What to plant under an apple tree in the garden: neighborhood with trees and shrubs

Gardeners are often interested in the question of what is best to plant under an apple tree. When choosing a crop, it is important to consider that the roots of a tree spread over long distances, drawing most of the moisture and trace elements out of the soil. A crown of impressive diameter obscures the area around. These conditions are not suitable for the development of many plants. But summer residents, especially in a small area, are trying to plant every corner. The main thing is to follow some tips and rules.

Microclimate under the crown

When planting any crop on the site, they follow the rules of their compatibility, especially the impact on the soil, the size and growth of the root system.Some cultures do not develop in the shade of apple tree foliage and have a bad effect on its growth. But there are also plants that improve the composition of the soil, repel pests, thereby helping the apple tree to develop normally.

When choosing neighbors for a shady area under an apple tree, take into account that the plant must be shade-tolerant, without particularity to form deep roots, not particularly demanding on nutrients, with a short growing season.

The basic rules that are taken into account when planting plants under an apple tree include:

• the distance from the root neck should be at least 25 cm;
• do not plant the crop too densely to be able to collect the fallen fruit;
• when treating with chemicals, it is important to remember that the solution also gets on the plants growing around the tree;
• digging the ground around the trunk cannot be deeper than 17 cm;
• you can not plant other trees and shrubs with powerful roots near the apple tree.

The foliage of the apple tree transmits light, creating diffuse partial shade, which prevents the soil from drying out too much. Therefore, there is enough light for the development of some other plants.

Flowers for planting under an apple tree

If apple trees in the country are periodically sprayed from pests and various infections, then it is better to abandon crops that bear fruit for human consumption. The place is successfully occupied by flowers.

Wildlife

It is not necessary to buy ornamental plant seeds in stores. Wild flowers are a great way to plant around a tree. They are easy to grow, adapt to any conditions, plus the smell of many of them repels pests.

In the shade, such a perennial plant as tansy grows well. A lush yellow inflorescence on long stems will decorate any site. The flower repels pests such as codling moth and aphids. The seeds of the flower, falling to the ground, form new buds the next year. The main task of the gardener is to form a neat bush.

You can sow the area around the apple tree with white clover. During flowering, a beautiful white carpet forms, which becomes a soft bedding for falling apples. The pleasant, sweet aroma of clover attracts the attention of pollinating insects, which will improve the quality of pollination of the apple tree itself. In addition, white clover saturates the soil with nitrogen and protects the roots from attack by larvae.

Celandine is capable of disinfecting and cleaning the soil. The plant protects the site from aphids.

To increase the yield will help a plant like lupine. The flower enriches the earth with nitrogen. In autumn, crushed soil is mulched with this plant.

Cultivated

Marigolds can be planted around the trunk of a fruit tree. Flowers are unpretentious, can develop in the shade. The smell of plants is not liked by many pests. In addition, the plant protects the tree from fungal infections.

Decorate the area around the tree with nasturtium. A lush carpet of flowers protects the ground from the first frost, serves as a natural mulch and repels most pests.

Asters are perennial and annual. They differ in the size and shape of the petals, color and diameter of the inflorescence. Any kind of flower will decorate the garden. Asters are recommended to be sown under an apple tree.

It feels good under the pome fruit crop of calendula. It is considered a medicinal plant that repels insects. The calendula attracts ladybugs, which exterminate aphids.

Many gardeners plant spring flowers that have time to bloom before the leaves on the branches of the tree bloom and provide shade. These flowers include tulips, crocuses, daffodils.

Flowers such as iris, daylily, pansies, primrose, bathing suit, stonecrop, daisies, forget-me-nots are successfully combined with wood.

Flower bed arrangement options

Flowers can be planted in a variety of ways:

• It is possible to plant flowers in rows, alternating several types.
• A flowerbed of flowers of the same color looks beautiful.
• As an option to make a multi-tiered composition, combining with other greenery and decorative stones.
• Flowers can be sown in separate containers or make a convex bed for them.

Some gardeners sow the lawn with meadow grass seeds.

Garden plants and herbs

If the apple tree in the garden is not sprayed year-round with chemicals, then you can plant crops that tolerate partial shade. Garlic, legumes, spinach develop well under these conditions. Greens growing under the tree have a juicy taste and rich aroma: sorrel, parsley, dill, salads.

Cucumbers

If the crown of the tree is well thinned and far from the ground, cucumbers are planted in the near-stem zone at a distance of one meter. The plot has been prepared since autumn. They bring in two buckets of humus and carefully dig up the ground, trying not to damage the roots of the tree.

In the spring, the near-trunk area is freed from fallen foliage and recesses are made along the perimeter at a distance of 35 cm. As soon as the soil warms up, seedlings are planted. A peg is stuck near each cucumber bush.A rope is stretched from the peg to the lower branches of the tree. On them whips of cucumbers will climb up.

Cucumbers are watered every other day. Feed once every two weeks. Mullein solution is used.

