Content
The apple tree is the most common fruit tree in the Moscow region. Growing it does not cause difficulties even for novice gardeners. However, the productivity of a tree depends on several main factors, and one of them is planting taking into account the requirements of the culture and climatic conditions of the region. Therefore, it is recommended to familiarize yourself in advance with how to properly plant apple trees in the spring in the Moscow region in order to avoid serious mistakes, which can subsequently cause a decrease in immunity and its death.
Spring planting allows the tree to strengthen before winter.
Climate features in the Moscow region
The climate of this region is moderate continental. This means that summer in the Moscow region is warm and humid, and winter, which lasts for five months, is frosty and not always snowy. This makes it possible to grow apple trees of different ripening periods. But for this it is necessary to give preference to frost-resistant crop species in order to avoid freezing of the young growth, on which the bulk of the crop is formed.
It is also worth considering that soil fertility in the Moscow region is not the same everywhere. The best environment for gardening is the south of the region, where the soil is quite nutritious and light. And in the remaining parts, before planting an apple tree in the spring in the Moscow region, it is necessary to prepare the soil in advance for the successful development of the seedling. Thanks to this, the tree will be able to produce a generous and abundant harvest in the future.
When is the best time to plant apple trees in the spring in the Moscow region?
Planting apple tree seedlings in the spring in central Russia is possible when the snow has completely melted and the soil has warmed up sufficiently to a depth of 15 cm. Usually in the Moscow region this happens in late April, early May. Therefore, it is recommended to plant apple trees in the spring in the middle zone during these periods. But it is also worth taking into account the air temperature; it should not be lower than +5 °C at any time of the day.
If planted too early, fragile seedlings may suffer from frost.
How to plant an apple tree in the spring in the Moscow region
Planting a fruit tree in the spring in the Moscow region requires strict adherence to all recommendations, which will ensure rapid adaptation of the seedling to a new location and its full development in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to first study all the nuances of this procedure.
Preparation of seedlings
One- and two-year-old apple trees are suitable for spring planting in the Moscow region. They must have a healthy appearance without signs of diseases and pests, as well as a well-developed root system.When choosing seedlings for planting in the spring, you must carefully study the characteristics of the variety and purchase planting material in nurseries and specialized stores, which guarantees compliance with the characteristics of the selected variety.
In healthy apple trees, the root cut is light and moist, and if it is brown in color, then it is better to refuse to purchase such planting material. The height of a one-year seedling should be within 1-1.2 m, and a two-year one - 1.5-1.8 m. A significant downward deviation of the indicator indicates improper care of the apple tree, which led to stunting, and a greater deviation - about excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers. Both options have a negative impact on the further development of the apple tree.
Before planting in the spring, it is recommended to remove broken and damaged parts of the roots. Pruning should be carried out to healthy tissue. Also, a day before planting an apple tree in the spring in the Moscow region, it is necessary to place the seedling in water to nourish the roots. This will activate growth processes and speed up rooting.
Selecting a location
To successfully grow an apple tree in the Moscow region, you need to choose a sunny, open place, protected from drafts. In this case, the distance to the fence and other tall crops should be at least 3 m, and to buildings - 5 m.
Successful cultivation of this fruit tree in the Moscow region also depends on the groundwater level in the area. It must be at least 2.5 m. Otherwise, after several years of full growth, the seedling will die, since its root system will be washed away by water.
It is recommended to plant an apple tree on a hill
Pit preparation
You need to prepare a hole for planting an apple tree in the spring in the Moscow region at least two weeks before the procedure. It should be understood that it is not just a hole for roots, but a source of nutrition for the seedling at the initial stage of growth and must contain all the necessary components.
A hole for planting an apple tree in the spring should be made with a diameter of 60-70 cm and a depth of 80 cm. It must be filled with a completely fertile soil mixture consisting of turf, sand, humus, peat, leaf soil in a ratio of 2:1:1:1:1. You also need to additionally add superphosphate 50 g and potassium sulfide 40 g, and then thoroughly mix the fertilizers with the soil.
Planting scheme
You need to plant apple trees in the spring in the Moscow region according to the standard scheme. The procedure can be carried out at any time of the day. When planting several trees, maintain a distance of 4 m. How to properly plant apple trees in the spring in the Moscow region is shown in the video:
Algorithm of actions:
- Make a small elevation in the center of the prepared planting hole.
- Place a wooden support nearby.
- Place the seedling on the mound and straighten the roots.
- Water generously at the rate of two buckets per plant.
- Cover the roots with soil.
- Carefully fill all voids;
- Compact the soil at the base of the apple tree.
- Tie it with soft twine to the support.
The root collar of a seedling must not be buried when planting.
