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The apricot tree is one of the most popular fruit crops among summer residents. However, not all gardeners know how to properly prepare this plant for the cold. Today we will tell you how to cover an apricot for the winter so that you can harvest a good fruit crop next season.
General rules for autumn care
With the arrival of autumn, the preparation of the garden for winter begins. First of all, plants are examined for the presence of harmful insects and signs of fungal and bacterial infections. Trees and shrubs are treated with insecticides and fungicides. The trunk and skeletal branches of the apricot are covered with lime whitewash. Lime saves the plant from invasions of harmful insects and small rodents that feed on the bark of fruit crops in winter. At the next stage, water-charging irrigation is carried out, which allows you to moisten the soil to a depth of 80–100 cm.
The introduction of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers contributes to the enrichment of the soil with various nutrients and useful substances. Do not forget about mulching the soil in the trunk circle. A layer of mulch protects the fruit crop from temperature extremes, cold and glaciation, and also allows the root to absorb moisture and “breathe”.
Autumn is considered the ideal period for sanitary pruning. With the help of a garden pruner, all old and damaged branches are removed. Young shoots are shortened so that the plant can be covered for the winter. But on each branch there should be several buds.
Video “Apricot shelter technology for the winter”
From this video you will learn how the apricot tree is prepared for the upcoming cold weather.
How to warm an apricot
Many novice gardeners believe that there is a standard scheme for warming plants. However, this assumption is incorrect. Shelter technology depends on the varietal characteristics and age of the cultivated crop, as well as on the climatic features of the growing region. Next year’s yield indicators depend on the preparation of fruit and vegetable crops for wintering.
What materials to use
As mulch, you can use dry fallen leaves, sawdust, coniferous branches, shredded cardboard, straw and trimmings of covering material. To warm the fruit tree, lutrasil, agrofibre, polypropylene bags, burlap, thick cardboard, canvas and various non-woven materials are used. In severe frosts, the protective shelter is covered with dry earth or covered with spruce branches.
tree shelter technology
The algorithm for sheltering an apricot tree for the winter is as follows:
- Mulching the soil in the near-stem circle with a layer of sawdust, fallen leaves and thin branches.
- Wrapping the trunk and skeletal branches of the fruit crop with burlap or dense non-woven fabric. Fixing the material with twine.
- Apricot warming with covering material.
- Installation of additional protection in the form of a wooden box or slate sheets during prolonged snowfalls and severe frosts.
Features of insulation
Let’s figure out how to cover young and old apricots growing in different climatic zones.
For young and old trees
A newly planted seedling that has not yet had time to adapt to the new terrain and climate needs special care. In order for a young tree to cope with the upcoming cold weather and recover with the advent of spring, you need to carefully insulate it. In severe frosts, a protective structure is put on the tree, made of a metal or wooden frame with a polypropylene or canvas coating.
The protective structure must have holes for air circulation. The absence of such gaps leads to the accumulation of moisture inside, which is fraught with the appearance of fungus and mold on the tree.
Insulating fruit trees aged 4 years and older can not be so thorough. A layer of mulch in the near-stem circle and a protective coating of the tree trunk will be enough. But this apricot insulation technology is suitable for the Krasnodar Territory, Kuban, Crimea, Stavropol Territory and other regions of the country with warm winters.
In different regions
Winter in central Our Country, including in the Moscow region, is characterized by frequent temperature fluctuations. An unexpected thaw can be replaced by a sharp cold snap and severe frosts, which is detrimental to fruit crops. You can avoid the death of a fruit tree with the help of a properly selected shelter – a non-woven material of medium density is suitable.
In the Volga region, in the Urals and in Siberia, an adult apricot is cut to a height of 2–2,5 m, mulched with sawdust, coniferous branches and straw. The crown of the tree is covered with agrofiber or lutrasil.
Despite the harsh climate and cold winters in Siberia and the Urals, apricots can die with the arrival of spring heat. A sharp thaw is accompanied by an abundance of melt water. The root neck, which is always in the water, begins to rot. For this reason, it is recommended to plant an apricot on a hill.