Planting an apple tree in open ground with seedlings in spring: timing, video, distance between trees

Content

1 Benefits of spring planting an apple tree
2 When to plant apple trees in open ground in spring
- 2.1 Depending on the region
- 2.2 According to the lunar calendar 2023
3 How to plant an apple tree in spring: step-by-step instructions
4 Aftercare
5 Conclusion

Planting an apple tree in open ground in the spring is not the most common method, since most often the procedure is planned for the fall. But the spring option has several advantages associated with the absence of the risk of death from frost. The planting procedure is standard, but it is important to ensure regular watering and carefully prepare the soil. Work should begin in mid-autumn.

Benefits of spring planting an apple tree

Apple trees can be planted both in autumn and spring. Moreover, both options have their advantages. At the end of the season, the plants go into a dormant period, so they take root better in a new place. On the other hand, they may suffer from winter frosts.

Therefore, both experienced and novice summer residents often plan to plant seedlings in the spring.This method has several advantages:

An excellent option for regions with frosty winters - there is no risk of death.
By the coming winter, the plants will be strong enough and will definitely take root in the new place.
Spring planting is suitable for areas with infertile soil.

In this case, the seedlings must be provided with additional watering so that the roots do not dry out. There are other features of spring planting and care - they are described below.

When to plant apple trees in open ground in spring

Even if you prepare the site correctly and choose good seedlings, but you miscalculate the timing, they may not take root well, which will affect the yield. Therefore, it is necessary to plant an apple tree in open ground in the spring, taking into account several factors:

climatic features of the region;
specific weather forecast for the coming weeks;
favorable days according to the lunar calendar 2023.

Depending on the region

You need to plant an apple tree in the spring in accordance with the recommendations for a specific area. The main criterion is that the temperature outside is consistently positive, and the buds are not yet blooming. Depending on the climate of a particular area, the timing will differ:

In the middle zone, including the Moscow region, seedlings can be planted in the second half of April.
In the North-West, you can plant an apple tree in open ground in the spring at about the same time or a few days later.
In the southern regions, the earliest planting time is the middle or even the first half of April.
In the Urals, the optimal time for planting is from the end of April to the first ten days of May.
In Siberia, work will begin no earlier than mid-May.

In most regions, planting is planned for the end of April.

According to the lunar calendar 2023

It is possible to plant an apple tree in the spring in 2023, taking into account the dates according to the lunar calendar.

Unfavorable days are April 6 and May 5 (full moon). At this time, it is necessary to postpone all garden work. The remaining dates are neutral.

How to plant an apple tree in spring: step-by-step instructions

Planting an apple tree in the spring is a responsible procedure, so it is recommended to pay attention to the advice of experienced gardeners. It is necessary to correctly set the deadline, as well as carefully select the seedling itself. The basic rules are detailed below.

How to choose an apple tree seedling for planting in spring

It is very important to choose a healthy seedling, because it depends on how it will take root in a new place and whether it will produce a harvest at all. Before purchasing planting material, pay attention to several parameters.

Seedlings must be two years old, although annual representatives are also allowed. When purchasing, you need to very carefully examine the roots, stem and grafting site:

rhizome length – at least 30 cm;
there are quite a lot of additional root layers;
color is light gray, uniform;
there are no foreign stains, rotten or dry areas.

If the seedling is one year old, it will not have time to produce lateral branches, which is normal. If he is two years old, there should be 3-5 skeletal branches of short length - 30-40 cm. The stems and shoots should have a uniform color, without tubercles and extraneous dark spots.

Another criterion is that the place where the graft is made should lie higher than the main root (about 5 cm). Visually, it looks like a bend with a healed wound or a stump from the rootstock.

A visual diagram for purchasing a seedling will help you choose the optimal specimen.

You can plant an apple tree in spring with an open or closed root system.In the first case, planting should begin as early as possible so that the rhizome does not dry out. In the second case, the underground layers are not visible, which is why it is impossible to understand for sure whether they are healthy or not. Therefore, it is better to buy such seedlings from trusted suppliers, for example, in nurseries.

Attention! The most important criterion when purchasing an apple tree seedling for planting in the spring is the condition of the root system.

If it is healthy, you can safely buy it. The condition of the trunk is not so important.

How to choose the right variety

You need to choose only those varieties that are suitable for the climate of a particular area. For example, in the Moscow region and other regions of the central zone in the spring you can plan to plant the following varieties:

Antonovka;
Melba;
Mantet;
Delight;
Orlik;
Lungwort.

The following varieties are grown in the Urals and Siberia:

White filling;
Anise purple
Bayan;
Tolunay;
Altai souvenir;
Ural liquid.

In the south, spring planting is planned for the following varieties:

Simirenko;
Glory to the Winner;
Babushkino;
Arcade yellow;
Wagner;
Golden.

It is also worth finding out what types of apple trees there are. Based on crown shape and growth vigor, the following are distinguished:

columnar - up to 2 m, compact tree;
medium height – up to 4 m;
vigorous - up to 12 m.

Since the plot is often small, many summer residents choose columnar or medium-sized varieties. Moreover, it is important to take into account that many varieties require pollinators, i.e. You need to plant at least two trees.

It is important to take into account the timing of ripening - according to this parameter, three groups are distinguished:

Summer: harvested during August. The fruits are not subject to long-term storage - they are consumed fresh and can also be preserved.
Autumn - ripen during September. Can be stored for up to four months.
Winter ones - they are harvested in September and October, after which the fruits ripen within 30-60 days. They can be stored from six months to 12 months.