Tomatoes

Some experienced gardeners use the area under apple trees to plant a few tomato bushes. The smell of tomato leaves repels many pests. It should be remembered that a good harvest of tomatoes when planted under a tree can only be harvested in a good, warm summer.

Pumpkins and zucchini

You can grow pumpkins and zucchini under a tree, but on condition that sunlight touches the plot for at least a few hours a day. The ground is mulched first. Holes are made in the mulch layer, which are filled with soil with fertilizers. Only after that, germinated seeds or young seedling bushes are planted in the recesses.

Council. It is undesirable to plant both vegetable crops under a tree at the same time. The proximity of these crops leads to cross-pollination, as a result, the quality and taste of the fruit is reduced.

Shade-loving berry plants

Strawberries and wild strawberries are sown around the trunk. These berries are early, so they will have time to get sufficient development before the moment when a lush crown blooms on the apple tree.

Berries growing under the tree do not dry out and do not require frequent watering. In order for the sun's rays to fall on a clearing of berries, they are seated at a distance of 90-110 cm from the trunk.

Shrubs

Shrubs are recommended to be planted away from the apple tree. Many shrubs have strong root branches that will stifle tree growth.

You can not plant rose bushes, lilac, barberry, jasmine, viburnum, juniper near the fruit crop. All these shrubs can negatively affect the immunity of the apple tree.

Currant

Currant is a perennial shrub that can grow spreading or compact. Plant height is within 150 cm. Currant grows well in partial shade.

Currant quite takes root close to the apple tree. It should be planted at a distance of 1.5-2 meters, so that there is enough free space for the roots, and the light penetrates the shrub without obstacles.

Pruning branches of two horticultural crops is carried out at the same time, which is very convenient. Fertilizers use universal.

Council. You can not plant red and black currants next to each other, the yield of berries decreases.

If it becomes necessary to transplant currants to another place, you should carefully dig out its roots so as not to damage the root system of the apple tree.

Juniper

Juniper is an evergreen coniferous shrub. The height of the plant reaches three meters. The shrub is very picky about the light. Be sure to take into account the neighborhood to exclude many diseases.

Juniper grown under an apple tree can negatively affect its development and fruiting. The shrub is often exposed to a disease such as rust. Infections are quickly transmitted to the fruit crop, reducing the yield and causing the branches to dry out.

Raspberries

Raspberries are a popular fruit and berry shrub on the site. The root system of raspberries grows strongly and is located close to the surface of the earth, therefore it absorbs a lot of water and trace elements.

The raspberry bush does not coexist well with other trees and shrubs. But not everyone. Raspberry and apple get along well. These two cultures protect each other from various diseases. Raspberries are best planted on the south side of the tree.

Raspberries planted under a fruit crop need frequent watering. With a lack of moisture, the berries grow small and the leaves dry up.

What trees can be planted nearby

The apple tree has powerful roots, so any tree planted nearby competes with it for moisture and nutrients. Pear and raspberry feel good with apple trees. But if favorable conditions are created, other trees can be planted.

Cherry

Fruit tree is quite compatible with cherries. But it is worth remembering that sweet cherries develop well and form a quality crop only on fertile soils with high aeration and moisture permeability.

If you plant a crop close to an apple tree, the yield will decrease significantly, as there will be competition. The optimal distance between planted trees is 10 meters.

Cherry

The apple tree has a strong, developed root and a large crown. Cherry is not a very tall tree, so this neighborhood affects the amount of the crop. Apple and cherry trees love the same soil. The land should be fertile, medium acid.

When planting an apple tree with a cherry nearby, take into account the optimal distance from each other. The distance from medium-sized varieties of apple trees to cherries should be at least 9 meters. If the apple tree is large, then the distance increases to 13 meters. To harvest a rich cherry harvest, choose the brightest and calmest area in the garden for planting.

Plum

Plum refers to stone fruit crops. The average height of a tree is 8 meters. The root system spreads over long distances, deepening by 35 cm.

Favorable compatibility between apple and plum trees. Only one condition is observed - you need to plant plums at a distance of 2 meters. Gardeners note the high yield of crops that grow in the neighborhood.

What neighborhood does an apple tree not like

There are plants that need to be planted away from the apple tree, otherwise the risk of pests, diseases and deterioration in the quality and quantity of the crop increases:

• Undesirable is the neighborhood of an apple tree with trees and shrubs such as hazel, hawthorn, elderberry, acacia, viburnum, peaches, bird cherry. These trees attract dangerous apple pests during flowering.
• You should not plant white cabbage, carrots, onions, mint, sage around the crop. The growth and development of trees is badly affected by potatoes planted nearby.
• You can't plant lilies of the valley around apple trees. Their root system has a bad effect on the roots of the fruit tree.

If you follow all these rules, you can make the most of every piece of land on the site without losing your crop. Flowers do not take up much space, create comfort and help heal the earth.

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