Content
There are several ways to plant an apple tree if groundwater is close. For example, some gardeners make a special hill or install a wooden box into which soil is poured. You can also dig a hole, fill it with concrete, and lay fertile soil on top. The main methods and instructions for planting are described in the article.
What water level is considered high?
The critical groundwater level is considered to be 1.5 m. That is. If the water rises above this level, it is definitely not worth planting apple trees on such soils.
Moreover, this is the maximum permissible value. In some cases the limit level should be even lower:
- planting apple trees on a vigorous rootstock - water up to 3 m;
- medium-sized (semi-dwarf) - up to 2.5 m;
- low-growing (dwarf) - up to 1.5 m.
To determine the height, it is necessary to make several observations - after heavy rains, during the autumn and spring periods. It is important to understand how high the water goes and how long it takes for it to go back.
To do this, you can navigate the groundwater in the well. If it is not there, you will have to dig a small well.Another option is to interview neighbors who have experience growing apple trees and a well on their property.
Groundwater influence
It is not recommended to plant most apple trees with high groundwater. Mature trees produce fairly powerful roots, which can reach a depth of 3-5 meters, and often 7-10. If they are constantly in contact with groundwater, this can lead to negative consequences:
- cooling of the root system;
- freezing in winter;
- lack of the required amount of oxygen;
- death of soil bacteria;
- disturbance of the soil structure;
- leaching of humus and nutrients.
Prolonged contact with groundwater leads to rotting of the root system. In fact, it cannot perform the main function of absorbing nutrients. Apple trees lag behind in development and may even die.
Before planting, you need to make sure that the groundwater reaches a height of no more than 1.5-2 m
Therefore, before planting, you should carefully check the depth. This is especially important if there is a well on or near the property. Subsequently, it is quite difficult to deal with high waters - you will have to lift the tree with special devices and make an embankment. After this, it will get sick and produce less yield, so it is easier to prevent the problem than to correct the consequences.
Varieties of apple trees that are not afraid of groundwater
There are several varieties of apple trees that are not afraid of groundwater. Summer varieties include:
- Orlinka;
- Isaeva;
- Mantet;
- Melba;
- Grushovka Moscow;
- Suislepskoe;
- Dessert;
- Lungwort;
- White filling;
- Antonovka gold;
- Jubilee;
- Wonderful.
Autumn varieties of apple trees that can be grown with close groundwater:
- Bessemyanka;
- Lingonberry;
- Michurina;
- Autumn joy;
- Borovinka;
- Chosen One;
- Dessert;
- Scarlet anise;
- Petrova;
- Delight;
- Young naturalist;
- Brown striped;
- Korean;
- Strefling;
- Antonovka.
Among the winter varieties of apple trees that can be planted if groundwater is close, the following can be distinguished:
- The aport is red;
- Seliger;
- Northern synapse;
- Orlik;
- Peaceful;
- Babushkino;
- Belarusian raspberry;
- Welsey;
- Russian;
- Lobo;
- Dark-skinned;
- Beauty Moscow;
- Bogatyr.
Planting columnar apple trees can be planned in almost any area. Their roots are shallow, so they still won’t reach the water. Such trees live up to 15 years, but they bear fruit well and are easy to care for. Therefore, summer residents often choose them for planting.
Rossiyanka is one of the varieties that can be grown in damp areas
Planting an apple tree with a high groundwater level
If the water comes up quite high, apple trees can also be planted. There are several ways to do this, for example, making a hill or making a box. Moreover, you should follow the general landing rules:
- Plant quickly so that the roots do not have time to dry out.
- First keep it in a mixture of water and clay with a few drops of growth stimulator.
- During planting, the roots are carefully straightened to fit freely.
- They should be covered with loose soil, without stones.
- The holes must be well watered with settled water, giving two buckets each, and mulched on top with compost, grass clippings, straw or other materials.
Pillow
To make a landing this way, proceed as follows:
- Dig a hole 100 cm in diameter and 80 cm deep.
- Fill it completely with concrete.
- Sprinkle a layer of soil on top before planting. It must be at least 1 m high.
- Add compost or humus, wood ash.
- Then plant the seedling, carefully straightening the roots.
As the root system develops, it will quickly rest against the concrete and then begin to grow horizontally. Further, in the first years after planting, it is important to ensure that the roots are not exposed. As necessary, add new layers of fertile soil.
