Autumn is a good time of the year to plant fruit trees in the southern regions and central Russia.
For the correct laying of the garden, it is important to know some features of the autumn planting
How to choose the right place for planting fruit trees?
The place for planting trees is chosen depending on the number of plants. If this is a couple of fruit seedlings, then the choice of planting location depends on the availability of free space in the garden or summer cottage. In the case of planning the laying of the garden, then its breakdown is approached in more detail.
Fruit trees grow better on the south side of a fertile soil plot without near groundwater. If the land in the selected area is stony with a low humus content, heavy in mechanical composition, often flooded, then this place must be prepared before planting. With increased soil acidity, lime, dolomite flour is added. To increase fertility, humus and mineral fertilizers will be required (their amount depends on the species of planted fruit tree).
You should not plant trees near a fence or building, as, gradually growing, a tree can damage the roof of a house or fence with branches. In addition, the foundation may begin to collapse from the roots. Also, trees cannot be planted next to communications, this can be done at a distance of at least 2 meters from them.
Selection of seedlings
For the autumn planting, you should choose the right seedlings, because they have to survive the winter. They should be healthy, matured, with a uniformly developed crown and pronounced skeletal branches without damage. Saplings at the age of 1-2 years are best taken root. It is also more rational to purchase zoned varieties of fruit trees, as they are more adapted to the climatic conditions of a particular locality than introduced ones.
Fruit tree seedlings can be sold with both open and closed root systems. In the first case, the roots are easy to inspect for health: they must be well developed, without signs of rot and root cancer (thickenings are visible on the roots). On the cut, the root should be white.
If seedlings are sold in containers or plastic bags, i.e. with a closed root system, then according to the state of the ground part, one can judge indirectly about the roots (if there are any problems with them on the bark, the tree will have peeling, swelling, cracks, etc. If the leaves are preserved on the seedling, then they will not should be lethargic, wrinkled.
Landing time
Having decided to plant trees in the fall, the gardener asks the question: when to plant? Landing dates will vary depending on:
• from the climatic conditions of a particular region (the seedling must have time to increase the volume of the root mass before the onset of frost - for this the plant should have at least 3-4 weeks in reserve);
• from the species and breed of the fruit tree — in stone fruits (cherry, plum, peach, cherry plum, etc.) new roots grow later than in seed trees (pear, apple, quince).
Regardless of the type of planted tree, it is planted only when it has left the growing season. In deciduous trees, this is determined at the end of leaf fall.
The optimal period for planting trees in autumn is the period from late September to mid November (depending on the region).
Tree planting
The sizes of planting pits for trees are made depending on the type of soil in the selected area and the type of seedling itself. So, on light sandy loam and loamy soils, pits are dug 0.4-0.5 m in diameter and 0.5-0.6 m deep, on heavy clay 0.8-1.0 m and 0.6-0.8 m respectively. On infertile plots, previously loose soil fertilized with rotted manure or compost is poured into each pit. The seedling is lowered into the pit, the roots are straightened (they should not bend to the top, twist), they are covered with earth and compacted (no voids should remain between the roots). Be sure to drive in a stake, which will serve as a support for the tree. //y-da4a.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/pravila-pri-osennej-posadke-plodovyx-sazhencev.jpg Planting a seedling
Important: the root neck of the seedling should remain 5-6 cm above the pit level. To do this correctly, put a stick or rail across the pit and determine the planting depth from it. After planting and watering, the earth will settle, and the root neck will just remain at ground level.
A stick across the planting hole will help to correctly determine the depth of planting of a seedling
After 1-2 days, after the shrinkage of the soil, they add soil to the hole and mulch with a layer of humus.
Often, inexperienced gardeners confuse the vaccination site and the root neck. How to distinguish them? Very simple: wipe a portion of the trunk with a wet rag or sponge where it goes to the root. The transition point is different in color - the root is brown, and the trunk is greenish. This is the root neck.
- If the purchased seedling has an open root system, then before planting, its roots are dipped with clay milk so that they remain wet.
- If the seedling was purchased in a nursery, then it must be planted so that its more developed part of the crown looked to the north, and weaker to the south. Then gradually his crown will become symmetrical.
When planning the planting of different types of trees, you need to consider what they will become in a few years: some of them will grow up to 5-7 m in height, and others no more than 2-3 m. The former will create a shadow for the undersized and depress them.
On a note! Grafted trees are planted so that the grafting site is above ground level. Otherwise, the stock will give a shoot, and instead of a cultivar a wild bird will grow. If the landing was done correctly, but the shoots appeared anyway, it must be removed.
If groundwater is located close to the site, then young trees are planted on the "hill". To do this, a mound with a diameter of 2 m and a height of 0.3 m is poured in the intended place. A few days later, after the soil has shrunk, a hole is dug in the mound and a tree is already planted in it.
Variants of planting fruit trees at different levels of groundwater
Planting trees in autumn is better in cloudy, calm weather early in the morning or after sunset. In this case, the soil moisture will evaporate less, and the seedling will not suffer from its lack.
Pros and cons of autumn planting
Autumn tree planting has its advantages and disadvantages.
First of all, wide selection and affordable price. Many gardeners and growers demonstrate the fruits of each cultivar sold so that the buyer can visualize what kind of crop he will receive from each cultivar.
Secondly, sufficient soil moisture and frequent rains save the gardener from the need to regularly water the plantings. This saves time and human strength.
Thirdly, Autumn seedlings have time to grow young roots and in the spring they will start growing 3 weeks earlier than spring seedlings.
Fourth in the southern regions, seedlings adapt more easily in autumn than in spring (when there is a high probability of a sharp onset of heat).
Minuses:
• Young trees have to survive the winter. Severe frosts, winds, snowfalls can destroy immature plants or break their branches;
• Rodents that gnaw on the bark are also dangerous. To protect against them the trunk of seedlings, they cover it at the base with spruce branches.
