Many gardeners and fruit lovers grow various varieties of apples in their gardens. It is no secret that some plants grow poorly in soils with a high clay content. However, sometimes you have to plant apple trees in clay soils because there is no other choice. To get a good harvest, you need to familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of growing apples in such soil.
What are the benefits of clay soil?
Although these soils are not suitable for all plants, they still have certain advantages that set them apart from other types of soil.
The advantages include the fact that they are able to retain mineral fertilizers and moisture in the ground for a long time. Therefore, when growing an apple tree, you will not have to water it too often. Many gardeners claim that this soil is better than others for adding fertilizers.
Speaking about 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 allow oxygen to pass through and warms up poorly. To get rid of these shortcomings, you will have to regularly loosen the soil or mix it with sand.
The best time to plant an apple tree
Many people consider summer the best time to plant apple trees in the garden. However, this is a misconception, since gardeners rarely plant at this time of 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 get stronger for the winter and firmly establish itself in the ground. By the onset of the first frost, the root system of the tree must become stronger so that it can easily withstand temperature changes. It is recommended to plant 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, fragile plants die.
Experienced gardeners advise residents of the southern regions to do autumn planting, as the climate there is most suitable for this.
Spring planting
Gardeners living in the northern regions prefer to plant apple trees in the spring.Planting in the spring will protect the seedlings from winter frosts and help them become stronger by the time the first frosts begin. Planting is done at the end of April or in the first half of May, when the ground thaws and warms up well.
The characteristic features of planting in spring include the fact that the 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 understand the list of tools and materials that will be needed for this.
For planting, prepare in advance:
- seedling - seedlings pre-germinated in containers or pots are used for planting;
- 2-3 buckets of river sand - used to increase the looseness of clay soil;
- a shovel is an indispensable tool for creating holes in which trees will be planted;
- pruning shears - used for pruning damaged branches or roots of a plant;
- empty bucket and hose - necessary for watering planted apple trees seedlings.
Choosing the ideal place for an apple tree
It is recommended to select a suitable place for planting apple trees in advance so that they bear fruit well.
When choosing a site, pay attention to the features 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 located at a depth of 2-3 meters from the top layers of the soil.
If the groundwater lies too close to the surface, before planting you will have to make low mounds in the beds yourself so that plant apple trees higher.
It is also necessary to make sure in advance that the area is well protected from gusts of wind that can break a fragile tree. Hills or dense plantations of trees located nearby will help protect from the wind. You can protect your apple trees yourself by fencing them.
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 being shaded by taller trees.
Rules for planting apple trees in clay soil
To properly plant an apple tree, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the nuances of planting it in advance.
Soil preparation
Before planting, be sure to do some preliminary preparation of 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 fertilizers that will help the apple tree grow better in the future. To do this, a kilogram of lime, 200 grams of mineral fertilizers, 7-8 kilograms of manure and chicken droppings are added to the ground. After this, the area is dug up again and watered with warm water.
Landing
Having prepared the site, you can begin planting apple seedlings. Residents of the Moscow region and people in other regions with warm climates can plant the plant in the first half of the day.
Gardeners living in the northern regions will have to plant in the afternoon, when it gets a little warmer.
First, a special hole is made for planting apple trees.Its depth should be 60-70 cm, and width - 70-80 cm. The seedling is carefully placed in a dug hole, covered with soil and watered. After this, the apple trees are mulched using rotted leaves, straw or peat. A 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 encounter difficulties. To avoid problems during planting, you need to familiarize yourself with the optimal timing and features of planting apple trees.
