Planting an apple tree in the fall. How and when to plant correctly, information from professionals

Somewhere a mango grows, somewhere a papaya, but in the Russian Federation the championship in popularity is won by an apple tree. How beautiful it is during flowering, during the ripening period of the fruits and even when autumn has painted the leaves in yellow, orange and red colors. And about the wonderful taste and benefits of fruits rich in various vitamins and microelements, there is no need to talk at all. And although this fruit tree takes root well in different regions of the vast country, the path to fruiting lies through care, adherence to the rules of planting and growing.

Can apple trees be planted in autumn?

The first question that arises for beginners: "How and when to plant apple trees in the fall?" It is not devoid of logic, because soon it will be cold, and winters in our latitudes are too harsh.

But, oddly enough, to do planting an apple tree is advised in the fall... However, one should not forget about the peculiarities of each individual region.

In the regions of the Non-Black Earth Region it is better to choose the early spring months, for the Ukrainian regions the period of late summer - early autumn will be ideal, and the Ural, Siberian and Belarusian gardeners are trying to complete this business as early as possible.

Planting an apple tree in the fall is considered the optimal time.

Why is autumn considered the right time?

This time of the year is quite humid. The rainy season usually lasts until mid-November. At the same time, the air temperature is high enough to start planting a tree.

IMPORTANT! It is necessary to plant an apple tree at least a month before the onset of frost, when the foliage has already completely fallen out.

Even a slight minus temperature negatively affects the development of the plant's root system.

The fact is that before the onset of winter, trees hibernate, all biological processes in them slow down. In this state, the seedlings are better able to tolerate digging and "relocation" to a new place.

It is imperative to give a young tree time for adaptation in new conditions before frost hits.

The most important advantage of autumn planting is that the tree will have time to "settle" in the soil, its root system will get stronger, and in the spring the apple tree will already begin to develop actively.

Possible mistakes

Most budding gardeners make simple mistakes that prevent a young tree from rooting well and growing. To avoid them, you need to heed the advice of professionals and the recommendations of more experienced colleagues.

Frequent mistakes:

Purchase seedlings a few weeks before planting. This will lead to the fact that the trees begin to come out of dormancy before the onset of the first cold weather.
Disembarkation at a recently dug site. In this case, the root collar will be too deep, which will lead to slow growth of the apple tree.
Use of fresh manure. If such a mistake is made, then the gas released during the decomposition of the mixture will have a negative effect on the seedling and slow down its development.
Adding a lot of fertilizer. Such actions will lead to the emergence of an aggressive environment that will destroy the beneficial microflora.
Use of three-year-old seedlings. Such trees can already be considered old, so it will be quite difficult for them to survive planting in a new place.

For your information!

Planting an apple tree in autumn is a complex undertaking that requires the utmost care and attention to detail from the gardener.

If you follow all the provided rules, as well as take into account the advice of experienced people, then you can not be afraid for the safety of trees and wait for an early harvest.

Site preparation

Planting any tree begins with preparing a suitable place... It is worth taking care of the plot for the apple tree in advance, no later than two to three months (it is best to do this in the spring). The ideal area will be the area where fruit trees have not grown before.

The depth of the pit is of particular importance for the apple tree..

If the planting site is too deep, then the air will no longer flow to the root system in sufficient quantities. In this case, the roots may even start to rot.

A shallow hole will also bring only problems: exposed roots will begin to deteriorate due to exposure to low temperatures.

Watch a video about preparing a place for planting an apple tree:

To form the pit correctly, follow these rules in the sequence below:

Caution remove the sod, then the topsoil is the most fertile. Fold them separately.
Remove the next 20-30 cm of soil.
Dig up everything and carefully align.
The depth of the resulting hole should be approximately half a meter, and the width should not be more than a meter.
Place the turf on the bottom (grass side down). This is necessary so that the grass, microorganisms and other "population" of this layer rotted and turned into humus, thereby increasing the quality and quantity of nutrients for the young tree.
Prepare wood ash, leaf compost, stale cow dung in advance (it can be replaced with horse manure, but in no case with bird droppings). Mix these ingredients well. They must be placed in the pit, continuing to mix thoroughly to ensure sufficient looseness and moisture.

