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Preparation apple trees for winter - a responsible matter on which not only next year’s harvest depends, but also the viability of the trees themselves. It is especially important to know how to prepare apple trees for winter in Siberia.
The climatic features of Siberia are characterized by severe frosts - temperatures drop to -40 degrees even on windless days. If the apple trees are not well covered by winter, there is a great danger of their death.
Autumn work
After the harvest, activities begin in the garden to prepare the apple trees for winter. The most urgent ones include digging up tree trunk circles, as well as applying fertilizers. If, when loosening the soil under trees, the root system is accidentally damaged, it will have time to recover.
Feeding will help to quickly complete the growing season and stop the growth of new shoots. If green leaves are still growing on the apple tree, then the growing season is still ongoing. In this case, the tree may suffer from low temperatures in winter.
Fertilizing is done with phosphates or potassium compounds. After fertilizing, the foliage will begin to turn yellow and fall off. During this period, nitrogen fertilizers are not applied, as they can reduce the frost resistance of apple trees.
Pruning for winter
Even before persistent frosts, the apple tree should be pruned. It provides the following actions:
- removal of old, diseased or damaged branches;
- young branches are cut to 2/3 of the length;
- the height of the pruned apple tree should be no more than 3.5 m;
- intersecting shoots are removed, which thicken the crown and interfere with each other;
- young shoots emerging from under the root should be eliminated;
- You also need to trim the branches directed into the tree or downwards.
Water promotes intensive growth of the apple tree, so watering should be regular during the summer season. At the end of summer, you should water the apple tree generously and feed it with complex fertilizers. Then stop watering to slow down root growth.
Collection of leaves
Already in November, when all the foliage has fallen, you need to insulate the roots. But all the land around the trees is first cleared. Foliage, debris, and branch cuttings are collected. All this is burned.
Many novice gardeners often make the mistake of leaving fallen leaves and twigs under trees to insulate the roots. But it's not right. Under the foliage lying on the ground, larvae accumulate, which will later harm the trees. Fallen fruits that are beginning to rot should also be removed.
Insect larvae and pests also settle in cracks in tree bark. You can get rid of them by cleaning the bark with a brush. You should first spread an old blanket or plastic wrap under the tree. The debris that falls off the bark is also burned. And scratches on the trunk are covered with garden varnish.
Apple tree processing
Autumn work to prepare apple trees for winter is not limited to collecting leaves. The following activities must be carried out:
- the tree trunk must be coated with lime mortar - it will protect the apple tree from insects, sunburn and frost;
- if you add strong-smelling substances such as tar to the lime mortar, they will repel rodents;
- Birds will help you deal with bark beetles - you can prepare feeders for them for the winter and hang them on trees;
- the crown should be treated with a solution of copper or iron sulfate - it will protect the apple tree from lichens and other diseases in winter.
Warming an apple tree for the winter
As soon as the first snow falls, it is necessary to cover the roots of the trees prepared for covering and the trunk to a height of 1 meter. The trunk is also insulated with improvised means, which can be paper, cardboard, or burlap.
If there is no snow yet, but the temperatures are quite low, you can insulate the apple trees for the winter with spruce branches, on top of which paper or fabric material is used. The insulation is fixed to the tree using rope or twine. Such a shelter will help scare away rodents and also protect trees from strong winds. Hares will not be able to damage the bark if you wrap the trunk at the bottom with sugar bags.
A video introduces the process covering apple trees for the winter:
Mature trees that have reached the age of seven are more adapted to winter cold and do not need careful shelter. Nevertheless, it is necessary to insulate their root system. After the mandatory autumn activities, you should cover the trunk of the apple tree for winter with a 3-centimeter layer of mulch or just garden soil.
Warming seedlings for the winter
Seedlings are insulated in the same way as mature trees, but the main thing is to do it on time. Otherwise, in winter the bark will crack due to frost, the roots will rot, and the seedling will die. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the roots:
- manure is laid out around them in a circle;
- a dense layer of sawdust is laid on top of it;
- the root collar is carefully wrapped with insulation - agrofibre has excellent qualities;
- To insulate the trunk, white wrapping paper is used - the white color reflects ultraviolet rays and protects the trunk from sunburn.
It is imperative to tie the seedlings to pegs, as there are often strong winds in Siberia. Experienced gardeners surround the seedling with a small fence of pegs to control gusts of wind. After covering the trunk of the seedling, the root collar is insulated with manure, and an earthen mound up to 30 cm high is filled on top. Rotting, the manure will provide the roots with minerals, creating favorable conditions for the further development of the tree. A thick layer of snow is sprinkled on top of the earthen mound. Such a shelter will allow the young seedling to withstand severe frosts and quickly grow in the spring.
Columnar apple trees
Gained widespread popularity columnar apple trees. They also breed successfully in Siberia. Their trunk does not have side branches and does not form a lush crown. The height of apple trees is no more than 2.5 meters. They are especially beneficial for small gardens, as they do not take up much space.A special feature of these unusual trees is the so-called apical bud, from which the main shoot grows. If it freezes, the shape of the tree will be disrupted, so columnar apple trees need to be completely covered for winter. There are different ways to cover a columnar apple tree for the winter.
First way
The trunk of columnar trees is first whitened with lime, possibly with the addition of copper sulfate. Sheltering is done after stable low temperatures of about 10 degrees below zero have been established, when sap flow stops:
- a wooden pyramid of planks is built around the trunk;
- humus is poured inside it;
- the outside is wrapped with covering material;
- secure it with tape or paper clips.
Second way
Many Siberian gardeners plant a columnar apple tree in a bucket. For the winter they are moved to a country house or basement. One option is to shelter the apple tree in a cucumber bed for the winter. But in any case, trees need to be insulated:
- The boles are whitewashed with a solution of lime and copper sulfate;
- The trunk and branches of the apple tree are wrapped in old tights or burlap for the winter;
- abundant watering is carried out;
- containers with trees are laid horizontally in a frame made of boards;
- Cover the top with prepared material.
Sheltering apple trees for the winter should be done in stages, as frosts intensify:
- first the apple tree is covered with film;
- covering material is placed on top of it;
- then foliage is poured;
- a thick layer of snow is piled on top as an effective insulation.
In spring, the cover from the tree is removed in stages:
- at the end of February, without waiting for melting, it is necessary to remove a layer of snow;
- when the main cold weather passes, around March, you can remove the foliage, sometimes ventilating the apple tree;
- Only layers of covering material will remain, which will be removed later.
Conclusion
If an apple tree is prepared according to all the rules for winter in Siberia, it will easily survive the winter and will delight you with a good harvest in the summer.
