Content
A creeping apple tree or stylite is a tree whose crown is located near the ground. These types of crops are in demand in Siberia and the Urals because they have increased resistance to frost. In order for a creeping apple tree to fully develop and bear fruit regularly, it is necessary to properly plant the seedling and provide care taking into account the characteristics of the crop.
Creeping apple trees require special crown formation
Advantages
When grown in regions with difficult climatic conditions, shale varieties have a number of advantages compared to conventional varieties. After all, the height of a creeping apple tree, as can be seen in the photo, is small, and this makes it possible to completely cover the tree for the winter. Because, no matter what the frost resistance of the variety, without proper insulation the apple tree will not be able to survive the cold period of the year in Siberia and the Urals without losses.
Another advantage of the squat shape of the crown is its uniform lighting.This allows you to increase the yield of marketable apples and improve their taste.
In addition, creeping trees begin to bear fruit much earlier. They form their first harvest already in the third year after planting.
Varieties of creeping apple trees with photos
There are no special varieties with a creeping crown shape. If desired, you can make stlanets from any type of crop. But it is necessary that the variety be distinguished by flexible wood, which can be given a certain shape without fear of it breaking. Therefore, among all the diversity, you need to choose species whose crown is drooping.
These include:
- Borovinka. An ancient Russian variety, which was obtained as a result of folk selection. The lifespan of an apple tree is 50 years. It is characterized by a rounded, sparse crown, the growth diameter of which can reach 5.6 m. At the age of ten, the yield of the Borovinka variety reaches 60-75 kg, and at the age of twenty-five – 200 kg. This apple tree has round, regularly shaped fruits. The peel is dense and thin. The surface of the fruit is smooth, moderately shiny. The color is yellow-green, with striped pink blush. The taste is sweet and sour.
Boletus does not respond well to drought
- Melba. Canadian early ripening variety. It has a rounded crown with drooping branches. Characterized by moderate growth vigor. The yield of Melba reaches 60-70 kg. The fruits are slightly ribbed, round-conical, medium in size. The pulp is snow-white, juicy, with a sweet and sour taste and moderate aroma. The color of apples is greenish-yellow. The outer skin is presented in the form of an orange-red blush, which occupies most of the fruit.
Melba tends to be self-fertile
- Padding. A folk early-ripening variety of apple tree, characterized by increased flexibility of shoots at an early stage of tree development. The crown is wide pyramidal, but as the apple tree matures it becomes rounded. The fruits are flattened, most often round-conical. Their average weight varies between 80-120 g. The color is pale, yellowish-green, without blush.
Papyra mainly bears fruit on ringlets
How to plant a creeping apple tree
Planting elfin trees is somewhat different from ordinary types of apple trees. The further development of the tree and its fruiting depend on how clearly its rules are followed.
Seedling preparation
For planting, it is necessary to select one-year-old apple tree seedlings with a trunk thickness of 0.8-1 cm. They must have a healthy appearance and a well-developed fibrous root system.
Before planting, it is necessary to saturate the underground part of the apple tree with water for 24 hours, and then dip it in a clay mash and dry it slightly. These actions will help retain moisture in the roots.
Selecting a location
To properly plant a creeping apple tree, you need to choose a place on a hill, but at the same time it must be well protected from cold gusts of wind. This arrangement contributes to the accumulation of snow in winter.
When choosing a place for a creeping apple tree, it is necessary to take into account that the tree does not react well to stagnant moisture. The groundwater level in the area intended for stanza must be at least 2 m. Otherwise, after a few years the tree will die, since its root system will be washed away by water.
Soil and hole preparation
At least two weeks before planting, it is necessary to prepare the hole so that the soil has time to settle in a timely manner. It should be 100 cm wide and 60 cm deep. Place a 10 cm layer of drainage at the bottom of the planting hole. And fill the rest of the hole 2/3 with nutrient soil mixture. It should include turf, humus, and leaf soil in a ratio of 2:1:1.
Additionally, 40 g of superphosphate and 25 g of potassium sulfide must be placed in the hole, and then the fertilizer must be thoroughly mixed with the soil.
How to plant a creeping apple tree
Planting a creeping apple tree can be done in autumn and spring. In the case of the first option, it is important not to delay the deadlines so that the seedling has time to take root in a new place in a timely manner before the onset of frost. This will take him three weeks. When planting in spring, the procedure must be carried out before the buds open. Otherwise, it will lead to long-term adaptation of the apple tree in a new place.
The rootstock thorn should face the soil when planting
Algorithm of actions:
- Make a small elevation in the center of the hole.
- Place the seedling on it at an angle of 35-40° so that the top is directed to the south.
- In this case, the root collar of the apple tree should be 5 cm below the soil level.
- Gently straighten the roots.
- Water the seedling generously.
- Cover the roots with soil and carefully fill all the voids.
- Compact the soil at the base of the seedling.
How to care for a creeping apple tree
Caring for a creeping apple tree in the spring and throughout the growing season involves performing basic activities.The correct formation of the crown is especially important for this type of fruit tree. After all, productivity and frost resistance directly depend on it.
Top dressing
A creeping apple tree, like ordinary types of crops, needs good nutrition, which will allow it to fully develop. But it is necessary to start feeding the elfin from the second year after planting. Until this time, it will consume the nutritional components added to the hole.
