How to plant a columnar apple tree in autumn

The columnar tree species, which appeared in the 60s of the last century as a result of a mutation of an ordinary apple tree, quickly gained popularity among gardeners. The absence of a spreading crown allows them to be used for small areas, while getting good yields. However, their care requires special attention. The correct planting of a columnar apple tree in spring and autumn is especially important.

Today there are about a hundred varieties of columnar apple trees, differing in size, taste, degree of endurance in relation to various climatic conditions. But how to plant a columnar apple tree?

Features of the new look

The columnar apple tree differs from the usual one, first of all, in its appearance:

• it does not have lateral branches forming a branched crown;
• it has a thicker trunk, densely covered with foliage and miniature twigs;
• for a columnar apple tree, the correct location and preservation of the growth point is important, otherwise the growth of the tree will stop;
• the first two years, side shoots form too many branches that require pruning.

Columnar apple trees have a number of advantages due to which they are widely used:

• due to their small size, harvesting does not cause any particular difficulties;
• having begun fruiting as early as 2 or 3 years after planting, they delight with a bountiful harvest for a decade and a half;
• the productivity of columnar apple trees is higher than that of ordinary ones – from an annual tree you can get up to 1 kg of juicy fruits, and an adult apple tree gives up to 12 kg;
• in the space occupied by an ordinary apple tree, you can plant up to a dozen columnar trees of different varieties;
• due to their unusual appearance, these trees perform an additional decorative function on the site.

Preparatory work before boarding

Healthy and productive columnar apple trees can be obtained if:

• purchased full-fledged seedlings;
• the right place for planting trees;
• the conditions and terms for planting columnar apple trees are observed.

Selection of the material

For planting columnar apple trees in autumn, seedlings of zoned varieties should be taken, whose endurance has already stood the test of time in this region. It is better to select them in specialized nurseries, whose employees will advise on the properties of each of the varieties of the columnar apple tree:

• annual seedlings will take root faster, without side branches – they usually have only a few buds;
• for seedlings, the phase of leaf fall should already be passed, the timing of which varies by region.

The completion of leaf fall for seedlings of columnar apple trees is one of the most important conditions for autumn planting, since only after this the process of preparing the tree for winter begins. At this time, the ground part is already resting, and the root system of the apple tree is increasing its volume – this process continues until the soil temperature steadily drops to +4 degrees. The optimal time for planting seedlings in the fall is 3 weeks before the onset of stable frosts, so you should not rush to purchase them.

When buying seedlings of columnar apple trees, it is best to ensure that their root system is covered during transportation to avoid drying out. If the roots of apple trees are open, you need to wrap them with a damp cloth, after checking the absence of dried or damaged parts – the roots should be elastic, alive. If the seedlings are not planted immediately, you can dig them in or place them in a container with wet sawdust – the main thing is that the roots of the seedlings do not dry out. Before planting a columnar apple tree, the roots can be placed in a stimulant solution overnight.

Tree planting site

Columnar apple trees grow well in open sunny areas with fertile soil – sandy and loamy soils are favorable for them. Trees have long taproots. Therefore, it is better to plant them in elevated places where there is no access to groundwater. Columnar apple trees do not tolerate waterlogging as a result of stagnant rainwater in the region of the root collar. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the outflow of excess moisture from the tree with the help of grooves. The area where apple trees grow must also be protected from gusts of wind, since it is possible to expose or even frostbite the roots of the tree.

Soil preparation

Columnar apple trees can be planted in spring and autumn. For the spring planting of seedlings, the soil is prepared in the fall. But most gardeners consider the autumn planting of a columnar type of apple trees to be preferable – the risk of flowering seedlings in the same spring will be excluded.

Preparatory work should be carried out 3-4 weeks before planting seedlings:

• the area intended for planting columnar varieties of apple trees must be thoroughly cleaned of debris and dug up to a depth of 2 shovel bayonets;
• planting holes should be prepared for seedlings measuring 0,9 m wide and the same depth;
• drive a stake up to 2 m high into the middle of each of them – it will serve as a support for the tree;
• between the holes there should be a gap of half a meter, and between rows – 1 m; when preparing holes for planting seedlings, the upper and lower layers of soil are placed separately – on both sides of the holes;
• drainage up to 20-25 cm high is laid out at the bottom of the pit – expanded clay, gravel, sand;
• mix the soil with fertilizers in the form of potassium and phosphorus salts, add compost, a glass of wood ash and pour half of the prepared mixture into the hole.

