. The inflorescence consists of several buds with thin white felt peduncles.
You can tell that there is a Niedzwiecki apple tree in a garden or park by its rich, bright aroma. Decorative apple trees bloom for almost two weeks.
Fruit
In place of the flowers, ovaries are formed. By the time they ripen, the apples grow to 2-3 cm in diameter. They are sour in taste, with juicy pulp. Niedzwiecki apples are spherical or elongated with a dark red or violet-purple color.
A waxy coating is clearly visible on each fruit. When cut, the flesh is pink. The number of seeds in Niedzwiecki apples varies from 1 to 9.
Many novice gardeners are interested in whether it is possible to eat fruits from an ornamental apple tree. We answer. Not everyone will risk eating fresh apples, because they are very sour. But the fruits collected from the Niedzwiecki apple tree are an excellent raw material for compotes, jams and preserves. Apples are usually harvested at the end of September. The fruits do not fall from the apple tree and can remain there all winter. Frozen apples become tastier. In addition, birds flock to apple trees hung with fruits in winter.
Pros and cons of the variety
Now let's look at the positive and negative sides of the plant.
According to the description, photos and reviews of gardeners, the Nedzvetsky apple tree is a fast-growing frost-resistant plant, so the area for its cultivation is becoming wider every year.
The reason for the popularity of the Niedzwiecki apple tree in landscape design, in addition to decorativeness, is also the plant’s resistance to various diseases and pests. In addition, the apple tree can easily tolerate drought, which is also important, since in many regions of Russia in summer there is a serious problem with rain.
In addition, as gardeners write in reviews, it does not require any special conditions and is unpretentious in cultivation.The decorative Niedzwiecki apple tree, a photo of which we have posted below, can be grown on any soil.
If we talk about disadvantages, then this variety of ornamental apple tree probably has only one: it is affected by scab.
Features of growing the Nedzvetsky apple tree
Gardeners with extensive experience will not have to worry about growing ornamental Niedzwiecki apple trees, because caring for them after planting will be the same. The plant is needed:
- feed and water;
- trim and shape the crown;
- fight diseases and pests.
The only difference will be that for trees that are grown only for harvest, and for the Niedzwiecki apple tree, the purpose of pruning and crown formation will be somewhat different. After all, the main thing is to give a decorative look to create a landscape design. For example, the weeping apple tree of Nedzvetsky or Prirechnaya grows up to 12 meters in height, has a spreading and spherical crown. Its branches fall to the ground.
And other varieties of ornamental apple trees can have a raised crown. The size of the crown will also depend on the chosen shape.
Where to plant
Despite the fact that the ornamental apple tree is an unpretentious tree, you need to choose the right place to plant it. Only in this case you will receive both a decoration for the garden and a harvest of apples, from which you can make delicious compote and jam.
The place for planting a decorative apple tree should be well lit, and the soil should be loose and fertile. The groundwater level is also important, since stagnation of water leads to rotting of the root system of the apple tree.
How to water
As a rule, watering is required in the spring, when a large number of pink flowers bloom on the ornamental Niedzwiecki apple tree and during the fruit-filling period.
In summer, if the rains are moderate, the plants are watered once every 30 days. Heat and drought make their own adjustments to watering: apple trees need to be watered at least three times a month.
Decorative Niedzwiecki apple trees should be watered at the root early in the morning or after sunset. In the evening, you can also spray the entire crown with a hose to wash away dust. This procedure cannot be carried out in the morning and during the day, otherwise the leaf blades will get sunburn.
Other types of work
Loosening and weeding must be done carefully, because the roots of the Niedzwiecki apple tree are superficial, as described. The root system of the apple tree is on the surface, so weeding and removing weed must be done carefully. It is advisable to carry out this process after each watering so that the roots receive enough air.
Since the plant blooms and fruits profusely, it quickly depletes the soil. That is why an apple tree needs to be fed with organic and mineral fertilizers for successful development.The first time feeding is carried out in the spring, then at the beginning of summer and at the end of August. The plant is fed for the last time before covering for the winter.
Diseases and pests
According to the description, photos and reviews, the Nedzvetsky apple tree is a plant resistant to diseases and pests. But since it grows among other trees, problems cannot be avoided. This is why you should not refuse preventive treatments:
- In early spring, while temperatures are still low, you need to whiten the trunks of apple trees with lime. It not only destroys pests, but also saves the bark from sunburn.
- Young growth, as well as weeds, must be methodically removed, because it is in them that aphid eggs overwinter, and on them they reproduce first.
- In the spring, branches and trunk circles are subject to treatment with special preparations for scab.
Apple tree pruning
The Niedzwiecki apple tree variety is grown mainly as an ornamental tree to decorate gardens or public recreation areas for citizens. Moreover, not only wild-growing, but also selected forms are used for these purposes. Therefore, the main goal of pruning the Niedzwiecki apple tree is to form the crown.
The first time the work is carried out in early spring with a two-year-old tree: young branches are shortened by two-thirds so that side shoots with leaves and inflorescences appear on them. Damaged branches must be pruned.
In subsequent years, the operation is repeated to obtain the desired crown shape with a large number of side branches, as in the photo below.
Preparing for winter
In regions with a harsh climate, the frost-resistant ornamental Nedzvetsky apple tree still has to be covered. This applies to the root system. The trunk is hilled up, and the trunk circle is covered with peat or compost and covered with spruce branches.
But not only frosts can cause the death of an ornamental apple tree. Mice and hares cause great harm. For small rodents, you can sprinkle poison under the compost. And to protect against hares, the trunks of the decorative Niedzwiecki apple tree are wrapped in paper or a net is pulled over the young trees, as in the photo.
Before sheltering, Niedzvetsky apple trees are fed, watered and treated for pests.
With the arrival of warm spring days, the shelter is removed.
How to propagate an apple tree
Now let's talk about the Niedzwiecki apple tree and its propagation. You can get a new tree in the traditional way - buy a seedling, or grow it yourself from seeds.
The process is, of course, long, but interesting. Fresh seeds from the Niedzwiecki apple tree do not sprout; they will have to be stimulated. To do this, stratification is carried out: for 3 or 4 months the seeds must lie at a temperature of three degrees.
Place the seed on a damp cloth in the refrigerator in the vegetable drawer. When stratification is complete, we sow the seeds in fertile soil for germination. We water the sprouts of the decorative apple tree and keep them in a warm room on a sunny window.
As the weather warms up, we plant them outside for growing. They are transplanted to a permanent place the next year. The principle of planting the Niedzwiecki apple tree is no different from the traditional one. Only the hole needs to be made large so as not to oppress the root system.
Application in landscape design
Not many people like the fruits of the ornamental Niedzwiecki apple tree.But the original external data allows you to use the plant for decoration at any time of the year. Many landscape designers believe that Niedzvetsky’s ornamental apple trees are in no way inferior in beauty to Japanese sakura. Moreover, the apple tree looks equally beautiful both when planted alone and in combination with other plants.
With proper pruning and crown formation, you can get a hedge of Niedzwiecki apple trees, as in the photo below.
Nedzvetsky apple tree in landscape design:
