Planting apple trees in spring with seedlings: how to plant correctly, how to store, how to choose

A well-kept garden that bears fruit regularly is the pride of any gardener. But in order to achieve this, you must initially work hard, taking into account all the features of planting and care.

The main part of each garden, as a rule, is made up of apple trees. they are distinguished by their unpretentiousness and good survival rate in almost any conditions.

Therefore, if you decide to plant an apple tree in the spring, the following detailed material on when and how to do it correctly so that the seedling quickly takes root will be useful to you.

Optimal planting times

Apple tree seedlings

An important aspect of the correct development of the fruit tree is the correctly selected planting time and a well-chosen place for planting the seedling. You can plant an apple tree in spring only if the air temperature is already confidently above zero and unexpected frosts are not expected.

The disembarkation is carried out even before the buds swell. Usually, the optimal time in the European part of our country is the beginning or the second decade of April. This time of spring is already quite warm, the snow, as a rule, has melted, and the seedlings will feel good in the soil that has receded after winter.

To accurately verify the safety of the seed and determine the degree of soil freezing, it is enough just to stick and dig up the soil several times on the site. If the shovel enters the soil easily and it is just as easy to turn it over, then the time for planting apple seedlings has come.

Timing can vary greatly depending on the region of planting. So in areas with an early onset of aridity, planting can begin in March or even February. And in regions where frosts last for a long time, not yielding to spring, on the contrary, the landing is postponed to May or even June.

It is important to understand that you need to plant an apple tree before biological processes begin in the tree.... As soon as sap flow and swelling of the kidneys begin, planting will become undesirable. If it is nevertheless carried out, the tree will adapt to the environment for a long time and may not yield for a long time.

All fruit trees are very fond of well-moisturized soil. This is another factor to look out for before landing. Do not wait for the moment when the soil will completely thaw and lose most of its moisture. The tree will perfectly take root in the ground saturated with snow melting.

Apple tree care

If you saw aphids on an apple tree, then treat the leaves with soapy water, adding 50 g to a bucket of water.
Don't let the weeds grow, pull them out.
If, when digging the earth, you added fertilizers, then it is not required to feed the tree for 2-3 years.
If when digging no fertilizers were added, then evenly spread over 1 m²: 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of potassium salt, 55 g of superphosphate and 3 kg of humus. After that, deepen them in the area of the trunk circle by 10 cm, it is not advised to dig deeper, as you will damage the roots. Farther from the trunk circle, fertilizers can be deepened by 20 cm.
Nutrients are poured in in the spring, before the buds begin to bloom, or in the fall after the apple tree has finished growing. They are introduced at a distance of up to 1.5 from the trunk. After 2-3 years fertilization is repeated.
Be sure to water your apple trees systematically.
If the apple tree is older than 3 years and the diameter of its crown is more than 3 m, then you need, stepping back 1.5 m from the trunk, dig a groove around the perimeter, making an embankment of earth on the outside to a height of 20 cm.It is required to pour 40 buckets of water into the ground so that the earth was 60 cm wet. Such watering is recommended to be done in a month.

IMPORTANT! If the diameter of the crown is 1-2 m, then dig a groove around the perimeter at this distance, pour 3-4 buckets of water into it. Then moisture will penetrate to a depth of 40 cm, which is required for a tree. Shallow soil around the tree before watering.

Significant dates of the lunar calendar - 2020

Annual apple seedlings

For many decades, the lunar calendar has made it possible for gardeners to accurately determine favorable days for planting a particular crop in their own area. In 2020, there are several periods for planting an apple tree. In April, this is the period from the 11th to the 17th and from the 21st to the 26th. However, every gardener understands that it is not always possible at the specified time to get to the summer cottage and plant. In this case, do not be upset, you can plant an apple tree in spring any day, the main thing is not to get on unfavorable days.

There are very few of them, and they are divided by month:

in March it is the 6th, 7th and 21st;
in April - 5th and 19th;
May 5 and 19 are also;
in June - 3, 4 and 17 numbers.

To get a healthy tree and a rich harvest in the future, you need to take into account these unfavorable days and not engage in planting during this period. On other days, planting is possible, and having completed it on dates favorable according to the lunar calendar, the gardener will receive a rich and healthy tree in the shortest possible time.

Features of planting seedlings in different types of soil and appropriate fertilizers

Standard pits for a regular apple tree should have a diameter of 1 m and a depth of 0.6 m.

TIP! If you have clay soil, make the holes wider and shallower. If you have sandy lands, then the hole is dug a little narrower and a little deeper.

