Planting a columnar apple tree in autumn

Content

1 Features of the new type
2 Preparatory work before planting
3 Planting seedlings
4 Mistakes made when landing
5 Agricultural technology
6 Conclusion

The columnar type of tree, which appeared in the 60s of the last century as a result of a mutation of the ordinary apple tree, quickly gained popularity among gardeners. The absence of a spreading crown allows them to be used for small areas, while obtaining good yields. However, caring for them requires special attention. Proper columnar fit is especially important. apple trees in spring and autumn.

Today there are about a hundred varieties of columnar apple trees, differing in size, taste, degree of endurance in relation to various climatic conditions. But how to plant a columnar apple tree?

Features of the new type

The columnar apple tree differs from the usual one, first of all, in its appearance:

it does not have side branches that form a branched crown;
it has a thicker trunk, covered with dense foliage and miniature branches;
for a columnar apple tree, the correct location and preservation of the growth point is important, otherwise the growth of the tree will stop;
In the first two years, too many branches form from the side shoots, requiring pruning.

Columnar apple trees have a number of advantages, thanks to which they have become widespread:

due to their small size, harvesting does not cause any particular difficulties;
having begun bearing fruit already 2 or 3 years after planting, they delight with a bountiful harvest for a decade and a half;
the productivity of columnar apple trees is higher than that of ordinary ones - up to 1 kg of juicy fruit can be obtained from an annual tree, and an adult apple tree produces up to 12 kg;
in the space occupied by an ordinary apple tree, you can plant up to a dozen columnar trees of different varieties;
Due to their unusual appearance, these trees perform an additional decorative function on the site.

Preparatory work before planting

Healthy and productive columnar apple trees can be obtained if:

full-fledged seedlings were purchased;
the correct location for planting trees is selected;
the conditions and timing of planting columnar apple trees have been met.

Material selection

For planting columnar apple trees in autumn you need to take seedlings of zoned varieties, whose endurance has already stood the test of time in a given region. It is better to select them in specialized nurseries, whose workers will advise on the properties of each variety of columnar apple tree:

annual seedlings without side branches will take root faster - they usually have only a few buds;
For seedlings, the leaf fall phase must already have passed, the timing of which varies by region.

The completion of leaf fall for seedlings of columnar apple trees is one of the most important conditions for autumn planting, since only after this the process of preparing the tree for winter begins.At this time, the ground part is already resting, and the root system of the apple tree is increasing in volume - this process continues until the soil temperature drops steadily to +4 degrees. The optimal time for planting seedlings in the fall is 3 weeks before the onset of stable frosts, so you should not rush to purchase them.

Important! Planting columnar apple trees with leaves that have not yet fallen in the fall is fraught with freezing, even for winter-hardy varieties.

When purchasing seedlings of columnar apple trees, it is better to ensure that their root system is closed during transportation to avoid drying out. If the roots of the apple trees are open, you need to wrap them with a damp cloth, first checking that there are no dried or damaged parts - the roots must be elastic and alive. If the seedlings are not planted immediately, you can bury them or place them in a container with wet sawdust - the main thing is that the roots of the seedlings do not dry out. Before planting a columnar apple tree, the roots can be placed in a stimulant solution overnight.

Tree planting site

Columnar apple trees grow well in open sunny areas with fertile soil - sandy loam and loam soils are favorable for them. Trees have long taproots. Therefore, it is better to plant them in elevated places where there is no access to groundwater. Columnar apple trees do not tolerate waterlogging as a result of stagnant rainwater in the root collar area. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the drainage of excess moisture from the wood using grooves. The area where apple trees grow must also be protected from gusts of wind, as the roots of the tree may be exposed or even frostbitten.

Soil preparation

Columnar apple trees can be planted in both spring and autumn.For spring planting of seedlings, the soil is prepared in the fall. But most gardeners consider autumn planting of columnar apple trees to be preferable - the risk of seedlings flowering in the same spring will be eliminated.

Preparatory work should be carried out 3-4 weeks before planting seedlings:

the area intended for planting columnar varieties of apple trees must be thoroughly cleared of debris and dug to a depth of up to 2 shovels;
Planting holes should be prepared for seedlings measuring 0.9 m wide and the same depth;
drive a stake up to 2 m high into the middle of each of them - it will serve as a support for the tree;
there should be a gap of half a meter between the holes, and 1 m between the rows; when preparing holes for planting seedlings, the upper and lower layers of soil are placed separately - on both sides of the holes;
drainage up to 20-25 cm high is laid out at the bottom of the pit - expanded clay, crushed stone, sand;
You should mix the soil with fertilizers in the form of potassium and phosphorus salts, add compost, a glass of wood ash and pour half of the prepared mixture into the hole.

