How to water apple trees in summer: frequency and rules, how many times and is it possible with cold water

Compliance with agrotechnical rules allows you to consistently get a quality crop. One of the methods of agricultural technology is watering trees. Understanding the question - how to water apple trees in summer, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the variety, the biological specifics of the culture, climatic conditions and other nuances. Violation of the rules of watering leads to the death of plants and reduced yields.

Irrigation types

There are several ways to moisten the soil on which apple trees are grown. Most often, gardeners use surface treatment along furrows and ditches between rows.For surface watering, it is necessary to water the apple tree with a hose according to the projection of the crown. On the ground, under the ends of the longest branches, it is enough to dig a small groove about 15 cm deep and fill it with water in portions until intensive absorption stops.

Sprinkler watering trees involves the use of a fan, impulsive, pistol or other type of sprinkler. The garden tool evenly and diffusely sprays the apple trees in fine jets. Proper treatment with a sprinkler requires soil moisture 60-80 cm deep. Insufficient moisture will only worsen the condition of the crop, especially under drought conditions.

In subsurface irrigation, water is delivered directly to the roots by high pressure humidifiers. This method is especially useful in persistent dry weather.

Optimal water temperature and composition for irrigation

Proper watering of apple trees allows you to use water from a well, well or other natural sources. When treating trees with cold water from a well or stream, it is important to make sure that the temperature of the liquid is not close to the freezing point.

Ice water can damage developing roots and slow growth.

To grow he althy and large apples, you must also check the composition of the liquid. The water must be free of harmful impurities and chemicals.

General recommendations for summer irrigation

When processing trees in the summer, it is recommended to follow a number of general rules. Specifically:

When irrigating young seedlings less than one year old, it is necessary to use 2-3 buckets of settled water for each. For apple trees over 5 years old, the amount of liquid should be doubled.
In July, when the maximum temperatures for the season are observed, it is necessary to constantly check the soil moisture and prevent drying.
The first watering is allowed before the onset of summer - immediately after planting in the spring.
In hot weather, do not spray the surface of the leaves, as they may burn out due to exposure to sunlight.

Saplings

Immediately after planting green seedlings, it is necessary to moisten the soil. For uniform watering, use a watering can or sprayer. If the landing is made before the onset of the summer period and there are frequent rains, then additional watering is not required, since the soil will be sufficiently moist.

With further growth of seedlings, watering should be done every 3-4 days, provided there is no rain. In case of dry weather, it is allowed to go beyond the norm and increase the number of sprays.

Young trees

Beginning gardeners are always faced with the question - how often and how to water the growing fruit trees. During the first year of development, a young apple tree is watered on average 4-5 times per season, each time using no more than 3 buckets of water. Over the next couple of years, the number of treatments should be reduced while increasing the amount of liquid used per tree.

Young and intensively growing trees are less sensitive to water shortages, unlike old and fruiting ones. With insufficient moisture, the ovary crumbles, and the fruits fall off from mature apple trees.

During flowering

After the flowering of apple trees in the summer, it is worth paying special attention to the nuances of watering. With frequent rains, additional watering should not be carried out, since excess moisture in the soil can lead to rotting of the root system and subsequent death of trees.The need for moisture arises only in stable dry weather and no moving water in the ground.

Insufficient amount of moisture during the flowering period leads to the fact that there is a lack of nectar in the inflorescences. As a result, yields are reduced and the quality of ripening fruits deteriorates.

During fruiting

When the period of active fruiting begins, you need to know how much water apple trees need to get the greatest yield. A suitable amount of moisture and timely irrigation will also have a positive effect on the taste characteristics of apples. During fruiting, the size of apples, their structure, and the juiciness of the pulp are formed.

In case of insufficient moisture during the period of active ripening and development of fruits, they will grow small and not juicy. The flesh of the apples will take on a pronounced sour taste, and the appearance will differ from varieties with the correct characteristics.

How heat and drought affect irrigation

High temperatures and dry air in hot summers require adjustments to the apple watering schedule. The introduction of water in small quantities will be ineffective, since moisture will not reach the depth of the bulk of the roots. In order for the root system to receive a sufficient amount of liquid, it is necessary to dig grooves around each tree according to the crown projection and pour 20-25 buckets into them.

The soil must be moistened to a depth of 70 cm for the proper formation and development of the root system. After each watering, the earth should be loosened and covered with mulch. The time of the next watering depends on the ambient temperature and, on average, is carried out after 2-3 weeks.

Basic mistakes

When caring for apple trees in the summer, many gardeners make common mistakes.One of them is incorrect mulching, which is designed to retain moisture in the root zone. A large amount of mulch creates an obstacle to the flow of liquid into the soil, which causes the roots to dry out.

It is important that the mulch does not come into contact with the trunk of the apple tree, as this can cause disease and rot.

Also often among gardeners there are classic mistakes associated with a lack or excess of moisture. Proper watering involves regular monitoring of the condition of the soil. By monitoring the degree of moisture, you can adjust the amount of water and create favorable conditions for the development of trees.

Another mistake is choosing the wrong time to water. It is recommended to process fruit trees in the early morning or in the evening, 2-3 hours before full sunset.The choice of such time intervals is due to the fact that during the day most of the liquid evaporates due to exposure to sunlight, as a result of which the roots do not receive the required amount of moisture. Watering apple trees at other times is allowed only if the weather is cloudy.