Care instructions
It is important to know not only the optimal time for planting apple trees in the spring in the Moscow region, the specifics of the procedure, but also what care the tree needs throughout the season. After all, their development, and therefore frost resistance, depends on this.Since ignoring the rules of agricultural technology leads to a weakening of the apple tree, which can cause its death.
Watering
The first month after planting in the spring, it is necessary to constantly monitor soil moisture, preventing the roots from drying out. Therefore, during dry periods, it is recommended to water the apple tree weekly at the rate of two buckets per seedling. After it adapts and begins to grow, it is recommended to reduce hydration to once every two weeks, but at the same time double the volume of liquid. To do this, you can use settled water at a temperature of +15-22 °C.
Also, an apple tree in the Moscow region needs moisture-replenishing watering in the fall. It needs to be done at the end of September. To do this, you need to pour 5-6 buckets of water under the seedling.
Mature apple trees in the Moscow region require watering four times a season: during budding, after flowering, at the stage of fruit formation and before winter. Moistening is carried out by wetting the soil in the root circle to a depth of 20 cm. However, the procedure is recommended only in the absence of rain for a long time, since this tree does not react well to stagnant moisture in the soil.
Planting apple trees in lowlands is unacceptable
Top dressing
It is recommended to start feeding seedlings in the third year after planting. Before this, they will consume the nutritional components added to the planting hole.
It is recommended to apply fertilizers three times per season. The first fertilizing is carried out in the spring at the beginning of the growing season. During this period, it is important to use urea at the rate of 30-150 g per plant, depending on its age. In the future, the apple tree needs to be fertilized after flowering. At this time, you can use nitroammophoska. Recommended consumption is 40-160 g per plant.The third feeding is recommended during the period of fruit formation. At this time, you can use superphosphate 40-80 g and potassium sulfide 30-60 g.
Mineral fertilizers can be applied using wet or dry methods. In the first case, it is recommended to prepare a nutrient solution based on it and pour it under the root. And in the second - add it to the root circle, followed by embedding it into the soil.
Trimming
To properly form the crown and increase the yield of the apple tree, pruning is necessary in the future. The procedure should be done in the spring before the growing season begins.
The seedling must be pruned for the first time immediately upon planting. To do this, it is recommended to shorten the main conductor by 1/3 of the height, leaving several young buds from which skeletal branches will grow. It is important that the topmost one is directed towards the outside.
In the second and third years after planting, you need to leave the strongest side shoots. The angle of their departure from the trunk must be at least 45 degrees. They will form the skeleton of the tree. It is also recommended to remove all competing shoots, which will subsequently interfere with the development of the main ones. In the fourth year after planting, you need to shorten all shoots by 1/3 of the length, leaving the upper outer bud.
For apple trees, not only formative, but also sanitary pruning is recommended. It can be carried out throughout the warm period of the year. It involves removing all damaged, broken branches, as well as shoots that thicken the crown.
Pruning should be done with a sharp, disinfected instrument.
Graft
In the conditions of the Moscow region, this procedure is recommended to be carried out in the spring, when the kidneys have not yet woken up, and the flow of sap in the tissues has already begun.In central Russia this happens from mid-April to early May. It is also possible to graft an apple tree in the summer from the end of July to the middle of the first ten days of August, and in the fall - at the beginning of September.
You can use different methods for this. Their choice depends on the desires of the gardener and his experience.
Recommended methods:
- for the bark;
- budding;
- kidney;
- into the cleft;
- into the side cut;
- peephole;
- bridge;
- wedge;
- copulation.
Preparing for winter
Young apple trees need shelter for the winter for the first 2-3 years after planting. To do this, you need to wrap the barrel with spandbond in several layers. It is also recommended to lay a layer of humus 5-10 cm thick at the base of the tree in the fall.
Protection from diseases and pests
When grown in the Moscow region, apple trees are prone to fungal diseases. Therefore, preventive treatment in early spring with fungicides, such as Bordeaux mixture, copper or iron sulfate, is recommended. You need to spray the trunk and crown of the apple tree. To do this, you can use a 3% solution of drugs at a temperature from +5 to +12 ° C.
Pests can also cause damage to a tree: green aphids, leaf rollers, codling moths, copperheads, and psyllids. Therefore, the apple tree needs to be regularly inspected and, if signs of damage appear, sprayed with insecticides: Bi 58; Fufanon, Aktellik, Fitoverm.
You can clearly see how to plant an apple tree in the spring in the Moscow region in the video:
Conclusion
Knowing how to plant apple trees correctly in the spring in the Moscow region, you can count on the tree quickly adapting and growing. And this will give it the opportunity to fully develop in the future, which is necessary for regular abundant fruiting. However, when choosing apple tree varieties, you should give preference to zoned species for a given region, which will greatly simplify care after planting and ensure trouble-free wintering.