On a hill
Instead of concrete, you can plant on a hill. To do this, make an embankment of fertile soil on the surface (ratio 2:1:1:1):
- turf soil;
- humus or compost;
- peat;
- sand.
The dimensions of the hill should be the same as when planting an apple tree in areas without groundwater. Its height is at least 100 cm, and its width is 60-70 cm, depending on the length of the roots.
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Choose a landing site. Clean and level the area.
- Make a soil mixture.
- Drive a stake 1.5 m high in the center.
- Make a mound for planting of the specified dimensions.
- Place the seedling in the center, sprinkle with soil, and deepen the root collar by 5-7 cm.
- As the hill settles, the hill is topped up, making sure that after planting the roots of the apple tree are not exposed.
Box
In places with high groundwater, apple trees can be planted using a wooden box with dimensions of 1 * 1 m or 1.5 * 1.5 m (depending on the size of the seedling). Next, fill up with fertile soil and begin planting in the usual way, as described above.
You can make the box yourself from scrap materials
Soil is also sprinkled on top of the wooden sides so that the edges are not visible.Add soil again as needed. Thanks to the box, the hill will have a permanent structure, and an embankment will also be formed. Therefore, even if the groundwater comes too high, the root system can be protected from constant contact with it.
Care
If you choose apple trees that are resistant to high groundwater levels, they must be properly cared for after planting. You can follow the advice of experienced gardeners described below.
Top dressing
Feeding is given 2-3 times per season. At the beginning of April, nitrogen compounds should be added (the amount is indicated per tree):
- ammonium nitrate – 30-50 g;
- urea – 100-150 g;
- nitroammophoska – 30 g.
On the eve of flowering, re-feed:
- urea – 25 g;
- potassium sulfate – 40 g;
- superphosphate – 50 g.
During the formation of ovaries, complex fertilizers containing boron are given. In the autumn after harvesting, feed with wood ash 300 g per 1 m2. This is especially important for apple trees that were planted in an area with close groundwater.
Trimming
Tree pruning is carried out regularly. In spring, remove all old, broken, frozen and dry branches. In the fall they begin formative pruning. For old trees over 15 years of age, it is necessary to do a rejuvenating pruning. Moreover, large branches are removed 1-2 per year - no more is needed, otherwise the apple tree will suffer greatly.
Watering
Young seedlings are given water quite often - 1.5-2 buckets every 10 days. If there is a long drought, the frequency is doubled. If the soil does not have time to dry out, water is not given. Also, do not water during intervals between rains. Excess moisture and groundwater is dangerous for the root system of the apple tree.
As for mature trees, they are watered 2-3 times per season when there is no rain for a long time. Give up to 8-9 liters of water per apple tree. It is recommended to pre-stand it indoors or under the sun.
What to do if the roots reach groundwater
Sometimes it happens that the apple tree was planted a long time ago, and then groundwater reached its root system. In this case, the problem can be solved in several ways:
- In autumn, cut off all branches with a diameter of more than 1.5 cm. Trim the crown short and align the central trunk with it.
- If the tree is no more than seven years old, it can be lifted by its trunk above the soil using special levers.
- Make a new graft on the tree - after 3-4 years it will give a good harvest.
- You can also form a drainage. To do this, they lay pipes made of plastic or ceramics, place them on a slope, after which the water goes into a lowland or other specially designated place. The method is quite labor-intensive and expensive.
- You can also make ditches to drain water. To do this, trenches 1.5 m deep are dug along the perimeter of the site. Groundwater flows into them, from where it flows along a natural slope into low-lying parts or into a well.
If the apple tree is young, it can be saved from root rot by lifting it by the trunk with special levers
If in planting holes water creeps in from under a layer of clay, it is enough to dig a trench on both sides along the rows of trees. They are made with a slope of 5-7 cm. This is necessary so that groundwater immediately flows to the right place.
Where the trenches connect to each other, bundles of rods up to 2 m long should be laid. Otherwise, the ditch will quickly become covered with silt and will no longer perform its function of removing moisture.
Conclusion
Planting an apple tree if groundwater is close is not very difficult.The ground level is first measured, which will allow you to correctly determine the location for the garden. Then they make a hill, a pillow, or install a wooden box. Caring for such trees is standard, but it is important to periodically add soil.