Planting seedlings

When planting columnar apple trees, it is worth considering the following recommendations:

• set the tree trunk vertically in the hole, the graft should be turned south;
• straighten the roots – they should be freely located without bending and trimming;
• evenly fill the hole up to half the volume;
• slightly compacting the soil around the seedling, it is necessary to pour half a bucket of settled water at room temperature into the hole;
• when all the water is absorbed, completely fill the hole with loose earth, leaving no voids;
• check the location of the root collar – it should be 2-3 cm above the ground, otherwise shoots from the scion will begin to grow;
• tamp the soil around the stem of the apple tree and tie the seedling to the support;
• arrange trunk circles with small sides and water apple trees – for each norm from 1 to 2 buckets of water;
• trunk circles are mulched after planting with peat or other material.

The video shows the landing process:

Mistakes that are made during landings

The influence of any negative factor can slow down the development of a columnar apple tree – its productivity decreases, which can no longer be restored. Therefore, you need to know how to plant correctly. More often, these factors are not associated with natural phenomena, but with the mistakes of the gardeners themselves.

1. One of them is too deep planting of the seedling. Often inexperienced gardeners confuse the grafting site and the root collar and deepen it greatly. As a result, shoots develop from the roots, and the variety of the columnar apple tree is lost. To avoid this mistake, it is recommended to wipe the seedling with a damp cloth. Then you can see the transition zone between brown and green, where the root neck is located.

   

2. Planting a columnar apple tree in unprepared soil can lead to excessive subsidence. To plant a tree in the fall, you need to prepare the holes for a month. In a few weeks, the soil will have time to settle well, and the applied fertilizers will partially decompose.
3. Instead of mixing garden soil with minerals, some gardeners, when planting seedlings in the autumn, replace fertilizers with fertile soil from the store. The use of fertilizers allows you to create a layer of nutrient medium under the root system.
4. Some growers over-fertilize the hole or add fresh manure. This is also unacceptable, as it begins to inhibit the development of roots and weakens the tree.

   

5. Mistakes are also possible when buying seedlings. Unscrupulous sellers may offer seedlings whose root system is already dry or damaged. How to plant such apple trees? After all, their survival rate will be low. Therefore, experts still advise purchasing apple trees with open roots, which can be carefully considered when buying.

Agrotechnics

Growing columnar apple trees requires certain care rules to maintain their health and productivity.

Organization watering

Watering columnar apple trees should be plentiful during the first years after planting. It should be done 2 times a week. It should be especially intense in dry seasons. Irrigation methods can be different:

• creating grooves;
• sprinkling;
• watering holes;
• irrigation;
• drip irrigation.

Trees should be watered throughout the summer. The last procedure is performed in early September, after which watering stops. Otherwise, the growth of the tree will continue, and before wintering, it must rest.

Loosening

In order to retain moisture under the tree and fill the soil with oxygen, it must be carefully loosened after each watering. After it, dry peat, foliage or sawdust is scattered around the tree. If seedlings are planted on a slope, loosening can damage the roots, so another method is used. Green manure is sown in the near-stem circles of apple trees, which are regularly mowed.

Feeding

For the full growth and development of the tree, systematic top dressing is necessary. In the spring, when the buds have not yet blossomed, the seedlings are fed with nitrogen compounds. The second feeding of trees with complex fertilizer is carried out in June. At the end of summer, potassium salts are used to accelerate the ripening of shoots. In addition, you can spray the crown with urea.

Pruning trees

It is carried out in the second year after planting, usually in the spring, before the start of sap flow. Pruning frees the tree from damaged and diseased branches. The side shoots are also removed. After pruning, only two points of growth are left on the tree. In the second year, of the two grown shoots, a vertical one is left. It is not necessary to form a crown, since the tree itself retains the appearance of the column.

Shelter for the winter

When sheltering columnar apple trees for the winter, the apical bud and roots require special attention. A cap made of plastic film is put on top of the tree, under which the kidney is insulated with rags. The root system of the apple tree is insulated with spruce branches, the growth point can be insulated with several layers of burlap, wrapped with nylon tights. Snow protects best from frost, so you need to cover the trunk circle of a columnar apple tree with a thick layer of snow. However, in early spring, before the start of melting, the snow must be shoveled away so as not to flood the roots of the apple tree.

Conclusion

If the columnar apple tree is planted correctly and all the rules of agricultural technology are followed, fragrant juicy apples from their garden will always stand on the table in winter.