Content
- 1 Why do apple tree branches break off?
- 2 What to do if a branch breaks off on an apple tree
- 3 What to do if an apple tree seedling breaks
- 4 What to do if the apple tree breaks in half
- 5 What to do if the trunk of an apple tree breaks
- 6 Compounds for puttying a broken branch
- 7 How to strengthen an apple tree so it doesn't break
- 8 Conclusion
If a branch of an apple tree breaks, this may be due to both strong wind and maintenance errors (lack of supports, untimely harvesting, etc.). It is better to detect damage earlier. The wound is cleaned to a healthy place, then disinfected and intensively cared for.
Why do apple tree branches break off?
As a rule, only thin branches of trees break, which is quite normal, since the wind can be very strong. Another objective reason is the heavy snow mass, which lies on different parts of the crown for a long time. Both of these factors are aggravated by temperature changes, which are also impossible to influence.
But there are other reasons associated with improper care:
- untimely installation of supports for large shoots;
- overload with crops that have not been harvested for a long time;
- too frequent pruning;
- not carrying out shaping and rejuvenating haircuts;
- lack of mulching for the winter and other shelter (especially in regions with severe frosts);
- violation of other rules - irregular watering and fertilizing.
The consequences can be quite serious. If the top or thin branches of a young apple tree are broken, fungi, bacteria and other infectious agents can penetrate through the resulting wound. If the damage is significant, the tree will begin to lag behind in development, and the yield will fall. Therefore, it is necessary to notice the damage as early as possible and eliminate the consequences as soon as possible. In most cases, even old trees can be saved.
What to do if a branch breaks off on an apple tree
In general, the sequence of actions is the same. If an apple tree branch is broken, you need to trim it with a knife to a healthy place, treat it with garden varnish and install a support. However, the damage can be different, so you have to act accordingly. The main options are described in the following sections.
Small break
If the break is small, for example, a small part of the crown of a columnar apple tree is broken, you need to proceed as follows:
- If the shoot is hanging, break it off completely by making a neat cut with pruners or scissors, pre-treated with an antiseptic (for example, potassium permanganate 1 g per 1 liter).
- Sharpen the knife, clean the wound to a healthy place.
- Treat it with an antiseptic. You can use a solution of copper sulfate 100 g per 10 l or iron sulfate 500 g per 10 l.
- Lubricate the surface with garden varnish or a special preparation (Blagosad, RanNet or others).
- Place a spear or other support under the middle of the damaged shoot.
The damage is cleaned to a healthy place
Next, you need to organize careful care. All ovaries and fruits are removed, maintaining “sterility” for two seasons.Watering is given regularly using settled water. In autumn, the tree trunk circle is loosened and fertilizing is applied - superphosphate 40 g per 10 l and potassium sulfate 30 g per 10 l.
Broken branch with fruits
If a branch breaks during the fruiting period or on the eve of harvest, all fruits should be removed immediately. Next, the damaged parts are cut off, treated with an antiseptic, and the shoot is carefully tied into place. The wound is lubricated with garden pitch or fatty clay. In the first two years, all buds and ovaries should be removed from such a branch.
To do this, pour them with a small volume of water, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cook for 20 minutes. Then the water is drained and the apples are filtered through cheesecloth. The resulting juice is evaporated by half - natural pectin is obtained.
A large branch of an apple tree broke off
If a large branch of an apple tree breaks, for example a skeletal branch (growing directly from the trunk), it is necessary to carefully clean up the damage and provide a support.
To speed up recovery, it is recommended to use Bugorkov's balm, which contains not only fatty components (wax, oil), but also growth stimulants. You can also treat with a solution prepared independently based on wood ash, “Fundazol” and “Kornevin” (1:1:1). The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Mix all components in equal quantities.
- Grind the tablet of the drug “Immunocytophyte” and add to the mixture.
- Add BF-6 glue to obtain the consistency of thick sour cream.
- Carefully treat the damage with the composition.
A support is installed under a damaged branch that has broken.
A thin branch broke off
In the case of a thin shoot, it is easiest to act. It is enough to cut off the broken part and treat it with garden pitch, fatty clay or other antiseptic. In order for the branch to recover faster and not break again, it is recommended to pick flowers over the next two seasons.
