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In the fall, after harvesting, the trees prepare for winter hibernation. At this time, gardeners carry out preparatory work to help them survive the cold period safely. It is especially important to know how to cover an apple tree for the winter.
In preparation for winter hibernation, apple trees slow down their development.
In this moment:
- biochemical processes proceed more slowly, nutrients go down to the roots to strengthen them;
- shoots that have grown over the summer become woody.
The need for shelter
At the beginning of summer, apple trees begin to lay buds for next year. And the shoots that grew during the season should already become woody by the end of summer. Improper care apple tree in autumn may lead to continued growth and development. As a result, she will not have time to prepare for the cold, the young buds will freeze out. The tree may die or become weak and susceptible to disease. The apple tree will no longer be able to produce a good harvest.
Particular attention should be paid to first-year seedlings, since their root system has not yet had time to establish itself in a new place.
The apple tree's resistance to cold needs to be developed throughout the summer season with the help of:
- timely feeding;
- loosening tree trunk circles;
- pest control treatments.
There is also a danger of young apple trees drying out under the winter sun and wind, so it is necessary to provide cover not only for the trunk, but also for the crown. It is also necessary to protect the apple tree from rodents, which gnaw at the bark in winter, sometimes causing irreparable damage to it.
Apple trees usually need insulation in the first few years, and then it is enough to protect the trunks of healthy trees from rodents, and treat the bark and trunk circle from pests and cover with a thick layer of snow.
Preparatory activities
Preparing the apple tree for winter for the middle zone, you should start at the beginning of autumn with pruning trees. By this time, the apple tree is already loaded with extra shoots that have grown during the year. They take away some of the nutrients, weakening the root system. At the same time, when pruning, it is freed from damaged or weak branches.
At the next stage:
- you need to collect fallen leaves and other debris and burn them - some gardeners dig up tree trunk circles along with leaves, using them as fertilizer;
- it is also necessary to clear the trunk of dead bark - insect pests can hide under it, the bare area can be disinfected with garden varnish;
- Apple trees are treated against pests and diseases;
- the trees are fed with potassium and phosphorus salts - nitrogen fertilizers cannot be applied during this period, as they stimulate the further development of the apple tree;
- The trunks are whitewashed with a mixture of solutions of lime and copper sulfate - it will protect the trunk from the cold and protect from pests, as well as from the appearance of lichens;
- Around October, the apple tree is watered to protect the roots from dehydration - for this you need to choose warm, dry weather.
The video shows the procedure for preparing apple trees for shelter:
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Preparation of seedlings
Very often, insect pests find shelter in the bark of apple tree seedlings, causing them enormous harm over the winter. The tender bark of the seedling contains a large supply of nutrients, and, in addition, it provides pests with a warm shelter, where they manage to breed offspring during the winter months.
Insect pests that hide in the foliage under trees can damage the roots of seedlings that have not yet strengthened. Not knowing how to cover apple trees, some inexperienced gardeners make mistakes - they leave foliage under the seedlings to insulate the roots. However, it must all be collected and burned. To protect seedlings from pests you should:
- treat a young apple tree copper sulfate, which will protect the tree from insects;
- carefully examine the seedling and disinfect all damage with garden varnish;
- whitewash the trunk and branches with lime mortar.
Covering time
It is important to choose the right time to cover apple trees for the winter. They depend not only on the region, but also on the location of the garden - on a hill or in a lowland. The timing of the onset of cold weather changes every year, and winter can be frosty or warm and rainy. Therefore, the best indicator is the trees themselves; you need to monitor their condition. Under no circumstances should apple trees be insulated for the winter until sap flow stops and stable cold weather begins. Otherwise, they will continue to grow, which can lead to complete freezing of the tree. You can cover apple trees for the winter only after the onset of constant frost with an air temperature of at least -10 degrees.
Material selection
To cover apple trees for the winter with your own hands, a variety of available materials are suitable:
- old newspapers or light-colored wrapping paper;
- stems of sunflower and reeds;
- sackcloth;
- old stockings and tights;
- roofing felt;
- agrofibre;
- spruce branches;
- fiberglass.
Insulation materials cannot be secured to the trunk using wire - this can cause injury to the tree. It is better to use twine or tape for this purpose.
Insulation methods
How to insulate an apple tree for the winter? Sheltering an apple tree should begin with insulating the tree trunk circles - you can mulch them with sawdust or cover them with 3 cm of garden soil. The best protection against frost is snow, which is why it should be used to insulate apple trees for the winter. As soon as the first snow falls, you need to rake it to the base of the tree and build a mound around the trunk, and cover the circle around the trunk with a thick layer. When raking snow to the base of the apple tree, you must not expose the tree trunk. Otherwise, its root system may freeze.
During the winter, you need to periodically add snow to the tree trunk and trample it down. Then he will stay under the tree longer, and it will be more difficult for rodents to get to the tree. A little trick will help keep the snow on the branches of the apple tree. The tops of healthy plants should be spread out on large branches - snow mass will accumulate on them, which will protect the crown from frost.
Spruce branches placed around the trunk with the needles down will help protect the apple tree from rodents. Effective protection against mice will be to wrap the trunk with glass wool or nylon tights. Particular care must be taken to cover the root neck. The next layer of wrapping is done using sugar bags - they need to wrap the entire stem.And if you surround the trunk with a fine-mesh mesh over the winding, the bark of the apple tree will be reliably protected from both mice and rabbits. The lower branches can be covered with paper.
Sheltering seedlings
For seedlings, all rules regarding insulation of apple trees and protection from rodents apply. Beginner gardeners often do not know that they need to cover a young apple tree for the winter along with the crown. Particular attention should be paid to insulating the roots.
Gardeners advise:
- first spread a 5-centimeter layer of manure around the root system;
- Sprinkle a thick layer of sawdust on top of the manure;
- wrap the root collar with several layers of burlap or other insulating material;
- the trunk can be covered with paper - it should be white to reflect the sun's rays;
- pour a mound of loose dry soil around the seedling;
- Sprinkle it with a thick layer of snow on top.
Manure, gradually rotting during periods of thaw, will be broken down into minerals. Thus, by the beginning of spring, the root system of the seedlings will be provided with mineral supplements that will strengthen it.
Sheltering seedlings in a trench
If planting apple tree seedlings is planned for spring, then during the winter you can cover the seedlings in a trench:
- the location for the trench must be selected on a dry and elevated area, its depth should be no more than 50 cm with a width of 30-40 cm;
- before laying, the roots of the seedlings should be dipped in a thick clay mash;
- after laying in the trench, the roots are sprinkled with a mixture of dry peat and humus;
- seedlings are covered with spruce branches on top to protect them from rodents, and on top of it with agrofibre;
- In winter, the trench with seedlings should be tightly covered with snow.
Towards the end of winter, when the snow begins to compact and melt, you need to make sure that the tender branches of the seedling do not break off under its weight. When the frosts go away, you can remove the protection. But this needs to be done gradually - you need to remember about the possibility of return frosts.
If the apple tree is given proper rest during the winter, it will produce a wonderful harvest next season.