Into clay soils

When preparation of the land for the year of placing seedlings in it scatter over an area of 1 m² - 15 kg of sawdust, 15 kg of humus, 0.5 kg of slaked lime. Add 50 kg of sand and 150 g of compound fertilizer. Next, deepen the fertilizer by digging the ground 0.5 m deep.

To improve soil structure sow siderates, do not let them form buds, mow them before this time, then when digging, embed them in the ground.

When you dig a hole, then at its bottom drainage from twigs or stones.

In peat

If you have high-moor peat, then the acidity of the earth is increased and you need to pour lime into the ground: dolomite flour, chalk.

To enrich the soil on 1 m² of soil, pour 2 kg of ready-made compost, 150 g of superphosphate, 200 g of phosphate rock, 50 g of potassium sulfate.
Then cover the fertilizer to a depth of 25 cm by digging up the soil.
Plant apple trees after you have grown green manure in this area and you have mowed them.

Into sandy soils

Prepare the soil one year before planting seedlings, scatter over an area of 1 m² - 15 kg of humus, 0.5-0.7 kg of lime, 70 g of superphosphate and 40 g of potassium. Add 50 kg of clay per 1 m² to such soil. Add fertilizer to a depth of 50 cm.

Also sow siderates, mow them and you can start planting seedlings.

Pour clay or silt at the bottom of the pit.

Correct planting in sandy soil.

Advantages and disadvantages of spring planting

Planting an apple tree in spring

The apple tree is considered a fairly frost-resistant crop. Of course, it all depends on the variety and region of growth, but for the most part, apple trees winter well and do not cause trouble for the gardener. Experienced agronomists prefer to plant apple seedlings in the fall.Usually this is the second half of September and October. It is important to guess the timing so that frost does not occur earlier than a month after planting a young tree.

If the gardener is late with the autumn planting and frosts are already coming, it is better to dig in the plant in the garden so that it overwinters successfully. An alternative wintering option can be considered planting a seedling in a container, followed by placing it in a basement. There, the tree overwinters well until spring, and subsequently can be transplanted into open ground.

But, despite the prerogative of autumn planting, spring planting has its own advantages:

throughout the season, the gardener can actively monitor and care for a young tree, preventing the development of diseases, pests and other negative factors in time;
thawed snows going into the soil feed the planting site well, the tree adapts faster to the environment and begins to grow actively;
the preparation of the planting hole can be carried out in the fall, and by the spring period all the nutrients and soil laid down will settle, eliminating the risk of burying the root collar of the seedling.

In general, for all crops on the site, spring planting is good in that the plant can grow significantly stronger over the season and is well prepared for wintering. Acclimation in the place of growth occurs much faster than in fruit trees planted in autumn.

Closed-root varieties can be planted at any convenient time from April to October. But experts do not recommend planting in July, as well as on those summer days when it is very hot. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on the time of boarding.

Planting apple tree seedlings in spring also has significant drawbacks. So a young tree can be seriously damaged by late frosts. That is why it can be difficult to accurately determine the correct landing time. You need to be in time at the moment when the earth has not yet completely thawed and has not dried up, but at the same time do not wait for the sap flow and the first buds to bloom. Late planting is also undesirable, the plant will not take root well and will be difficult to adapt to the terrain.

How to preserve seedlings before planting in the ground?

Important! Buy only those seedlings that have been grown in your area.

If you have already purchased seedlings, but it is not yet time to plant them, then you must take the conservation of seedlings responsibly. The roots of a crop can quickly absorb water and also evaporate it.

The root system will dry out in the open air after a while, because of this it is required wrap with a damp cloth or spray with water, and then wrap layers of polyethylene around it.

Store young apple trees in a cool room. Before planting, the roots can be placed in a bucket of water for several hours. But it is impossible to store apple trees with roots lowered into the water for a long time, otherwise they will rot.

How to plant an apple tree in spring?

Apple tree planting scheme

Experts have long ago released a step-by-step guide to the public on how to plant an apple tree correctly, and most importantly, on time in the spring. To get a healthy and strong tree that yields tasty fruits in sufficient quantities, you need to follow this guide and follow all the requirements of the basic rules for caring for an apple tree.

Otherwise, if the basic recommendations are violated, the tree can adapt for a long time in a new place or even die in an unusual environment. After planting, the basic principles of proper care should also be followed and various negative external influences should be detected in time.

Choosing the right seedling

Columnar apple seedlings

Planting an apple tree correctly in spring is only half the battle. First you need to choose the right seedling, which should later become a legal inhabitant of the garden.In order not to be mistaken with the choice, you need to give preference to varietal apple trees that are most adapted to a specific growing region. For example, in the European part of Russia, columnar apple trees showed themselves well. They are resistant to frost and tolerate all weather anomalies well, while giving a large harvest of tasty and juicy apples during the season.

