Content
An apple tree should be transplanted to another location in the spring only in cases where it is really necessary. Usually replanting is done due to an incorrectly chosen location or redevelopment of the garden. Work begins in early April or a little later, when a stable positive temperature has already established.
Is it possible and why to replant an apple tree in the spring?
As a rule, apple trees grow in the same place without replanting for many years and even decades. Normally, fruit trees do not need to change territory. But sometimes it is necessary to transplant apple trees to another place in the spring. The main prerequisites are:
- Too dense planting - different varieties are planted at certain intervals. If for pyramidal apple trees it is enough to maintain 1-1.5 m, then for trees with a wide crown they leave at least 4-5 m, and sometimes more. You should not make the fit too tight. Although space can be saved, trees may suffer from the spread of diseases, lack of light, and poor pollinator access.As a result, you will have to replant in the spring.
- Sometimes summer residents make mistakes when choosing a location. It should be fully illuminated, dry, away from the house and buildings. The soil should be fertile and loose; the optimal type of soil is light loam with a neutral reaction. If you plant an apple tree in a lowland, in an area with high groundwater (they should approach the surface no closer than 2 m). If these rules are violated, an urgent transplant of apple trees will be required, which must be planned for the first half of spring.
- Another possible reason for replanting in the spring is the redevelopment of the garden, planting new seedlings or erecting buildings. Such situations are observed quite rarely, but sometimes redevelopment cannot be avoided. Then you have to replant not only young trees, but also mature trees.
When to replant an apple tree in spring
Most gardeners with experience agree that it is better to replant an apple tree in the spring. Work should begin before buds appear on the branches, i.e. back in early April. But on the other hand, if the region often experiences recurrent frosts, it is better to wait for the moment when the temperature, even at night, is consistently above zero.
The specific time to transplant apple trees in the spring depends on the climatic characteristics of the region
Main deadlines:
- In the middle zone and Moscow region, work begins in early April.
- In the south, in the Black Earth Region, you can start as early as the end of March.
- In the Urals and North-West, the apple tree should be replanted in mid-April.
- At about the same time, they begin to work in Siberia and the Far East, but if recurrent frosts are observed, the transplantation is postponed by 1-2 weeks.
If the deadline is missed, then it will be possible to replant a young or large apple tree not in the spring, but in the fall.The work is planned for the beginning of October, when the sap flow is already slowing down, the leaves are falling, but at the same time it is quite warm outside. But if the autumn is dry, there is practically no rain, then it is better to plan the transplant for spring, waiting until the next season.
If the optimal time for transfer is spring, and autumn is a reserve time, then under no circumstances should you replant in the summer. At this moment, the plant is actively developing, forming leaves and fruits. Any transplant can be very damaging - weakened seedlings will not recover, and healthy trees may stop producing crops in the coming seasons.
Optimal tree age for replanting
It is best to replant a two- or three-year-old apple tree in the spring, since such trees are still small, easy to work with, and they will take root well in a new place. The trees have already formed up to 40 branches, and the root system is quite developed, so it will take root in a new place.
It is even easier to replant younger trees at the age of 1-2 years in the spring. This applies to young seedlings purchased recently, as well as trees that were temporarily buried in the fall.
If the seedling is already 4-5 years old or more, replanting is also possible, but it must be done with caution. It is much more difficult to work with mature trees. But if the apple tree is dwarf or semi-dwarf, then even at 7-10 years old, moving it to a new place is not as difficult as massive trees. This should only be done if absolutely necessary.
It is best to transplant young seedlings in the spring at the age of 1-2 years
Site preparation
In spring, you need to choose a place especially carefully so as not to disturb the seedling anymore. The site must meet several requirements:
- An open space with very good lighting, no shadows.
- Lack of nearby groundwater - it should reach the surface no more than 2 m.
- No stagnation of water after rains, no melting of snow - the site should be located on a small hill, lowlands should be excluded.
- Sufficient air flow - when transplanting an apple tree in the spring, you should not choose a “closed” place, for example, next to a house or barn.
- Protection from draft wind. It is advisable to have a fence on the north side of the garden.