What to do if an apple tree seedling breaks
If the top of an apple tree seedling breaks, you need to proceed as follows:
- Remove all damaged parts.
- Peel with a knife to a healthy kidney.
- Treat with garden varnish.
- Organize enhanced care - watering, fertilizing, weeding the tree trunk circle.
Young seedlings recover quite quickly. Even if the branch does not break, gardeners must carry out radical pruning every year, stimulating the growth of all main shoots.
What to do if the apple tree breaks in half
This is one of the most difficult cases, which is often impossible to cope with. You can try to save the tree by doing this:
- Remove the damaged branch that has broken.
- Clean very carefully around the edges.
- Remove all protruding parts of the bark, as infection can penetrate there.
- Cover with garden varnish.
- Cover with cling film and carefully care for it.
What to do if the trunk of an apple tree breaks
This case is the most difficult. If it is not a separate branch that breaks, but a trunk, then the tree often has to be uprooted. You can try to cut it down below the break, and in the spring graft it onto the stump.
Cuttings (scion) are prepared in advance, in the fall. They are stored in a cool room or outside (dig a trench, cover with soil, mulch and snow cover). Then an oblique lower cut is made and grafted into a split, under the bark, or by budding.
Compounds for puttying a broken branch
Regardless of which branches are broken on a young or old apple tree, they need to not only be reanimated, but also disinfected. To do this, use special compositions that can be purchased at a store for summer residents:
- "RanNet";
- "Blagosad"
- garden var.
They contain various components, for example, copper sulfate, which effectively destroys fungi and bacteria that cause dangerous infections.
"Blagosad" is an effective means for wound disinfection
If a branch on an apple tree breaks off and you don’t have a ready-made composition at hand, you can help in another way. For example, prepare your own garden varnish based on animal fat (without lard), wax and rosin. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Heat rosin (take 60 g).
- Take 200 g of wax, grate it and add it to the rosin, mix.
- After both components have melted completely, add 100 g of unsalted animal fat - preferably lamb tail.
- Then cool the composition and pour in 50 ml of ethyl alcohol.
- Cool and begin to cover the damaged area. The advantage of the composition is that it does not need to be warmed up the day before use. Therefore, it can be used both in summer and winter, for example, when a branch of an apple tree was broken by snow.
If a minimum of ingredients are available and you need to act quickly, it is permissible to prepare a clay-based composition. The instructions are as follows:
- Take copper or iron sulfate, mullein and fatty clay in a ratio of 1:3:6.
- To stir thoroughly.
- Add 1-2 tbsp to the mixture. l. wood ash.
- Bring to a thick consistency (toothpaste) and immediately begin treating wounds.
How to strengthen an apple tree so it doesn't break
If a branch of an apple tree breaks or the tree breaks at the root, this can become a rather serious problem, even leading to the complete death of the plant. To avoid it, it is necessary to strengthen the trunk, as well as follow other preventive measures. In old trees, the skeletal branches become very massive. It is recommended to install supports under them. You need to focus exactly on the middle of the branch so that it does not break under its own weight.
There are a lot of support options:
- A stand with a horned branch is a “horned” branch that has broken from another tree, taken near the site or in the forest, then buried in the soil. You can also put up a wooden support and lay a branch on it.
- Umbrella chatalovka - a central support is placed along the trunk, dug into the soil, and then several wires are pulled down and tied to the branch with a loop so that it does not break
- “Support-ladder” - to prevent the central trunk of the apple tree from breaking under the root and other branches, dig in the ladder and attach large shoots to the steps using wires or soft wire.
- There is also an option for a telescopic support. This can be a plastic water pipe made of several parts (each subsequent one is easily inserted into the previous one). They are dug in, installed at the required height and secured with bolts and nuts.
- T-shaped support in the form of a special design. A very reliable option made from two T-shaped poles that are attached to each other.
- There are also metal supports. They are used to prevent branches from breaking on old, very large apple trees with massive shoots. You can make such structures yourself from pipes. Select several elements, drill holes and fix them with nails.
Conclusion
When a branch of an apple tree breaks, you need to act immediately. If it is a thin shoot, it is simply removed with pruning shears. If the branch is large, it is cut down, treated with garden varnish, covered with film and awaited restoration. Over the next two years, you need to care for such an apple tree especially carefully.