Competently selected varieties will allow you to get a rich harvest of fruit crops with minimal effort to care and grow the plant. Better to buy seed in the fall. At this time, there is a large selection of trees in specialized markets, prices are lower than spring ones. You can buy a tree in advance, and plant it only in the spring, only digging in on the site for the winter so that the apple tree overwinters.

Experienced gardeners advise you to pay attention to the following criteria when buying:

• the seedling should be one or two years old, since it is these trees that adapt most quickly to the place of growth, and are also resistant to temperature extremes and various kinds of pests and viruses; • live buds must be present on a young tree; • the root system must be clean, free of extraneous growths and neoplasms, and must not be damaged; • the trunk and bark on it must be intact, also without damage; • signs of the beginning of the growing season indicate an unsuitable seedling for planting; • the height of the sprout should not exceed one and a half meters, but it should also not be too low, at least 1.2 m, too high or low seedling indicates violations of the rules of plant care.

An overly tall seedling often indicates an attempt by breeders to grow faster and benefit from the sale of the trees.... In this case, an excessive amount of dressing is applied, which leads to disturbances in the growth of the apple tree. Such a plant is not suitable for planting in the garden.

Choosing a place in the garden

In order to properly plant an apple tree in spring, you need to take care of the place of its further growth in advance, even in the fall. For most varieties, open areas of the garden are suitable, where the sun is constantly present. Sometimes partial shade is allowed, but still the apple tree is a light-loving culture. In particular, the amount of harvest in the future depends on ultraviolet radiation.

From autumn, in order to plant an apple tree in spring, a planting hole is prepared. Dig it up in the right size and cover it with useful components and soil. For the rest of autumn and winter, the soil will settle down and the roots of the seedling will not be damaged after planting.

It should be borne in mind that the tree should not be in the immediate vicinity of large spreading trees. Even a columnar apple tree will feel uncomfortable in such a neighborhood, which will inevitably lead to a decrease in yield.

Groundwater layout

An important point is the location of groundwater in the area where it is planned to plant the apple tree. If their height is no more than 1.2 m from the surface of the earth, after a couple of seasons the root system will be destroyed and the tree will die. This point should be especially taken into account when planting seedlings in the spring.

Before planting, you should visualize the future apple orchard on a piece of paper, taking into account the variety and growth of the crown of trees. This will help to choose the optimal distance between the seedlings and extend the life of the plant.

There are 2 accommodation options here:

undersized and classic apple trees (the distance between the seedlings is at least 3.5 m, and if the trees are planted in a row - at least 5 m);
tall and tall varieties (at least 4 m in a chaotic arrangement and at least 6 m in rows).

If apple trees are planted as single trees, the distance from shrubs and other fruit crops in the garden should be at least 4 meters. It is better to take the maximum distance between plantings so that they do not interfere with each other and give a good harvest.

Soil quality

Apple trees are not too whimsical in terms of soil quality and composition. They may well grow both in black soil and on a forest cannon. But at the same time, the acidity of the earth is important during the planting of new trees. The soil should have a neutral or slightly acidic Ph level... The composition also matters, it should be light mechanical.

Heavy soils with high Ph levels lead to stunted growth and adaptation of the fruit tree. The negativeness of such a habitat is expressed in the weakened immunity of the tree, as well as in irregular harvests.

What varieties are better to take

For growing outdoors, it is better to take zoned varieties (bred for a particular region), since they take root more easily and get sick less. When choosing, you also need to take into account the ripening period of the fruits and the storage time. There are such varieties according to this criterion:

Summer. Ripen from July to August, stored for no more than two weeks. Popular types: Medunitsa and White filling. It is most advisable to grow them for sale or for harvesting in the form of jams and preserves.
Autumn. Ripen by early September. Stored for up to two months. Representatives of these varieties are Melba and Koreyanka.
Winter. Ripen at the end of September, stored for up to six months. Antonovka is a popular variety.

If you are going to grow seedlings in a greenhouse, you can choose a tree of any type, focusing on the taste of the fruit. To purchase such apple trees, be sure to contact specialized farms.

Blank

Seedlings of various varieties can be purchased several months before the start of the gardening season. In order for them to survive before being transplanted to open ground, they must be properly stored. Plants need to provide normal moisture and nutrition for the roots, sufficient sunlight, regular ventilation. At the same time, it is necessary to protect plants from sunburn, as well as temperature extremes; they should not be left in drafts. This link will tell you about the characteristics and description of the Minx cherry variety.

