How to plant apple trees in clay soil: rules and recommendations from experienced gardeners

Many gardeners and fruit lovers grow different varieties of apples in their gardens. It is no secret that in soils with a high content of clay, some plants grow poorly. However, sometimes you have to plant apple trees in clay soils, as there is no other choice. To get a good harvest, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of growing apples in such soil.

What are the benefits of clay soil?

Despite the fact that these soils are not suitable for all plants, they still have certain advantages that distinguish them from other types of soil.

The advantages include the fact that they are able to keep mineral fertilizers and moisture in the ground for a long time. Therefore, when growing an apple tree, you do not have to water it too often. Many gardeners claim that this soil is the best for adding fertilizer.

Speaking of the advantages, we should also mention the main disadvantages that can affect the cultivation of apples.

The main disadvantages include high density, due to which the soil practically does not pass oxygen and warms up slightly. To get rid of these shortcomings, you will have to regularly loosen the earth or mix it with sand.

Best time to plant an apple tree

Many consider summer to be the best time to plant apple trees in the garden. However, this is an erroneous opinion, since gardeners rarely plant at this time of the year. Much more often, apple trees are planted in the first half of autumn or spring.

Autumn planting

Most gardeners prefer to plant apple trees in the fall, as this will help the plant to get stronger for the winter and firmly rooted in the ground. By the onset of the first frost, the root system of the tree should get stronger so that it can withstand temperature changes without any problems. It is recommended to engage in planting in the first half of October, so that the apple trees have time to take root. Sometimes they are planted in November, but in some regions it gets colder earlier, and because of this, immature plants die.

Experienced gardeners advise residents of the southern regions to engage in autumn planting, as there is the most suitable climate for this.

Spring planting

Gardeners living in the northern regions prefer to plant apple trees in the spring. Planting in the spring will protect seedlings from winter frosts and help them get stronger by the beginning of the first frost.Landing is carried out at the end of April or in the first half of May, when the earth thaws and warms up well.

The characteristic features of planting in the spring include the fact that seedlings will have to be watered abundantly so that the root system does not dry out and develops well. River sand is also added to the soil in advance to make it looser.

Required materials and tools

Before you start planting apples, you need to figure out the list of tools and materials that will be needed for this.

For planting prepared in advance:

• seedling - seedlings germinated in containers or pots are used for planting;
• 2-3 buckets of river sand - used to increase the friability of clay soil;
• a shovel is an indispensable tool for creating holes in which trees will be planted;
• secateurs - used when pruning damaged twigs or plant roots;
• empty bucket and hose - necessary for watering planted apple seedlings.

Choose the perfect place for an apple tree

It is recommended to choose a suitable place for planting apple trees in advance so that they bear fruit well.

When choosing a site, pay attention to the peculiarities of groundwater occurrence. Their level must constantly change, since stagnation often leads to rotting of the roots and death of planted plants. However, some gardeners plant apple trees in areas with stagnant groundwater. In this case, they should be at a depth of 2-3 meters from the top layers of the soil.

If groundwater is too close to the surface, before planting, you will have to make low mounds on the beds yourself in order to plant apple trees higher.

It is also necessary to make sure in advance that the site is well protected from gusts of wind that can break a fragile tree. Elevations or dense plantations of trees nearby will help protect from the wind. You can protect apple trees yourself by enclosing them with a fence.

Apple trees grow better in the western part of the site and therefore it is better to plant them there. Young trees should not be placed in the center of the garden, as they will not grow well due to shading by taller trees.

Rules for planting apple trees in clay soil

For the correct planting of an apple tree, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the nuances of planting it in advance.

Soil preparation

Before disembarkation, they must pre-prepare the site. If apple trees grow in loamy soil, then before planting, you will have to carefully dig it up and add sand to it. More than 40 kilograms of sand are consumed per square meter.

Also, the sandy loam should contain top dressing, which in the future will help the apple tree grow better. To do this, a kilogram of lime, 200 grams of mineral supplements, 7-8 kilograms of manure and chicken manure are added to the ground. After that, the site is re-digged and watered with warm water.

Landing

Having prepared the site, you can start planting apple seedlings. Residents of the Moscow region and people in other regions with a warm climate can plant a plant in the morning.

Gardeners living in the northern regions will have to plant in the afternoon when it gets a little warmer.

First make a special hole for planting apple trees. Its depth should be 60-70 cm, and the width - 70-80 cm. The seedling is carefully placed in a dug hole, covered with soil and watered. After that, the apple trees are mulched with rotted leaves, straw or peat.The mulching layer will increase the duration of moisture retention in the upper layers and saturate the earth with oxygen.

Conclusion

People who have to plant apple trees in clay soils often face difficulties. So that there are no problems during planting, you need to familiarize yourself with the optimal timing and features of planting apple trees.

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