How to plant a columnar apple tree in spring: step by step guide, video

Planting of columnar apple trees in spring should be carried out in the second half of April, and in some regions in early May. Seedlings are purchased in advance in the fall and stored in a cool room at zero temperature. Planting pits are prepared in about a month, after which the seedlings are placed in rows with an interval of 1-2 m.

Rules for planting columnar apple trees in spring

Planting of apple trees of various types, including columnar ones, is planned for autumn. But spring landing is also allowed. This period is especially suitable for regions with extreme frosts, for example, for Siberia.

When planting in the spring, you need to consider several features:

1. It is very important to plan the time – you should not rush. It is better to plant seedlings in the second half of April or even in May, when the soil warms up well enough.
2. Usually copies of the columnar apple tree are bought in the fall. Therefore, seedlings need to provide normal conditions for storage. It can be a basement or cellar with a constant temperature of about 0-2 degrees Celsius.
3. The site should be prepared in advance. For planting a columnar apple tree in the spring, the soil is dug up in the fall. Compost or humus is added, if necessary, sand is added.
4. Plan a landing plan in advance. Trees with a columnar shape are very compact, so they can be placed even with a minimum interval of 1-2 m. If there are many seedlings, they are arranged in rows in a checkerboard pattern.

Preparing for planting seedlings of a columnar apple tree in spring

In preparation for planting, you need to choose a place and buy a seedling, as well as plan dates. If you plant plants in the spring (approximately the second half of April), the soil should be prepared in the fall.

The earth is dug up on a spade bayonet and a bucket of compost or humus is added per square meter. If the soil is heavy, contains a lot of clay, it is necessary to close up sawdust or sand up to 2-3 kg for the same area. If necessary, measure the pH. If it turns out to be less than 5,5, dolomite flour or wood ash is added – 200-300 g per 1 m².

Planting dates for columnar apple trees in spring

When planning the planting of columnar apple trees in the spring, special attention should be paid to choosing the right time. Usually work is scheduled for the middle or second half of April. At this time, the soil is already warm enough, the snow cover is melting in all regions, and the temperature is consistently above zero day and night.

Columnar apple trees are planted in the second half of April

Specific dates depend on the climate of the region:

1. In the middle lane, landing is planned for the 2-3rd decade of April.
2. In the south, it is possible to plant columnar apple trees in spring at the end of March.
3. In the Urals – in the third decade of April. In Siberia, the terms are about the same, but they can move up to the first half of May.

Site Selection

Since the apple tree grows in the same place without transplanting for 10-20 years or more, it is necessary to select a site in advance. The territory must meet several criteria at once:

1. Good illumination. There shouldn’t be a shadow. Therefore, for the spring planting of a columnar apple tree, a site is chosen that is remote from buildings, large trees and shrubs.
2. Without the accumulation of water after rains – the place should be located on a hill. You don’t have to choose low.
3. The close approach of groundwater is not allowed. Their maximum height should not exceed 1,5 m from the ground.
4. Spacious lot with good air circulation. If possible, it should be protected from the north winds, for example, by a fence or a house.
5. It is desirable to plant a seedling of a columnar apple tree in the spring next to pears, plums or mountain ash.

Sapling storage

Seedlings are usually bought in autumn, because at this time the assortment is noticeably richer. They can be kept in their normal form until planting in the spring. In regions with relatively mild winters, for example, in the south, you can simply dig into the ground and carefully cover with mulch. The branches themselves and the main shoot are wrapped with dense agrofibre.

In the middle lane, in the Urals, in Siberia, in the northern regions, it is better to store directly in a container in a cool room. It can be a basement, a cellar, a shed or a balcony. It is necessary that the temperature does not fall below -5 degrees, but also does not rise above +5. Once a month, it is recommended to water with a small amount of settled water.

Seedlings are bought in autumn and stored until spring in cool rooms.

If there is no storage space or it is not possible to create suitable conditions, you can purchase planting material after winter. If it is with an open root system, you need to plant immediately. If the roots are closed (in a container), you can hold at home for up to 1-2 months.

Pit preparation

Before planting a columnar apple tree in the spring, you need to prepare a hole, following these recommendations:

1. If the soil is fertile and loose (loam), the depth should exactly match the roots. They are freely placed in the hole.
2. In other cases, a depth of 60-90 cm is sufficient.
3. The width of the hole should be slightly larger – 80-100 cm.

Pits for planting a columnar apple tree in the spring should not be prepared in the fall. They can be dug in April, two weeks before the start of work. The hole is dug to the required depth and width. A layer of pebbles is laid at the bottom, small stones for drainage – a height of 25 cm.

Then you need to lay fertile soil. To do this, humus is mixed with soddy soil in a ratio of 1: 2. You can also add 1 part black peat and sand. For each well, 1 kg of superphosphate and wood ash are poured. Then it is added dropwise and allowed to stand for 2-3 weeks before planting seedlings.