Care must be taken to ensure that the stem and roots are not damaged during storage.

Otherwise, the tree may die before planting in a permanent place of growth.

How to store it correctly

Before planting, the plant is best placed in a greenhouse, if this is not possible, it is recommended to keep it on the balcony. So that the roots of the seedling are not sent, they need to be immersed in a small earthen lump and wrapped with a rag or net, as well as polyethylene with holes for ventilation. If the plants begin to grow actively, it is recommended to transplant them into a small bucket of earth and sprinkle with soil.

If the first leaves or flowers appear on the tree, it is better to cut them off. This will allow the branches to develop better and will not take away the strength from the plant, which is usually not enough before immersion in full-fledged soil.

How to care for

To prevent the plant from dying during storage, it is necessary to monitor the condition of its roots. You should regularly check the moisture content of the soil, if necessary, moisten it with settled water.

It is better to remove the factory packaging from the roots, it is more rational to replace it with a damp cloth that allows air to pass through well.

One month before transplanting on the ground, you can take the plants outside for a short time so that they get used to the ambient temperature.

If possible, a seedling should be dug in with a small amount of soil in a garden area that is not flooded with melt water. This will make it better suited to your climate.

Step-by-step recommendations for planting an apple tree in spring

To plant a seedling qualitatively, it is necessary to prepare a planting pit and a nutritious substrate. Correct implementation of these actions guarantees good adaptation of the seedling on the site and its rapid growth, which means a good harvest in the coming seasons.

Seat preparation

Preparing a hole for planting an apple tree

It is optimal to prepare the hole in the fall, but if it was not possible to do this in advance, you can prepare it a couple of weeks before planting. The hole should be 20 cm further deeper and be the same distance wider than the root system of the seedling.

You can rely on the standard sizes that apply to each type of apple tree:

for tall varieties that exceed the 2-meter mark in height, dig a hole 70x100 cm;
for medium-sized varieties (from 1 to 2 m) - a pit with dimensions of 60x100 cm;
for low-growing trees, less than 1.2 m - 50x90 cm.

After the hole is dug, it must be filled with a nutrient mixture. It is prepared from the ingredients necessary for the normal growth of the tree. A stable peg is driven in near the planting pit, which will become a reliable support for the planted seedling.

With clay soil on the site, drainage of the soil should be carried out. This can be done with broken bricks, which are laid on the bottom of the pit, and then a nutritious substrate is laid out on the drain.

Mixing the nutrient substrate

Substrate preparation

A young tree planted should immediately have all the nutrients necessary for rapid growth. To do this, prepare a nutrient mixture and lay it in the planting pit.

The mixture includes the following components:

peat - 1 part;
rotted humus - 1 part;
compost - 1 part;
wood ash - 50 g;
superphosphate - 50 g.

All ingredients must be thoroughly mixed so that the root system does not get burns from mineral components. It is better if they are laid in the lower part of the hole so as not to come into direct contact with the roots of the seedling. It is important to abandon the introduction of nitrogen fertilization during planting. It lengthens the adaptation period of the plant and negatively affects the survival rate of the tree at the planting site.

The main stages of planting a seedling

Watering the planted seedling

Before direct planting in open ground, the seedling is placed in water so that the tree is saturated with moisture and prepared. Further, the gardener is advised to act according to the scheme:

pour a bucket of clean water into the planting hole and wait until the moisture is absorbed (1 bucket is poured out per 1 seedling);
inspect the roots for imperfections and damage, if necessary, cut off the damaged parts with pruning shears;
put the seedling into the groove, having previously straightened the roots, the root collar should rise above the soil surface by at least 5 cm; fill the hole with soil, occasionally shaking the seedling, this will help fill in the voids, slightly crush the earth at the base of the trunk;
tie the young tree to the base, setting it in the desired position; watering (at least 2 - 3 buckets of clean water should go away);
mulch the soil around the trunk with dry sawdust or spruce branches, this will eliminate the rapid evaporation of moisture and drying out of the root system at the surface.

Columnar apple trees are planted according to the standard scheme. The only difference is the distance between the trees. They do not take up much space and do not grow too tall, so the distance between crops does not exceed 1.5 meters.

Further care advice from experienced gardeners

Planting honeysuckle in spring with seedlings

A young apple tree needs to be provided with comprehensive care if the gardener wants to have good yields in the future.

Watering

Apple trees planted in the current season are watered for the first time 2 weeks after planting. The second watering is carried out in a month, and the third - during the period of leaf fall. The amount of moisture introduced depends on the weather conditions. Usually this is 4-6 buckets per tree. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the presence or absence of rain, the composition of the soil.

