What can be planted under an apple tree in the garden, proximity to flowers, trees and berry bushes

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 out most of the moisture and microelements from the soil. A crown of impressive diameter shades the area around it. These conditions are not suitable for the development of many plants. But summer residents, especially in small areas, try to plant every corner. The main thing is to follow some tips and rules.

Microclimate under the canopy

When planting any crop on a site, they follow the rules of their compatibility, the characteristics of their influence on the soil, the size and growth of the root system. Some crops 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 should be shade-tolerant, without the ability to form deep roots, not particularly demanding of 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 collar should be at least 25 cm;
• there is no need to plant the crop too densely so that it is possible to collect fallen fruits;
• when treating with chemicals, it is important to remember that the solution also gets on the plants growing around the tree;
• you cannot dig up the soil around the trunk deeper than 17 cm;
• other trees and shrubs with strong roots should not be planted near the apple tree.

The foliage of the apple tree allows light to pass through, creating diffuse partial shade, which prevents the soil from drying out excessively. 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 against pests and various infections, then it is better to abandon crops that bear fruit for food consumption. The place is successfully filled with flowers.

Wild growing

It is not necessary to buy seeds of ornamental plants in stores. An excellent option to plant around a tree would be wild flowers.Growing them is not difficult, they adapt to any conditions, plus the smell of many of them repels pests.

A perennial plant such as tansy grows well in the shade. Lush yellow inflorescence on long stems will decorate any area. The flower repels pests such as codling moths and aphids. Flower seeds, 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 is formed, which becomes a soft bedding for falling apples. The pleasant, sweetish 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 purifying soil. The plant protects the area from aphid attack.

A plant such as lupine will help increase productivity. The flower enriches the earth with nitrogen. In autumn, this plant in crushed form is used to mulch the soil.

Cultivated

You can plant marigolds around the trunk of a fruit tree. The flowers are unpretentious and can grow in the shade. Many pests do not like the smell of plants. In addition, the plant protects the tree from fungal infections.

Decorate the area around the tree with nasturtiums. A lush carpet of flowers protects the soil from the first frosts, 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 variety of flower will decorate the garden. It is recommended to sow asters under an apple tree.

Feels good under the pome fruit crop calendula.It is considered a medicinal plant that repels insects. Calendula attracts ladybugs, which destroy aphids.

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

Flowers such as iris, daylily, pansies, primrose, swimsuit, sedum, daisies, and forget-me-nots also go well with wood.

Flower bed location options

Flowers can be planted in various 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, make a multi-tiered composition, combining it with other greenery and decorative stones.
• You can sow flowers in separate containers or make a convex bed for them.

Some gardeners sow their lawn with meadow grass seeds.

Garden plants and herbs

If the apple tree in the garden is not sprayed with chemicals all year round, then you can plant crops that tolerate partial shade. Garlic, legumes, and spinach develop well under these conditions. The 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 out and is far from the ground, cucumbers are planted in the tree trunk zone at a distance of one meter. The site has been prepared since the fall. They bring in two buckets of humus and carefully dig up the soil, trying not to damage the roots of the tree.

In the spring, the tree trunk area is cleared of fallen leaves and depressions 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.The lashes of cucumbers will climb up along them.

Water the cucumbers every other day. Feeding is done once every two weeks. Use mullein solution.

Tomatoes

Some experienced gardeners use the area under apple trees to plant several tomato bushes. The smell of tomato tops 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 only if sunlight touches the area for at least a few hours a day. First, the ground is mulched. Holes are made in the mulch layer and filled with soil and fertilizer. Only after this, germinated seeds or young seedlings are planted in the recesses.

Advice. It is not advisable to plant both vegetable crops under a tree at the same time. The proximity of these crops leads to cross-pollination, as a result of which the quality and taste of the fruit decreases.

Shade-loving berry plants

Strawberries and wild strawberries are sown around the trunk. These berries are early, so they will have time to develop sufficiently before the lush crown blooms on the apple tree.

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

Shrubs

It is recommended to plant shrubs away from the apple tree. Many shrubs have powerful root branches that will suppress the growth of the tree.

You cannot plant rose bushes, lilacs, barberries, jasmine, viburnum, and junipers near fruit crops. All these shrubs can negatively affect the immunity of the apple tree.

Currant

Currant is a perennial shrub that can have a spreading or compact growth pattern.The height of the plant is within 150 cm. Currants grow well in partial shade.

Currants take root quite well near 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 light penetrates the bush without obstacles.

Pruning branches of two garden crops is carried out at the same time, which is very convenient. Fertilizers are used universal.

Advice. You can’t plant red and black currants next to each other, as the yield of berries will decrease.

If there is a need to transplant the currant to another place, you should carefully dig up 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 demanding of 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 subject to diseases such as rust. Infections are quickly transmitted to the fruit crop, reduce the size of the crop and lead to drying of the branches.

Raspberries

A popular fruit and berry bush on the site is raspberries. The raspberry root system grows strongly and is located close to the surface of the earth, so it absorbs a lot of water and microelements.

Raspberry bush does not fit well with other trees and shrubs. But not everyone. Raspberries get along well with apple trees. These two cultures protect each other from various diseases. It is better to plant raspberries on the south side of the tree.

Raspberries that are planted under a fruit crop need frequent watering.If there is a lack of moisture, the berries grow small and the leaves dry out.

What trees can be planted nearby?

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

Cherry

The fruit tree is quite compatible with cherries. But it is worth remembering that cherries develop well and form a high-quality harvest only on fertile soils with high aeration and moisture permeability.

If you plant a crop close to an apple tree, the yield will be significantly reduced, as competition will arise. 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 proximity affects the amount of harvest. Apple and cherry trees love the same soil. The land should be fertile, moderately acidic.

When planting an apple tree and a cherry tree next to each other, 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 reap a rich harvest of cherries, choose the lightest and windiest area in the garden for planting.

Plum

Plum is a stone fruit crop. 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. Just follow one condition - you need to plant plums at a distance of 2 meters. Gardeners note the high productivity of crops that grow in the neighborhood.

What neighborhood doesn't love an apple tree?

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

• It is undesirable for an apple tree to be adjacent to trees and shrubs such as hazel, hawthorn, elderberry, acacia, viburnum, peaches, and bird cherry. During flowering, these trees attract pests that are dangerous to the apple tree.
• You should not plant white cabbage, carrots, onions, mint, or sage around the crop. The growth and development of trees is adversely affected by potatoes planted nearby.
• You cannot 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 your site without losing the harvest. Flowers will not take up much space, will create comfort and help improve the health of the earth.