Instead of a pit, landing trenches can also be prepared. Their depth and width are approximately the same – 60-80 cm each. The preparation rules are exactly the same – a layer of stones is laid on the bottom, and then fertile soil. They let it stand for two to four weeks, then proceed to place the seedling on the site.

Root treatment

Proper planting of a columnar apple tree in the spring involves processing the roots. If the seedling is sold in a pot, it must be thoroughly watered the day before planting. If the root system is open, it is placed for a day in a “talker” of water and clay. A few drops of a growth stimulant solution are added to the mixture, for example, Epin, Zircon, Energen.

Previously, it is also recommended to inspect the roots and remove the dried parts. Weakened tips are trimmed, as they will die off anyway. Only healthy shoots should be left.

At what distance to plant columnar apple trees in spring

There is a general rule that when planting apple trees, it is necessary to leave an interval of 7 m between tree trunks. At the same time, their branches closest to each other should not fit closer than 2 m.

Compact seedlings can be planted at a minimum distance of 60-70 cm

The columnar apple tree has a small crown, so the spring planting pattern can be changed. As a rule, trees are planted in one row at a minimum distance of 1 m (between planting holes). If possible, it is better to increase the interval to 2 m. The second row is laid in the same way, moving in a checkerboard pattern. Distance between rows – at least 1 m.

How to plant a columnar apple tree in spring

You can plant a columnar apple tree in spring based on the following step-by-step instructions:

1. Dig holes, remove the soil to a layer of stones.
2. Put a wooden stake in the center.
3. Put the seedling, carefully straighten the roots.
4. Sprinkle with soil, lay it so that the place with the inoculation is 5 cm above the surface.
5. Tie the tree to the stake.
6. Give two buckets of settled water.
7. Trim side shoots by a third.
8. Lay down a layer of straw, sawdust or other mulch.

Aftercare

When planting columnar apple trees in the spring, it is necessary to take into account the features of care. In order for the seedling to take root, it must be regularly watered, pruned, treated for diseases and pests. The basic rules and recommendations of experienced gardeners are described below.

Watering

Young seedlings need to be watered regularly. After spring, the soil remains moist for a long time. As soon as the earth dries up, the seedlings are watered every week, giving one bucket of water.

Mature trees of the columnar apple tree in the second year after planting in the spring should be watered 2-3 times per season. At one time they are given from 5 to 8 buckets of water – the total amount depends on age.

In drought, water should be 2-3 times a month. In the evening, sprinkling of the crown is carried out. This should be done during sunset or after it, so that the leaves do not suffer from sunburn.

After watering or heavy rains, the soil must be loosened. At the same time, weeding is done. To keep pests as small as possible, it is recommended to lay a layer of straw, hay or other mulch. It will also protect the roots from recurrent frosts in the spring.

Fertilizer

In the first season after planting a columnar apple tree in the spring, planting is not necessary. The soil is quite fertile, besides, fertilizers are added when the pit is formed. Overfeeding is worse than underfeeding, so overfeeding is definitely not worth it.

To get a good harvest, columnar apple trees are fed 2-3 times per season.

Starting from the second year, fertilizers are given regularly:

1. During the blooming of the leaves in the spring, urea or ammonium nitrate is added. Granules are laid out on the soil in the amount of 50 g per 1 m²and then watered with water at room temperature.
2. During the formation of buds, superphosphate is given (80 g per 1 m²) and potassium sulfate (50 g per 1 m²).
3. After harvesting, you can pour infusion of wood ash (200 g per 10 l).

Trimming

Immediately after planting a columnar apple tree in spring, the side shoots are shortened by a third of their length to stimulate new growth points. At the same time, it is necessary to shorten the main trunk.

In the future, pruning is carried out regularly. Every spring, weak, damaged, old and broken branches are removed. In the fall, they make a shaping haircut. The cutting pattern is:

1. In the second year, pinch young shoots from 30 cm long, leaving the top one.
2. For the third season, the crown is pinched at a distance of 25 cm from the stem. Lateral shoots are shortened to 40 cm.
3. In the fourth year, last year’s branches are thinned out.
4. On the fifth, they limit the height of the columnar apple tree to 3 m.

Treatments for pests and diseases

Preventive treatments should be carried out every spring. Even before the buds swell, seedlings are treated with fungicides:

• “Bordeaux liquid”;
• “RAW”;
• “Abiga Peak”.

In early summer, insecticide treatment is recommended:

• “Decis”;
• “Fitoverm”;
• “Agravertin”;
• “Match”.

Shelter for the winter

Young seedlings must be covered for the winter. With the onset of frost, the soil is mulched, and the trunk itself is wrapped with dense agrofiber. The material must pass air well so that the seedling of the columnar apple tree does not rot. In the middle of spring, the shelter is removed.

Conclusion

Planting columnar apple trees in the spring should be carried out according to the general rules. The site is best prepared in the fall. Caring for seedlings does not require much effort. In the first year, they are watered abundantly, and starting from the second season, top dressing is regularly applied. It is also necessary to carry out pruning and preventive treatments from pests.