Planting an apple tree in a prepared place.
Be sure to put a mark so that after a while you can find a prepared place. Be attentive to the characteristics of the soil. If it has a clay texture, do not dig too deep a hole. Maximum - 30 cm. But make it wide enough (up to 1.5 meters). So nothing will prevent the root system from growing in breadth.
Be sure to provide a normal flow of air and moisture into the pit. To do this, you need to replace the clay with sand and humus.

IMPORTANT! It is advisable to avoid clay, loamy and sandy soil for planting.

The occurrence of groundwater is also important.... Ideal would be the conditions in which groundwater will be located no closer than 2.5 meters.

If unfavorable conditions cannot be avoided on the site, it is better to plant a tree on a small mound, the height of which will be about half a meter, and the width - about a meter.

These mounds are made from turf and topsoil.

Planting an apple tree seedling

To transfer the seedling to the ground to a permanent place, you should prepare landing pit - it should be the smaller, the more fertile the soil on the site. Apple trees love loamy black soils, therefore, in sandy or sandy loam soils, the planting pit can be up to one meter deep. Depending on the structure and fertility of the soil, the following components should be introduced into the soil mixture for the pit: humus, compost, sand, peat, loam, wood ash.

seedling planting scheme

Laying the prepared soil mixture on the bottom of the pit, it should be tamped so that, if the earth subsides, the apple tree does not go down. On the formed mound from the fertile soil layer, a layer of ordinary earth should be poured about 10 cm and only on it, carefully spreading the roots, set the seedling.

After that, the apple tree is watered abundantly and its lower part begins to fall asleep, heading from the periphery to the center - first pressing the ground at the roots and only then at the trunk.The top layer is loosened and mulched with peat.

If the groundwater on the site runs close to the surface of the earth, then in order to prevent decay of the roots, apple trees should be planted on artificially created hills. Such embankments in winter should not be subject to weathering, but, on the contrary, should retain and accumulate snow, which protects the tree from freezing.

Sapling selection

The main criterion for choosing a seedling is its health... Buying a young plant from an unverified person is a big risk. A suitable place to buy is a special nursery.

It is best to choose a plant for planting no older than two years. Before the purchase ask experienced gardeners which varieties do best in this climate... Give them preference.

Pay special attention to the roots... They must be free of signs of damage, mold or mildew. A healthy tree usually has many roots. They are usually of different lengths. This is a normal feature.

If you think the roots are too long, don't worry, they can be trimmed slightly.

Smooth (this means, without any suspicious damage) the bark should be dark brown - this is the natural color... The crown of a young tree should already consist of more than 4 branches. The graft should be located approximately 5 cm from the root.

How to choose a quality seedling

Examine the root system. After making a cut on one of the root appendages, look at the color in the cut. In a healthy plant, the roots are white, a gray color on the cut indicates that the plant is frozen or rotted. Swelling and curvature of the roots are signs of disease. The root system should not look too dry.

The trunk of a healthy seedling should be free of stains and growths.

The best material is annual. The age of the tree is determined by the branches - an annual plant does not have pronounced branches, in a two-year-old one can already see 2-3 strong branches growing at an angle of 45-90 degrees.

An important criterion is the condition of the root collar of the apple tree. This is where the trunk of the plant grows into the root. There should be no traces of rot on the root collar.

A seedling with a less developed crown, but with a massive root system, will take root better.

Remove the dead parts of the root before planting. All you need is a sharp knife. Garden shears can damage the root by crushing it. Places of cuts should be sprinkled with crushed coal.

Correct planting of an apple tree in autumn

Before proceeding directly to planting, the tree must be placed in water for a day. This is necessary to avoid root drying... Take a close look at the bark of the apple tree.

The place where the color of the bark is slightly darker than in other places is the root collar, which should be slightly higher in the ground level than the rhizome.

When they plant an apple tree the neck must be covered with earth a little. However, over time, the soil subsides and this place is exposed.

It is impossible to cover the vaccination site with earth.... It should be raised at least 5-9 cm. It is prohibited to tamp the ground during planting, because this will interfere with the free access of oxygen to the root.