In subsequent seasons, apple trees are watered according to a slightly different schedule:

the first watering is carried out on the eve of flowering;
the second time the earth is moistened when excess ovaries crumble;
for the third time, watering is carried out during the period of fruit filling;
the fourth watering is carried out after leaf fall.

Watering the apple tree

On medium-density soils, 50-60 liters of water are poured under a tree at a time, in clay soil the volume of moisture is reduced by 15-20%, and on sandy loam or peat soil, on the contrary, it is increased by 20%. During a drought period, the apple tree is additionally moistened by watering twice a month.

Top dressing

In order for a young tree to quickly build up its vegetative mass, the first 2 years it is fertilized in early spring. For the first time, you can feed the apple tree with mullein infusion. It is also permissible to use compost or humus as a source of nitrogen (1 bucket).

In May and June, it is recommended to carry out foliar dressing with mineral fertilizers for fruit trees. For grown apple trees, autumn feeding with phosphorus and potassium salts is also recommended. Fertilizer is scattered in the trunk circle and dug up.

Important! Mature trees should not be overfed with nitrogen, as this will negatively affect the keeping quality of the fruit and the ability of the apple tree to tolerate frost.

If we are talking about an apple tree just beginning to bear fruit, urea feeding will be useful for it. The same fertilizer can be applied in those years when there is a weak flowering. 35 g of fertilizer is dissolved in 10 liters of water and sprayed with foliage. It is recommended to carry out the treatment twice: immediately after the petals fall and after a month.

Mulching

Mulching the apple tree trunk circle reduces the jumps in soil temperature near the suction roots, supplies the soil with humus, reduces water evaporation, helps to increase beneficial soil bacteria, and prevents a dense crust from forming on the surface of the earth after moistening.

Planting a seedling

Low-lying peat, compost, rotted manure, husk from seeds are perfect as mulch. The use of needles, spruce and pine sawdust, high moor peat, straw and chaff is unacceptable, since these materials contribute to an increase in soil acidity.

Protection against diseases and pests

Chemicals are used only for control, but not for prevention. This is due to their harmful effects on beneficial insects. As a prophylaxis for diseases and pests, it is necessary to remove and burn fallen leaves and dry apples in a timely manner. Treatment of branches with a solution of soda ash will help from spores of fungi and bark beetle.

Apple tree flowers

As soon as the young leaves appear, the apple tree can be treated with Bordeaux liquid. The appeared mite is destroyed with actellik, the flower beetle - with actara, gnawing and sucking parasites - with entobacterin or dendrobacillin. After flowering, in order not to apply "chemistry", it is recommended to install trapping belts on the tree. In wet weather, the prevention of fungal diseases is carried out by treatment with phytosporin.

Important! The trunk of young apple trees must also be whitened in early spring, this measure will protect the bark from sunburn.

Planting an apple tree in the spring in the Urals

The Urals have an ambiguous climate in different regions of the region. Therefore, here it is necessary to take into account the climatic conditions in accordance with which certain varieties are selected. If the weather allows planting fruit trees in early spring, in April and early May, frost-resistant varieties can be preferred, as in the European part of the country.

In the northern regions of the region, where the temperature is unstable in spring, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the choice of seedlings. Planting apple trees in the spring in the Urals in conditions of long frosts is carried out mainly in mid or late May, when the danger of late frosts is minimal or excluded.

How far are the seedlings planted?

Vigorous apple trees plant so that there is an indent of 4-5 m between the trees, and 6 m between the rows. If you plant low-growing varieties, then between the rows - 4.5-5 m, and between the apple trees - 3-3.5 m.

Dwarf apple trees plant 2.5 m between them, 4 m between rows.

Columnar apple trees, as a rule, they are planted in 1 row: dwarf after 0.6 m, semi-dwarf and vigorous after 1.2 m.

The distance between crops on the site.

Planting an apple tree in spring in Siberia

Siberia is famous for its frosts, which last most of the year. Saplings are planted here not earlier than mid-May, when the temperature is steadily above zero and night frosts do not visit the gardeners' plots.

Planting apple trees in spring in Siberia is carried out according to the same scheme as in the European part of Russia. The main thing is to choose apple trees that are resistant to the whims of nature, the most frost-resistant and adapted to Siberian conditions.

The choice of planting material

The first thing you need to pay attention to is the apple variety. There is no universal variety for all regions. The soil composition and climatic conditions are different everywhere. But breeders do not sit idle and successfully develop new varieties. We recommend choosing only regionalized varieties that are suitable for your growing region. Or any other varieties, if you are sure of their survival rate.

