Content
Opening apple trees in the spring, as well as providing them with shelter for the winter, follows certain rules. It is important not to do this too early so that the plant does not freeze during the period of return frosts, and also too late so that the tree does not freeze. If you remove covering material from apple trees in a timely manner, many problems can be avoided.
Apple trees begin to open in spring in each region at their own time
When to open apple trees after winter
Apple trees in the first seven years of life are quite fragile, capricious and very sensitive to temperature fluctuations, especially in spring. In this regard, if you remove the covering material too early or late, you may encounter a number of problems. It is better to open apple trees after wintering at the moment when the air in the spring has already warmed up to a temperature of +10 ° C. If you remove the cover earlier, there is still a possibility of young shoots freezing. If the insulation is removed later, the branches become warm, mold appears on the buds, and they die.
Much also depends on the material used. For example, if the protective layer is made of burlap, spruce branches or agrotextiles, then you can take your time removing it; you can postpone the procedure until the buds swell.Since such materials have air permeability, the apple tree is not at risk of damping off in the spring. But when using dense insulation, such as polyethylene or roofing felt, they need to be removed earlier. Condensation usually forms under such materials, which contributes to the appearance of mold.
The time to remove the shelter is selected based on the growing region. For example, in Siberia, apple trees need to be opened after winter several weeks later than in the Urals or the middle Volga region.
In the event of a threat of frost, when leaves have already appeared on the tree, they are protected with a smoke screen. On the day of the expected cold snap, dry leaves, peat, and straw are piled in a windless area of the garden, wet turf is laid on top and set on fire.
Rules for removing winter shelter
Apple trees should be opened from winter wrapping, adhering to the rules of agricultural technology. Although gardeners still do not agree on this matter. They are divided into two groups, one of which believes that this should be done gradually, and the second recommends filming all the material at once. But everyone claims that by mid-April the apple tree should already be open. At the same time, the protection from the trunks is removed.
When growing a seedling in a sunny area, leave only burlap, which will protect the tree from burns. It can be removed at the end of April. The last layer of mulch near the tree trunk is removed in May, after which the tree is whitened.
You can refuse to cover the apple tree when it turns seven years old
Gradual removal of cover
Many gardeners believe that if the cover is removed in stages in the spring, the fragile shoots of the crop will be protected from unstable weather conditions. In this case, proceed as follows:
- At the end of February, without waiting for the snow to completely melt, the tree is freed from its cover.
- In March, after the end of the main cold weather, leaf litter is removed, sometimes ventilating the plant.
- With the arrival of above-zero temperatures, the insulation is gradually removed, layer by layer, one at a time every day, starting from the crown and ending with the trunk.
To minimize the shock of a young seedling, it is accustomed to the cold in early spring. To do this, when the temperature rises to +7 °C, the tree is ventilated during the day and covered again at night.
Sharp opening of the apple tree
According to other farmers, a sharp change in temperature in spring has a positive effect on young trees and hardens them. In this case, work begins in April, with the arrival of stable above-zero temperatures. In this case, the covering material is not removed, but is used to shade the seedling on the south side.
How to understand that an apple tree has wintered well
As soon as the moment has come when the apple trees can be opened in the spring, after removing the cover, the plant is carefully inspected for the life of the branches and damage received. If there is any doubt that the tree is healthy, it is necessary to cut it in several places vertically and horizontally and inspect the wood. An apple tree has been damaged by frost if the layer between the body of the seedling and its bark has brown dark spots. If this happens, the plant should be urgently revived.To do this, cut off the dead cells and apply garden varnish to the wounds.
You can watch the video on how to properly remove cover from young apple trees in the spring:
Sometimes another method is used to check the integrity of the seedling - soaking. The cut parts of the shoots are placed in a vase filled with water for a week and left in the room. If the buds on the branch move away from sleep and begin to grow, the plant has overwintered well.
In addition to the above checks, it is also important to examine the appearance of the apple tree. If, when opened, it looks healthy and its shoots are juicy, then everything is fine.
After the gardener is convinced that the apple tree is healthy, he can begin further work on caring for the tree. Or rather, to its formative pruning, spraying, whitewashing and fertilizing.
It is recommended to burn all cut parts of the plant and scatter the ash in the tree trunk area
Conclusion
Apple trees need to be opened on time in the spring. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the climatic conditions of the region where the crop is grown, as well as the weather characteristics of the current season. An apple tree is not just a decoration for a site, but also a tree that produces useful fruits. Organizing proper care of the plant and its timely preparation for the changing seasons is the key to a good and healthy harvest.