Immediately after planting, you need to tie the tree to the pegs.... Their number depends on climatic conditions. The main thing is to ensure the safety of the young tree and protect it from breakage.

Pay attention to the color of the bark of the seedling.

For this you need to use either wet rags or films so as not to harm the bark. Even in rainy weather, the seedling needs to be watered after planting.

IMPORTANT! 4 meters is the ideal distance the apple tree should be from other fruit trees.

Landing technology

Before planting apples in autumn, dead areas must be removed from the root system of the seedlings, as they will hinder the proper development of the roots. The procedure is carried out with a sharp knife.It is not recommended to use garden shears, as they can damage the treated area and contribute to its “soaking”. At the end, the cuts are sprinkled with crushed coal.

To plant an apple tree correctly, you need to adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

Deepen the planting hole by 15-20 cm.
Then put the seedling in it so that it is next to the dug-in peg.
Next, you need to spread the roots of the seedling and cover them with soil.
The root collar should be about 5 cm above ground level. Subsequently, the soil will settle, and it will be at the desired level.
In conclusion, you need to tamp the soil and tie the seedling to the peg with twine. Pour 25-30 liters of lukewarm water over the well.

Digging a hole

All that remains is to huddle the soil so that a slight rise appears around the hole. To facilitate the adaptation of the seedling to new conditions, mulching is recommended. Deep peat, conifer bark, compost can be used as mulch. It should be borne in mind that the layer should be no more than 5 cm.

How to plant with a closed root system?

A closed-root apple tree is a seedling bought directly in a pot or container. Such a plant requires a special attitude towards itself.

What are the rules for planting an apple tree in the fall in this case?

Need to prepare the pit (you need to follow the rules above). Its size should not exceed half a meter in depth and a meter in width.
The bottom layer, which is not fertile, must be removed... Instead, fill the hole with topsoil, ash and fertilizers (optional).
In this hole, you need to make a hole the size of a pot or container.
Turn the pot upside down. Carefully, while holding the seedling together with the earth, remove the container. To make it easier, water the plant first. This will minimize the risk of root trauma.
Place the seedling together with the ground in the hole so that the level of the soil from the pot coincides with the level of the soil in the pit or rises slightly above it. It is impossible to fill up the soil from the pot, so as not to displace the correct position of the root neck.
Place a peg next to the pit to tie up the sapling.
Fill the space between the hole and the soil from the pot with soil, watering abundantly.
Lightly tamp the ground around the perimeter of the hole with your feet (this must be done very carefully, the toe should look at the seedling itself).

Tie the seedling to a peg.

Benefits of autumn planting

Planting an apple tree seedling in the autumn is the best solution for the following reasons:

a lot of moisture has accumulated in the soil, which has a beneficial effect on rooting and the formation of a strong root system of the seedling;
after leaf fall, the plant begins a "dormant period" - at this time it does not grow, but the root part is actively developing;
with the onset of spring heat, the seedling will immediately grow, unlike planting in the spring, when it would take time for it to adapt.

Fertilizer question

When planting an apple tree in the fall, it is useless to use a large amount of nitrogen fertilizers. They are best applied in the spring when you need to stimulate plant growth.

Fresh manure (horse or cow) should be applied to the very bottom of the planting pit and separated from the root system with a layer of soil. But it is best to use already rotted manure in combination with compost, ash and sand.

IMPORTANT! Fresh manure should not be abused when planting young trees. Getting into the ground, it releases ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, thereby poisoning the rhizome.

Of the mineral fertilizers, it is best to stop at phosphorus and potash.

Convenient also buy fertilizers with the name "Autumn"... They usually contain sufficient amounts of phosphorus, potassium and a small proportion of nitrogen.

Highly it is important to reduce soil acidity during autumn planting... This is facilitated by the introduction of dolomite flour, slaked lime, and meadow marl into the soil.

It is impossible to use these substances together with phosphorus, because they make it difficult to dissolve.

If you are planning to set up a garden on a new plot of infertile soil, start fertilize the soil at least one year before planting trees... It is best to start domestication in 2-3 years.