Often novice gardeners do not have their own planting material and are forced to turn to third-party sellers. In this case, a rather difficult question arises - how to choose an apple tree seedling correctly?

Attention! We strongly discourage buying seedlings from outsiders or spontaneous markets. There you will not be able to get guarantees about what exactly you are buying. The tree may be diseased or of a completely different species. Shopping should be done at trusted gardening stores.

When choosing a seedling, you should carefully study its external condition. You can choose seedlings based on the following recommendations:

The bark on the trunk must not be damaged.
The height of the seedling for spring planting should be about 150 cm.
The rhizome of the tree must have at least three main branches, each 30 cm long.
There should be several developed branches on the trunk (at least 3 x 50 cm).
The cut points must be fresh.
There should be no signs of parasite or disease infestation.

When choosing, preference should be given not to the largest representatives, but to those who have a good root system.

Preparing for winter

With the onset of winter, the thickness of the mulch near the trunk of the seedling must be increased to 10-15 cm. This is necessary to protect the root system of the apple tree from frost. After the snow falls, it is necessary to form snowdrifts from it around the trunk - this measure will allow the tree to withstand extreme drops in temperature. To protect it from rodents, you can cover the seedling with spruce branches so that the needles are pointing down.

In cold regions of the country, it is advisable to take care of additional protection of young apple trees - a frame is formed around the tree, on which burlap is thrown. From above, it is covered with dry leaves. With the onset of warmer spring days, such protection must be removed.

In many ways, the success of apple seedlings survival during autumn planting depends not on the climatic conditions of a particular zone, but on the correct actions of the gardener. Subject to the norms of planting and subsequent care, young trees take root without any problems in most regions of the country.

When to dig a hole for an apple tree

In the literature, you can find a recommendation to prepare planting holes in the fall - for spring planting and in the spring - for autumn planting. It is clear that an ordinary summer resident does not always plan his work so clearly, moreover, there is always a chance to buy an “unplanned” seedling during the planting season. If necessary, the planting pit can be prepared urgently - right before planting the seedling, but it is still advisable to do this a little in advance, at least a month, and only then go for the planting material.

When to dig a hole for an apple tree

When and where to plant

Dreaming of a rich harvest of ripe juicy apples, amateur gardeners try to purchase seedlings of various varieties of fruit trees, but they do not always choose the right time to start work.

They sometimes forget that first of all focus on the climatic conditions in the region, taking into account the humidity of the air and soil, temperature drops and other important points.

Before you buy young trees for planting in a nursery or from more experienced gardeners, remember that the event will be successful only if the seedlings fall into the ground when the sap is flowing:

has not started yet;
has already stopped.

This means that planting is possible at the very beginning of spring or in the last days of autumn. A more specific choice is made taking into account the peculiarities of the area in which the plot with the garden is located.

An apple tree planted in the fall should have time to take root before the air temperature drops below zero. Accordingly, it is better to plant in late October or mid-November. When planning a planting for the fall, you should prepare in advance the holes into which the seedlings will be lowered.

To this end:

They dig a certain number of holes at a distance of 2-3 meters from one another. The depth of each hole is at least 60-70 cm, and the width is 1-1.2 m.
The topsoil is mixed with humus or peat.
The lower one is laid out in the form of a border along the edge of the pit.
The middle of the bottom of the hole is determined and a peg is driven into this place, one end of which is pre-sharpened and burned (this will help prevent premature decay of the wood). It will rise 15-20 cm above the bottom of the pit.
Having installed a peg, they cover it with earth mixed with fertilizers or humus. A mound 35-40 cm high should form in the middle of the pit. By the time the apple tree is planted, the soil will settle.

All work is carried out several months before planting the seedlings, but in cases where the decision is made suddenly, it takes at least 2-3 weeks to prepare the chosen place.

Despite the possible heavy rains, water should not accumulate at the bottom of the pit. If this happens, you will have to wait until the moisture is completely absorbed into the soil and only then proceed to further work. August is the best month to prepare the site for the autumn planting of apple trees. Saplings are brought after leaf fall. The absence of foliage is a guarantee that all the forces of the plant will be directed to the formation and development of the root system.

When planning the planting of fruit trees in the spring, you should take care of the preparation of the place for the formation of holes at the end of autumn. When planting apple trees in spring, do not wait until the ground has completely thawed. It is enough that the air temperature rises above zero. Otherwise, biological processes can begin in the tree trunk, sap flow is activated, and the plant will not be able to quickly adapt to new conditions.

Spring is a time of the year when not only the weather and air temperature often change. The moisture content of the soil is increased, and the high level of groundwater causes a delay in planting.