Planting seedlings

When planting columnar apple trees, it is worth considering the following recommendations:

place the tree trunk vertically in the hole, the graft should be turned to the south;
straighten the roots - they should be freely positioned without bending or trimming;
Fill the hole evenly to half the volume;
Having slightly compacted the soil around the seedling, you need to pour half a bucket of settled water at room temperature into the hole;
when all the water has been absorbed, fill the hole completely with loose soil, leaving no voids;
check the location of the root collar - it should be 2-3 cm above the ground surface, otherwise shoots from the scion will begin to grow;
compact the soil around the apple tree trunk and tie the seedling to the support;
arrange tree-trunk circles with small sides and water the apple trees - the norm is from 1 to 2 buckets of water for each;
trunk circles are mulched after planting with peat or other material.

Important! By winter, summer mulch must be removed, as insect pests hibernate in it.

The video shows the landing process:

Mistakes made when landing

The influence of any negative factor can slow down the development of a columnar apple tree - its productivity decreases, which can no longer be restored. Therefore, you need to know how to plant correctly. More often than not, these factors are associated not with natural phenomena, but with the mistakes of the gardeners themselves.

One of them is planting the seedling too deep. Often inexperienced gardeners confuse the grafting site and the root collar and deepen it too much. As a result, shoots develop from the roots, and the varietal quality of the columnar apple tree is lost. To avoid this mistake, it is recommended to wipe the seedling with a damp cloth. Then you can see the transition zone between brown and green, where the root collar is located.
Excessive subsidence can result from planting a columnar apple tree in soil that has not been prepared in advance. For planting a tree in autumn You need to prepare the holes a month in advance. In a few weeks, the soil will have time to settle well, and the applied fertilizers will partially decompose.
Instead of mixing garden soil with minerals, some gardeners, when planting seedlings in the fall, replace fertilizers with fertile soil from the store. The use of fertilizers allows you to create a layer of nutrient medium under the root system.
Some gardeners exceed the norm for applying fertilizer to the hole or add fresh manure. This is also unacceptable, as it begins to inhibit the development of roots and weakens the tree.
Mistakes are also possible when purchasing seedlings. Unscrupulous sellers may offer seedlings whose root systems are already dry or damaged. How to plant such apple trees? After all, their survival rate will be low. Therefore, experts still advise purchasing apple trees with bare roots, which can be carefully examined when purchasing.

Agricultural technology

Growing columnar apple trees requires certain care rules to be followed to maintain their health and productivity.

Organization of watering

Watering columnar apple trees should be plentiful during the first years after planting. It should be carried out 2 times a week. It should be especially intense during dry seasons. Watering methods can be different:

creating grooves;
sprinkling;
watering holes;
irrigation;
drip irrigation.

Trees should be watered throughout the summer. The last procedure is carried out in early September, after which watering stops. Otherwise, the tree will continue to grow, and it must rest before wintering.

Loosening

In order to retain moisture under the tree and fill the soil with oxygen, it must be carefully loosened after each watering. After it, dry peat, leaves or sawdust are scattered around the tree. If the seedlings are planted on a slope, loosening can damage the roots, so another method is used. Green manure is sown in the tree trunks of apple trees and mowed regularly.

Feeding

For the full growth and development of the tree, systematic feeding is necessary.In the spring, when the buds have not yet blossomed, the seedlings are fed with nitrogen compounds. The second feeding of trees with complex fertilizer is carried out in June. At the end of summer, potassium salts are used to accelerate the ripening of shoots. In addition, you can spray the crown with urea.

Tree pruning

It is carried out in the second year after planting, usually in the spring, before the start of sap flow. Pruning frees the tree from damaged and diseased branches. Side shoots are also removed. After pruning, only two growth points are left on the tree. In the second year, of the two grown shoots, the vertical one is left. There is no need to form a crown, since the tree itself retains the appearance of a column.

Shelter for the winter

When covering columnar apple trees for the winter, the apical bud and roots require special attention. A cap made of plastic film is placed on top of the tree, under which the bud is insulated with rags. The root system of the apple tree is insulated using spruce branches; the growing point can be insulated with several layers of burlap and wrapped in nylon tights. Snow protects best from frost, so you need to cover the trunk circle of a columnar apple tree with a thick layer of snow. However, in early spring, before the melting begins, the snow needs to be shoveled away so as not to drown the roots of the apple tree.

Conclusion

If the columnar apple tree is planted correctly and all the rules of agricultural technology are followed, in winter there will always be fragrant, juicy apples from your garden on the table.