Dates for planting seedlings

Planting seedlings before winter is a long-term investment in your plot. After a few years, usually already in the second growing season, the apple tree produces a certain amount of fruit. They can be consumed fresh or used in various preparations.

For the harvest to be really rich and tasty, you need to choose the right timing for planting seedlings in the garden. The favorable period for planting primarily depends on the climatic conditions of the region where the gardener is located. For example, in the Moscow region and in the Urals, the weather is completely different and frosts come at different times. This point must be taken into account.

Experienced gardeners note that the main condition that must be met when planting young apple trees is at least 3 weeks before the first frost. During these days, the root system will have time to adapt and develop at a sufficient pace to survive the winter.

The average date for planting apple seedlings in Russia is from the end of September to 15 October. But the gardener needs to carefully monitor the temperature outside and select the timing of disembarkation individually.

There are general recommendations for the regions:

Moscow region and Central Russia - in the regions of the central part of the country, the first frosts begin in November, gardeners are engaged in planting seedlings on the site from September 20 to the end of October;
Leningrad region - this northern part of our country is distinguished by a harsh winter with strong winds and an early onset of frost, planting is carried out in September, without delaying and applying a sufficient amount of fertilizers, since the lands here are poorly supplied with nutrients;
Siberia and the Urals - here, experienced agronomists advise planting seedlings in the spring, this is explained by too harsh winters and the early onset of cold weather, but the Urals are spread over vast territories, so in the southern regions it is possible to plant seedlings in the soil in autumn, but this must be done no later than mid-September.

In addition to general recommendations, the gardener will not hurt to monitor the weather conditions that are outlined outside the window. In recent years, the temperature at different times of the year is too variable and can be harmful to young plantings of fruit trees, even if they are planted at the recommended time.

Watering

When we plant an apple tree in the fall, we need to understand that the first watering is most important for the further development of the plant. It not only provides the root system with sufficient moisture, but also compacts the soil.

Pouring water in one stream directly under the seedling is very harmful. For these purposes, use a simple watering can.

If the first watering should be abundant, then do not abuse the amount of moisture in the future. It provokes the appearance of a crust near the rhizome, blocks access to oxygen.

Use a watering can for watering.

IMPORTANT! It is best to water a young apple tree in the evening.

Correct care

In addition to the question of how to properly plant an apple tree in the fall, the question arises of further caring for the seedling. Young apple trees require that they regularly watered and pruned the branches... Pruning is necessary so that the tree begins to bear fruit faster and is more resistant to frost.

When planting at any time of the year cut the apple tree only in spring.

The first time the plant should be cut in the second year after planting. This is done in early spring before the buds begin to swell. At this time, you need to trim the crown and remove the dried branches.

New branches will begin to grow faster and the yield of the plant will increase.

Mulching is also of great importance in caring for a young tree. It is best to do this with stale horse or cow dung or humus.

It is not necessary to cover the newly planted plant with a large layer of manure. A small amount, covered with mowed grass or straw on top with a 5 cm layer, will be enough.

Under this layer, ideal conditions for life and reproduction of earthworms will be created. and other living organisms that will provide good conditions for the apple tree.

Disadvantages of spring planting

When choosing spring for planting young apple seedlings, you must remember the risk associated with this time:

It is necessary to plant in early spring, before the buds bloom.... Otherwise, the tree can easily suffer from low soil moisture. There will be a delay in the build-up of fibrous roots. The ratio of the volume of the roots and the part of the plant located above the ground is violated.

Transplant the apple tree in the spring before bud break.
Lack of moisture for such a tree can result in weakening of growth, sensitivity to diseases and even death. Here you cannot do without systematic watering, otherwise the roots may dry out.
Mulching will be mandatory in this case.... Without it, it will be difficult to retain moisture. For this, you can use dry grass and humus.
A significant increase in temperature in late and even mid-spring can adversely affect. Then there is a danger of burning young leaves... Shoots also suffer.
Problems with the selection of good seedlings are also possible. It is much more difficult to find them in the spring. If there are such difficulties, trees for their garden are harvested in the fall.

Features of planting in frost

It happens that the seedling was bought too late. Many are tempted to cut prices. According to the rules, all deadlines have been missed. Is it possible in this case and how to plant an apple tree in the fall in frost? Are there any technologies for planting a tree at low temperatures?