Such conditions cannot be called favorable in areas with clay soil. The roots of a young plant can rot and the tree will die. However, if a pit is made at this time, then summer (its first month is June) will be the most successful time for planning a garden.

Apple trees are planted in summer in places with high humidity, where there is a threat of late frosts.

The abundance of moisture will prevent the plant from dying from drought.
Planting during the warm season will help speed up adaptation and the rooting process.

Trees need abundant watering so they can withstand drought and continue to grow and develop.
The frequency of watering should not be less than 2 times a week, and during a drought period, seedlings are watered every other day, constantly loosening the soil, trying to provide high-quality oxygen access to the roots.Spring planting of apple trees is popular in the northwestern regions, where the air temperature is not so high in summer, and do not shade the young trees and additionally spray the branches, trying to moisturize them and prevent them from dying from heat and moisture loss through the leaf surface.

Therefore, apple trees are most often planted in the fall, shortly before the onset of cold weather. At this time, sap flow stops, and all growth processes slow down significantly (attenuate). In the spring, the tree will begin to grow rapidly, as its roots will become much stronger, and the plant itself will have time to adapt to new conditions for it.

Growing seedlings in the cold season saves the plant from the need to spend energy on the growth of foliage and additional shoots. But the root system is actively growing, by the spring the tree will get strong enough and will be ready to form branches.

The advantage of autumn planting is that the choice of planting material these days is much richer and more varied.

Many modern gardeners, professionals and amateurs, install collapsible booths on the territory of the garden intended for planting apple trees, which serve as a temporary shelter for fragile plants. Here it is easier to monitor the growth and development of plants, to identify various problems in time or to detect pests and treat them.

Such apple trees:

adapt faster;
shoots and foliage are rapidly gaining;
have strong roots;
more easily tolerate temperature extremes and lack of moisture.

The gardener gets the opportunity to purchase both frost-resistant varieties and those that are not afraid of drought. In an area where there is a threat of late frosts in the spring, they equip the territory and plant plants in closed ground in order to provide the seedlings with full access to fresh air and light, to create the desired temperature regime. Such technology is a way to monitor the growth and development of apple trees, to maintain appropriate conditions (humidity and temperature).

Nutrient Blend

There is no need to prove that planting an apple tree in fertile soil saturated with micro-substances will bring a good result. Regardless of whether you are going to plant an apple tree on clay, peat, sand, black soil or loam, it is very important to plant the tree in the correct soil. You can prepare it yourself. Typically, for one tree, you will need to prepare the following nutrient mixture:

2 buckets of old humus or compost;
several buckets of peat crumb;
1 kg of superphosphate;
wood ash.

Most often, half of the pit is filled with such a mixture. The rest is that fertile soil and subsoil that we left behind when we dug the hole in advance. Mix the mixture with our soil and fill the hole.

It happens that instead of ash they put 150 grams of potassium sulfate or 100 grams of potassium chloride.

Nothing bad will happen if you do not have the specified chemical fertilizers at hand. An apple tree will grow well with organic fertilizers alone, such as humus or compost. Fertilizers with nitrogen are usually not added to the filling mixture due to the fact that they impair the survival rate of the apple tree. This also applies to lime, which is best avoided when planting an apple tree.

It is also important to know the composition of the soil where you are going to plant the tree. If it is clay or loam, then you can use special purchased soils or plant an apple tree with the soil that was in the nursery (sometimes you can find seedlings with soil).

Caution: Do not add fresh manure, especially chicken manure, to the nutrient mixture. It is poison for the root system of the tree. The fact is that, falling into the bottom of the pit with a low oxygen content, it begins to decompose weakly and release ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. These substances poison the root system of the apple tree.

If you are planting a seedling on sandy soil, you can dilute it with loamy soil with a layer of about 10 cm.This will reduce the permeability of the apple tree and improve the growth of the apple tree.In sandy soil, magnesium is often lacking. Therefore, it can be used as a fertilizer on a permanent basis.

The planting hole after planting and tamping the earth should be about 20 cm above ground level. This is done because the earth shrinks over time and even a depression forms around the tree. Another important nuance: the location of the neck. She is:

Should be above the ground.
South facing.
Do not be damaged.

Otherwise, rotting of the tree or its death may occur, if, for example, a hare will eat a lot of bark in winter, or the neck will be hidden far into the ground.

Choosing a landing site

In order for apple trees to grow well and delight with their harvest, you need to take care of the place of their growth in advance. Well-lit, low-blown areas are suitable for this. It is recommended to avoid the southern parts of the garden. The absence of wind will have a positive effect on pollination and plants and, as a result, the amount of the crop.