If you plan to plant and grow apple trees for yourself in the spring, you should choose summer varieties. And during breeding, autumn and winter varieties are planted for sale.

Site selection

The next step is to choose the right landing site. There are a few practical tips to consider:

The place should be well lit, without strong shadows from buildings or tall trees.
The plot is spacious, with a constant flow of air (away from the fence, house).
No stagnation of water - lowlands should be excluded, since rain moisture and melted snow accumulate here.
Lack of nearby groundwater (permissible maximum height is 1.5 m to the surface).
Choice of neighbors - it is best to grow an apple tree next to pears, rowan trees or plums. In this case, it is necessary to clarify the recommendations for a specific variety (a pollinator may be needed).

Apple trees grow well only in open, sunny areas

Advice! Tall varieties can be planted on the north side of the garden. If the apple trees are low, planting is planned, on the contrary, on the south side. Then they will receive maximum sunlight.

Distance between trees

Since apple trees are planted for several years and even decades, it is necessary to outline the pattern and determine the distance between the trees. On the one hand, space needs to be saved. On the other hand, thickened plantings are unacceptable. The minimum distance between trees should be 7 m, and between the nearest branches - 2 m.

Recommended planting pattern

The main parameters depend on the type of apple tree - they are described in the table.

The power of growth	Rootstock	Spacing between plants, m	Spacing between rows, m
Strong	Seminal	4-5	5-6
Weak	Seminal	3-4	4,5-5
Weak	Dwarf	2,5	4

Columnar apple trees can be planted in one line, maintaining a minimum interval of 3-4 m. Dwarf varieties can be placed with an interval of 60-70 cm, and semi-dwarf ones - 1.2 m.

At what depth to plant an apple tree in spring?

As for the planting depth, it can be about 60-90 cm. At the same time, the width is slightly larger - from 80 to 100 cm. If the soil is fertile and loose enough, the depth can be selected simply by the size of the roots. Underground layers should be placed freely in the hole.

Preparing the soil for planting an apple tree in spring

When planting an apple tree in the spring, it is important to prepare the soil for the seedling, and this must be done in the fall. If the deadline is missed, it is allowed to begin work at the very beginning of April (approximately 1.5-2 months before disembarkation).

Apple trees grow well on loamy soils with a loose, loose structure and a slightly acidic, neutral reaction (pH ranging from 5.5 to 7.5). During preparation, the site is cleared of debris and weeds and dug up onto the bayonet of a shovel (30 cm). Then proceed like this:

If there is too much sand in the soil, it needs to be strengthened with humus or compost - up to 10 kg per 1 m².
If the soil is heavy or clayey, on the contrary, add sand or sawdust up to 5 kg per 1 m².
If the pH is too low, you will need to alkalize. To do this, add wood ash or dolomite flour (200-300 g per 1 m²).

A month before planting in the spring, it is recommended to dig the soil again to the same depth (30 cm).

How to prepare a hole for planting an apple tree in spring

After choosing a site, it is necessary to prepare a hole for planting an apple tree in the spring. Work begins no later than two weeks before placing the seedling. The sequence of actions is as follows:

Dig holes up to 90 cm deep and 100 cm in diameter.
Lay out a layer of pebbles, expanded clay and other small stones 25 cm high.
Lay fertile soil - turf soil with humus and peat (2:1:1). Add to it 1 kg of granulated superphosphate and the same amount of wood ash.
Cover with soil and let sit until planting day.

The planting pit is prepared in 2-3 weeks

Rules for planting apple trees in spring

To properly plant an apple tree in the spring, you can use the following instructions for beginners:

Soak the roots overnight in Epin or another growth stimulant.
Dig holes.
Place the wooden stake so that it fits securely into the ground.
Place the seedling in the center, straighten the roots so that they do not “look” up.
Sprinkle with soil and compact so that the grafting site remains slightly above the surface (5 cm).
During digging, make sure that there are no free voids left.
Pour settled water - 2-3 buckets (20-30 l) per hole.
Shorten the side branches by a third of the length.
Lay down straw, sawdust or other mulch.

Scheme of planting a seedling in a hole

If the root system is open, the tips of the roots must be trimmed, since they will be damaged in any case. If you plan to plant an apple tree in the spring with a closed root system, first water the soil in the container thoroughly. Thanks to this, a dense earthen lump will form. At the time of planting, tap the pot and then roll the seedling along with the soil.

Aftercare

After planting in the spring, it is necessary to provide good care for the apple tree. Since the soil is fertilized in advance, there is no need to apply additional fertilizers in the first season. Starting next year, urea, ammonium nitrate or other nitrogen compounds are given every spring.During flowering and ovary formation, emphasis is placed on phosphorus and potassium compounds.

In the first year, apple trees require regular watering - 2 buckets every 10 days. Then mature trees are watered 2-3 times per season, giving at least 5-8 buckets. The soil in the tree trunk circle is loosened and weeds are removed. Every spring, preventive treatments against diseases and pests are carried out.

Conclusion

Planting an apple tree in open ground in the spring is a completely effective method, especially for northern regions with frosty winters. When purchasing, it is better to choose two-year-old seedlings with a healthy root system. Plants need to be carefully examined and prepared before planting so that they take root well in their new location.