Important! Experts advise that it is better to postpone all activities until spring, and at this time make sure that the seedling is viable by the onset of the warm season.

You can store a young plant in a cool cellar. To do this, you need to place the root system in a container with peat or sawdust. In the room itself, the temperature should not drop below zero. If you water the apple tree at least once a week, you can plant it in early spring.

Digging in apple seedlings until spring.

In snowy regions, it is also possible to store the seedlings under a sufficient layer of snow (assuming the seedling is well packed). Snow will keep the temperature from dropping around the plant below its vital level.

Care after landing

After planting the apple tree in spring, watering 4-5 times is enough during the summer. With each watering, about 35-40 liters of water are poured into the trunk circle.
It is necessary to maintain the soil in the near-trunk circles in a loose state, not to allow weeds to grow.
If flowers form on the apple trees in the second year, they must be picked - these are barren flowers.
In the fall, you need to cut off dry branches, if any.
After the autumn planting, there is little time left before winter. Caring for such seedlings is greatly simplified. If the autumn is dry, you need to do several watering, spending a bucket of water on the tree. You need to water once a week.
A week before frost, the trunks are whitewashed with an aqueous mixture of copper sulfate and chalk. When frosts come, the trunk of a young apple tree in cold regions is wrapped in burlap.

Planting apple trees in spring will not be difficult and this procedure is easy to complete without errors. But the autumn planting will lead to success in the case when the planting time is correctly chosen, a high-quality seedling is planted, the planting site is correctly chosen and the process itself is skillfully performed.

How to plant an apple tree in the fall: a step-by-step guide

Place the seedling in the ground shortly after purchase, so that avoid drying out the root system.
The belief that a large seedling will take root better is a myth. In fact, they adapt much worse to new conditions.
Trees should not be planted in an unprepared pit. Be sure to use fertilizers. However, mineral fertilizers should not be abused. There is a risk of burning young, fragile roots.
After planting, the young plant should be watered immediately. This is necessary not only in order to saturate the tree with nutrients, but in order to compact the soil to the required state. For this purpose, you must use a watering can. If the season is not rainy, the tree should be watered regularly (at least once a week) before frost. Until the soil in the planting pit is compacted enough, you need to use watering cans. Only then can you start using hose irrigation.
Usually apple trees are recommended to be planted at a distance of at least 4 meters from each other. For low-growing trees, this distance can be reduced to 3 meters.

Features for different regions

We already mentioned at the beginning that the peculiarities of how to plant an apple tree in autumn largely depend on climatic conditions.

In outskirts of Moscow it is best to plant apple tree seedlings in the fall from the third decade of September to the end of October. In November, frosts may already begin in these places, and for young plants they are often destructive.
Leningrad region known for the poverty of its soils, so special attention should be paid to fertilizing the planting pit. The best time for gardening activities is late September - early October.
In central Russia you also need to take into account the time of the onset of the first frost. Mid September - the first two weeks of October will also be ideal. However, due to the weather, it is sometimes better to postpone the planting of the apple tree in the spring.

Landing dates depending on the region.

In the south of Russia this period can extend to early November. Always keep an eye on the weather forecast though. Nobody cancels the sharp onset of cold weather.
Frosty Siberian winters it is very difficult for young trees to survive. In these regions, it is better to postpone the planting of an apple tree until the beginning of spring.
No less destructive and Ural climate for seedlings... Most likely, they simply will not have time to adapt to the new land, and the early frost will destroy them.

Advice! Experienced gardeners recommend that planting apple trees in autumn in Belarus should also be completed as early as possible. It is advisable to complete the entire process by mid-September.

Ukraine is famous not only for its fertile soils, but also for the favorable conditions for the autumn planting of apple trees. Autumn seedlings will take root better than spring ones in the southern regions of the country.

General information

Planting apple seedlings in the fall is a rather difficult undertaking that requires taking into account certain nuances. If you neglect them, you can face many problems and lose the harvest for the next year.

Advantages and disadvantages of autumn planting

In order to understand when it is best to plant apple trees in spring or autumn, you need to study all the advantages and disadvantages of the process for each season. Most inexperienced gardeners prefer to plant young trees in the spring, as soon as the snow melts.