It is worth paying special attention to the soil. You should study the features of the area in advance. It is not advisable to plant apple trees in places with a close occurrence of groundwater. They can start washing and destroying the root system of trees. The depth of the groundwater must be at least 2 meters.

Soil composition is also important. The most recommended soil compositions are light and fertile, as well as loam. Clay and heavy compounds poorly conduct water, which can cause significant damage to the plant.

On soils with a high salt content, apple trees will not grow. It is necessary to carry out gypsum - adding gypsum to the soil to reduce the sodium content. This procedure is carried out in advance.

Soil with a high acidity level negatively affects its nutrient content. A neutral pH is recommended. To neutralize the soil, an agrotechnical technique is used, such as liming - adding calcite, slaked lime, limestone and other calcareous compounds to the soil.

Apple nutrition and soil: useful tips

There are many nuances when and how it is better to plant a plant than fertilize, etc. Here are some gardening secrets:

potash fertilizers can be replaced with ash from burnt trees, which contains a sufficient amount of this element. When applied, the soil will be healthier and need less healing;
the amount of feeding for apple trees must be calculated based on the estimated area of the projection of their crown. For example, 1 square meter of crown projection requires a bucket of manure or bird droppings;
excess manure, this is especially true for clay soil, is fraught with plant combustion;
under the apple tree in the fall, you do not need to make a lot of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. It is better to do with phosphate and potassium species;
all potash fertilizers, including organic ones, act more slowly than nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers. Therefore, it is better to bring them in in the fall, so that the plant will absorb the most convenient form for this element;
burnt buckwheat husk can become potash fertilizer;
The best manure is horse manure, followed by pork. The most common one is that cow manure is significantly inferior in quality to all the specified types of manure, including bird droppings;
sunflower husk improves the composition of clay soil and can serve as a good compost;
it is more effective to add various microbiological preparations used for planting apple trees not to the pit itself, but to compost or humus;
the fertility of sandy soils increases the sowing of seradella green manure. It grows well in such conditions and does not require watering;
when filling the planting hole, do not forget that the most nutritious soil should be closer to the root;
when choosing a seedling, pay attention to the number of "hairs" on the root system. The more of them, the higher the likelihood that the apple tree will be well accepted.

These are not all tips for preparing a pit for planting an apple tree.Gardeners from different regions know their secrets, proven over the years. Using them, you can grow a wonderful apple at home.

Additional recommendations

By completing the basic steps for planting seedlings, you will provide them with good survival and rapid development. And the following recommendations will allow you to consolidate your success and avoid the most common mistakes made by novice gardeners:

The most preferred arrangement of trees is in the southwestern or southeastern part of the site.
When choosing a place for apple trees, consider the size of the root system and the presence of underground utilities. They must go deeper than 3 meters or be damaged by roots. If they are located higher, then you should choose a different place for planting trees.
Apple trees grow well in apple trees. They should not be planted next to other fruit trees.
Fresh manure and compost can damage the roots of the seedlings and is also poorly absorbed by the plants. Therefore, it is used as a fertilizer only in rotted or liquid form.
Some gardeners fix the shape of the seedling with not one, but three guide stakes at once. They are placed at an equal distance from each other, and each of them is tied to a seedling with a figure eight separately. This approach will allow you to maintain the correct direction of growth under any conditions.

As you can see above, planting seedlings in spring will not be very difficult if you know all the features of the process. And our step-by-step photo guide on how to plant an apple tree in spring will help you complete all the steps quickly and correctly. Also, don't forget to follow the recommendations.

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How to grow an apple tree from a seed at home

Once you have eaten a delicious and beautiful apple, you decided to grow the same variety. Is it possible to grow a normal fruit tree from a seed at home? Of course, growing an apple tree from a seed is not at all difficult.

Remove the seed from the apple and place it in a small container with coconut substrate. The substrate is pre-poured with boiling water and wait until it swells and cools down. The seeds are planted at a distance of 1 cm and at the same depth.

Close the container with a lid and place in the refrigerator (but not in the freezer), check once a month. This is seed stratification.
After about 150 days, the seedlings dive into 200-gram plastic jars, for example, from sour cream. At the bottom of the jar, make drainage holes, fill with purchased nutrient soil or fertile soil from the garden. Banks are put on a tray and put away in a warm place. When picking, remove the skin from the seed, if possible, it further slows down the growth of the plant.

A tray with seedlings is placed under a phytolamp. Experienced gardeners advise keeping the seedlings at home for 1 year, then replanting them to a permanent place in the garden.