In spring, it is recommended to feed a creeping apple tree with urea immediately after the snow melts at the rate of 30 g per bucket of water. The second time it is necessary to apply fertilizer after flowering. At this time, it is important to use nitroammophoska 30 g per 10 liters of water. And it is recommended to feed the creeping apple tree for the third time in early autumn. At this time, you need to add superphosphate 40 g and potassium sulfide 30 g per 10 liters of water. These components accelerate the maturation of young growth and contribute to the restoration of the tree after fruiting.
The dosage of fertilizers must be gradually increased as the apple tree grows.
Watering
It is necessary to water the stanza taking into account the stage of its development. Immediately after planting, it is recommended to always keep the soil slightly moist and constantly loosen the soil in the root circle. And after the seedling takes root, moisten it no more than once a week at the rate of two buckets of water per apple tree.
Mature trees only need watering during prolonged drought. Moisturizing is especially important for them during the flowering period, after it and at the stage of ovary formation.
Formation of a creeping apple tree
For 4-6 years after planting, the dwarf needs the formation of a crown. The development of the seedling directly depends on how correctly and regularly this procedure is carried out.
You need to start forming the crown in July. During this period, you need to carefully press the tree to the ground and pin it with staples. The distance between the conductor and the ground must be 5 cm, otherwise the bark will warm up. During the procedure, it is important to keep the apple tree at the grafting site so that its main part does not break. Also, an arched bend should not be allowed, as this will lead to burns and frost damage on the trunk. The lateral shoots must be directed in different directions and pinned to the ground.
You need to continue to form a creeping crown in the fall. During this period, it is recommended to press all raised shoots to the ground with hooks. And also before winter it is necessary to hill the trunk to a height of 8-10 cm, protecting the root collar from freezing.
You can watch the video on how to properly form a creeping apple tree:
With the arrival of spring, it is necessary to free the trunk from the ground and the branches from digging. Until August, the apple tree should grow freely. After this, you can begin to form the skeleton of the tree. From now on, it is necessary to keep all shoots close to the ground. The branches of the first and second order should be directed to the sides where there is free space. And the shoots growing at the base of the trunk must be bent in the opposite direction and pinned to the ground.
During formation and in the future, it is necessary to regularly remove thickening shoots so that the crown is ventilated. And it is recommended to constantly trim the growing young growth of creeping apple trees above the 4-5 leaves, turning them into fruits. The steps must be repeated annually for 5-6 years.
The branches can be held in the required position using a special frame
Spring pruning of creeping apple trees
It is important not only to correctly form a creeping apple tree, as shown in the video, but also to maintain the shape of the crown in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly trim the slate. It is recommended to start the procedure after the snow melts before the growing season begins. Properly pruning a creeping apple tree in the spring is not difficult even for novice gardeners.
First of all, it is necessary to remove all shoots that show signs of disease or have dried out over the winter. Also, the crown should not be allowed to thicken. Therefore, proper pruning of a creeping apple tree involves removing young shoots located at an acute angle to the main trunk. They need to be cut into a ring, otherwise they will constantly grow back. The procedure must be done with a clean, sterile instrument, and upon completion, the wounds must be covered with garden varnish to prevent infection.
Anti-aging pruning is also recommended for an old creeping apple tree in order to increase its productivity. When carrying out this procedure, it is necessary to remove or shorten skeletal and semi-skeletal branches, as well as thin out the crown, cutting out intersecting branches.
Weed control
Weeds should not be allowed to grow through the crown of a creeping apple tree. This leads to loss of moisture and nutritional components, disruption of the photosynthesis process, and prevents the formation and development of fruit buds. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly remove growing weeds manually or using a tool.
To make maintenance easier, experienced gardeners recommend using mulching.In this case, the soil surface must be covered with mowed grass, rotted sawdust or black agrofibre.
Whitewash
Caring for a creeping apple tree in the fall involves whitewashing the main conductor and skeletal branches. This procedure allows you to prevent the occurrence of burns and frost damage, as well as protect the creeping apple tree from pests. To prepare the solution, it is recommended to mix lime, clay and fresh mullein in a ratio of 1:1:3. Apply the composition to the bark in the morning in dry, clear weather.
Apply whitewash to the bark in an even layer without gaps
Shelter for the winter
To successfully grow elfin trees in regions with difficult climatic conditions, it is necessary to provide shelter for the tree for the winter. Particular attention should be paid to the root system. To do this, you need to remove fallen leaves, and then lay a 10 cm thick layer of humus on the soil surface. Also, in late autumn, you need to wrap the main trunk and skeletal branches with agrofibre to protect them from rodents.
After snow falls, it is recommended to sprinkle the crown with additional snow, compact the layer around the edges, and then cover the top with burlap.
Diseases and pests
The creeping apple tree is just as susceptible to diseases and pests as conventional types of crops. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatment in early spring and late autumn to reduce the likelihood of damage. To do this, it is recommended to use 1% copper sulfate or 3% Bordeaux mixture. The procedure should be carried out before the buds open in a temperature range from +4 to +10 °C to avoid burns.
Reproduction
To get a new seedling of a creeping apple tree, you can bury the young shoot where it touches the ground, leaving only the top. Throughout the season, it is necessary to keep the soil slightly moist and also hill up the branch. You can separate the seedling from the mother plant next spring.
You can also use grafting to propagate the plant. But for this it is necessary to study the features of the procedure and choose the most suitable method.
The tree should be grafted during periods of sap flow.
Conclusion
The creeping apple tree is a unique type of crop that is capable of fully developing and regularly bearing fruit in regions with risky farming. After all, a squat crown is less susceptible to freezing. In order for such a tree to retain its vital potential for a long time, it is necessary to provide care taking into account its characteristics.