When replanting in the spring, choose suitable soil for apple trees. Fertile loamy soils with a loose structure and a slightly acidic or neutral reaction (pH = 6-7) are best suited.
The site should be prepared in advance, 2-3 months in advance. It is cleaned, the soil is dug up using a spade and compost or humus is added in an amount of 8-10 kg per 1 m2. In the absence of organic matter, it is allowed to apply complex mineral fertilizer up to 50 g per 1 m2. If the soil is too dense or clayey, then before transplanting the apple tree in the fall, it is necessary to cover the same area with sawdust or sand in an amount of 3-5 kg.
How to transplant an apple tree to a new location in spring
When transplanting an apple tree in the spring, you need to act especially carefully so as not to damage the young seedling or tree. The holes are marked in advance; they should be such that the main part of the roots can be placed freely.If the seedling is small, you can choose dimensions of 80-100 cm in width and depth. In this case, the interval between plantings depends on the trees:
- dwarf apple trees are placed at a distance of 1-1.5 m;
- columnar – 70-100 cm;
- medium height – 3-4 m;
- tall - 5-6 m.
Transplanting seedlings
The easiest way is to transplant a young seedling at the age of 1-2 years. Usually it is bought in the fall and added in drops until spring, and then transferred to a permanent place. For proper transplantation proceed as follows:
- Dig several holes and place a layer of small stones on the bottom.
- Place a wooden peg in the center.
- Thoroughly water the seedling in the old place a day before transplanting so that a dense earthen lump is formed around the roots.
- Dig up a seedling for replanting, working with a sharp shovel.
- Transfer to a new place and cover with soil.
- Tamp down a little so that the root collar remains 7-8 cm above the surface.
- Tied to a peg.
- Water with settled water.
- After a few days, lay a layer of straw, hay, sawdust or other mulch.
During transplantation in the spring, it is necessary to preserve the earthen ball as much as possible.
Transplanting a young apple tree
Transplanting a young apple tree is a more difficult process because the tree is larger. The technology is approximately the same, but during watering, to form an earthen coma, you need to use more water - up to three buckets. During digging, you can help with a rake to free the roots from the ground and not damage them.
Transplanting an adult apple tree
Replanting a 5-year-old or older apple tree in the spring is quite problematic.You should work with at least two people, as the tree is heavy and may fall. When extracting the roots, they help with a rake, then they are carried with a drag, after putting on gloves. Root in a new place to the same depth, preserving the earthen ball (use 3-4 buckets of water for watering). In this case, the apple tree itself must be placed strictly vertically, checking it several times.
Care after transplant
Even if the transplant in the spring is successful, the tree will be sick for 1-2 seasons, which is normal. To speed up recovery, it is necessary to organize careful care:
- Weekly watering with settled water.
- Periodic loosening of the soil and weeding.
- Monthly application of complex fertilizer can be alternated with liquid organic matter, for example, mullein infusion 1:10.
- In the first year after transplantation, all flowers are removed from the tree - it must gain strength and restore its green mass.
- For the winter, carefully mulch the tree trunk circle.
Possible difficulties
Properly replanting an apple tree in the spring is not always easy. Even with a small seedling, problems can arise. To avoid them, it is recommended to pay attention to the advice of experienced gardeners:
- The holes should be prepared at least 10 days before transplantation, because otherwise the apple tree will not take root so quickly and may even die. If the soil is loose, loamy, no preliminary preparation is needed.
- The peg must be strong and high so that it can be placed deep into the soil.
- The seedling should be tied to the support during transplantation with a rope, and not with wire or other materials.
- When transplanted, some of the roots of the apple tree will inevitably protrude beyond the earthen ball. They are cut off and the areas are sprinkled with charcoal (powder).
Conclusion
Transplanting an apple tree to another place in the spring is not so difficult if it is a young tree under 3-4 years of age. But if it is older than five years, transplantation is possible only in case of emergency. You should work as a team to avoid the tree falling. In this case, it is better to prepare the site and holes in advance, having decided on the timing of transplantation.