However, professionals recommend planting apple trees in the fall. Their opinion is based on the following benefits:

A wide variety of seedlings available... In the fall months, seedling growers offer many different varieties to gardeners. This makes it possible to choose the best option that is ideal for the climatic conditions of a particular area.
High survival rate... In autumn, young trees slow down all biological processes.This simplifies the transplanting procedure and helps the seedling adapt to new conditions faster. With the first warmth, the apple trees take root quickly and begin to grow well.
Availability of free time... Autumn is not as active at times for the gardener as spring. During this period of the year, you can more carefully approach the process of planting trees and not miss any nuances.
The need for minimal maintenance... Apple trees planted in autumn do not need daily care. All the required actions are reduced to watering, which is necessary only in the absence of rainfall for a long time.
Early awakening... If the apple trees were planted in the fall, then with the onset of the first spring heat (the temperature is more than 4 degrees above zero), they will begin to grow rapidly.

Important conditions

When planting apple trees in the fall, important conditions must be observed. They will help the young tree to root quickly and survive the winter safely.

The main nuances:

For autumn planting, you should choose seedlings, the age of which does not exceed two years. In most cases, they are more robust than three-year-olds, they will cope better with adapting to a new place.
The purchased seedling must be planted immediately in the ground. If this is done after a few days, the roots may dry out from lack of moisture.
Young trees can only be planted in a previously dug hole.
After planting the apple trees, they should be thoroughly watered. This will not only moisturize the earth well, but also make it more dense.
Seedlings do not tolerate a high concentration of fertilizers. Because of them, the roots can be damaged or die.
It is recommended to plant trees only in those places where groundwater occurs at a depth of more than 2.5 m.
For normal growth, a young tree needs at least four meters of free space on each side.
It is forbidden to plant apple trees in places where water pipes pass.
Optimum temperature conditions for planting are between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius.

You may be interested in:
The best winter varieties of apples stored until spring Apple trees are the most common fruit trees in our country. Juicy, sweet or slightly sour fruits ... Read more ...

Timing for different regions

According to the lunar calendar for 2020, apple trees should be planted in October (2-5, 14, 16, 17, 20-22) or November (16, 17, 18, 21, 22). This will help the seedlings take root better and avoid negative environmental impacts.

The timing of planting young trees is influenced not only by the phase of the moon, but also by the conditions of the local climate. Landing times in different regions:

Moscow region. Here, work is carried out from the last days of September to the end of October. In this region of Russia, frosts begin in November, so the slightest delay may cost the future harvest.
Leningrad region. In this area, frosts come even earlier, so you need to plant trees before the end of September. Due to the nature of the local soil, young apple trees should be well fertilized and watered.
Middle lane. For this region, the optimal time will be from mid-September to the end of October. However, in the absence of good weather conditions, it is recommended to postpone planting until the first warm spring.
Siberia and the Urals. The climatic conditions are characterized by severe frosts, so it is rather difficult for young apple trees to survive them. Experts recommend not to take risks and plant trees in the fall.
Ukraine. Planting an apple tree in autumn in Ukraine begins in mid-September and ends in early November. As a rule, the first frosts come in December, but in some cases they may start a little earlier.
Belarus. Winter on the territory of this state is rather mild, so it is best to plant apple trees in autumn. In this case, the work must be completed by the twentieth of September.

Selection of varieties

Columnar apple trees, which appeared some 40 years ago thanks to the efforts of breeders, are very popular among gardeners.

Like other types of fruit trees, such apple trees are recommended to be planted in spring or autumn (no later than the end of September).

The survival rate of dwarf apple trees also depends on the time of planting. In the fall, these seedlings need to be replanted when growth is partially suspended and some leaves fall off.

Particular attention must be paid to ensure that the roots of the tree do not remain exposed for a long time in the air. Because of this, they can dry out. Otherwise, the standard rules should be followed.

ABOUTusually apple trees are planted with two-year-old seedlings, however, one-year-olds can take root well.

To do this, they need to be booked. For autumn planting, this procedure is carried out in the spring.