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Winter is a critical time for many fruit crops, especially when it comes to a young, immature seedling and a region with harsh climatic conditions. However, the middle lane, as well as the central regions of Our Country, can become unfavorable for the columnar apple tree, especially if the wrong approach is chosen to shelter them for the winter.
The most effective method for this is to initially adhere to the correct agricultural practices, creating such growing conditions for the apple tree under which it will receive the maximum of what it needs not only in winter, but also in the warm season. This applies to both the nutrient application system and preventive measures to combat diseases and pests of the apple tree, as well as soil and crown care.
Columnar apple trees differ from other varieties of these fruit trees by the special structure of the aerial part, thanks to which they receive unconditional love and reverence from gardeners around the world. Such apple trees have one point of growth, located at the top of the central conductor, while they do not give side shoots, do not branch, thereby taking up less space in the garden, which is especially important for intensive gardening and saving space in a private garden.
Damage to the main shoot in winter can lead to fatal consequences, up to the complete death of the plant, which is why it is so important to understand how to organize decent care for a columnar apple tree in winter.
When should you start preparing for winter?
It is very important to choose the right moment when it is worth covering the apple tree. Carrying out activities at too early a time, when the negative temperature has not finally been established and there is a possibility of heat returning, can lead to the decay of the root system of the plant, as well as to the resumption of active growth of the apple tree.
This almost always leads to its death in winter, since the newly formed areas of the shoot of the columnar apple tree will be too weak to endure the coming winter.
Apple trees for the winter need to be covered only when the cold has finally set in, leading to a slowdown in sap flow, and, accordingly, the cessation of the active growth of the tree.
I would like to emphasize that she is able to endure a couple of days with low temperatures without any serious consequences, so you should make sure that the heat time is over before you start covering.
How to properly cover a columnar apple tree
Unlike other varieties of this fruit crop, the columnar apple tree must be covered, protecting it from frost for the first 5-6 years, then it will become more adapted to growing conditions, more powerful and strong.
Then these measures, first of all, will be necessary to preserve the integrity of the trunk of the apple tree, which may be subject to rodent attacks. The damage caused by these pests in winter can be very large, so mechanical means used to protect against frost can be doubly useful.
The main stages of preparing a columnar apple tree for harsh winters can be summarized in the following key points:
- After the onset of frost, it is necessary to remove all leaves that have not fallen from the apple tree tree. This must be done because the litter under the snow overheats and can serve as a source of fungal diseases. One small pathogen breeding site can destroy an entire plant, especially if there are thaws during the winter.
- The organization of the shelter of the root circle: it is especially important for young tender seedlings of the columnar apple tree, the root system of which is located close to the topsoil and is exposed to frost. As a covering material, you can use agrotex, spunbond, which are attached to the trunk with cloth tapes for fidelity and strength. Alternatively, spruce branches and mulch are sometimes used; this is a lightweight covering material that is at hand at any moment. If apple trees are grown in cold regions with harsh winters with little snow, the preparation of the root system begins from the moment the seedling is planted: it is located in the planting trench at an angle to the sun. Growing in cold areas, where winter is characterized by a large amount of snow, has its own plus: the snow cover can be used to cover the root zone, raking it under the apple tree.
- Protection of the aerial part of a columnar tree: in order to preserve the top and prevent its freezing, which leads to a distortion of the shape of such an apple tree, it is wrapped with rags or special covering material.
Columnar apple trees have one growth point in height, on the central shoot. Morphologically, they do not have side shoots, which makes them unique and of particular value to gardeners, so its preservation is of fundamental importance.
In the photo you can see what happens when it is damaged: the apple tree does not die, but its shape changes significantly in the future.
It should be especially noted that in regions where winters are accompanied not only by severe frosts, but also by cold gusty winds, it is not recommended to plant seedlings of columnar apple trees in the fall. Young trees do not have time to get stronger and may die, even if the gardener knows exactly how to properly cover the apple tree for the winter.
To do this, remove the wet melted snow, slightly raise the covering material and leave the plant in this state for several hours. Then the covering material is re-fixed.
It is better to do this during the daytime so that the columnar tree does not suffer from a sudden increase in temperature in the evening and at night.
Consequences of wrong shelter
The consequences of a bad winter can vary depending on which part of the plant has been exposed to frostbite, so you need to carefully study how to winterize it.
When the root system of a columnar apple tree freezes, in the spring there is a depression of the general condition of the plant, later bud break. If the apple tree is severely damaged, the plant is unlikely to be viable.
Freezing of the upper part of the columnar apple tree is, first of all, the loss of a growth point. The plant, feeling this, forms several side shoots, which should not be removed in any case, because pruning will be perceived by it as another push to stress, which will lead to a delay in fruit formation and an unhealthy state in general.
Spring for gardeners should begin with a visual inspection of the plantings, if the condition of a tree is of concern, you can start spraying with immunostimulants, but it is worth remembering that this should be done only when the threat of frost has already passed. In no case should you feed a tree that is under stress: this will not only not help, but can aggravate the situation.
Preparing a columnar apple tree for winter is a process that requires certain experience and skills, but even a beginner can do it quite well, having studied all the necessary theoretical materials.
Attention to your plantings, constant care, careful adherence to the algorithm of agricultural technology – these are the main keys to the successful cultivation of a columnar apple tree, which in return will delight you not only with abundant spring flowering, but also with delicious fruits.
