Why does the apple tree not grow in height on the site after planting and what to do

Several factors have been identified that affect the growth, flowering and fruiting of apple trees. Before asking the question: why the apple tree does not grow, it is necessary to study the characteristics of the planted variety. If a winter two-year-old seedling was planted, it will begin to bear fruit only after 7-8 years. Summer plants begin to delight summer residents with their fruits a little earlier - in the 5th-6th year. And columnar trees - for the 2-3rd year. If the apple tree was planted on a dwarf rootstock, it will produce a harvest after 2 years.

Main causes of poor growth

There are other reasons for the slow growth of the tree. Among them:

• the variety is not suitable for climatic conditions;
• the seedling was planted incorrectly;
• the process of crown formation was disrupted;
• the soil is not suitable for growing an apple tree;
• there is a deficiency or excess of nutrients in the soil;
• groundwater is high;
• the plant did not receive the necessary care.

The tree is planted too deep in the ground

This is one of the main reasons for poor tree growth. Its root collar must be positioned slightly above the soil. Otherwise, the bark will begin to rot due to the fact that the trunk is not adapted to be located in the soil. If there is such a problem, the plant will not form buds or fruits.

Vertical position of branches

Basically, the apple tree begins to set fruit on horizontal branches. If the summer resident has formed the crown incorrectly, the branches will tend to the top. To correct this situation, you need to hang a weight on the edge of the branch.

Lack of any element

The process of tree development is affected by nutrient deficiency. This is especially true for potassium, iron, and zinc.

Potassium

Potassium deficiency can be recognized by the paleness of the leaves. At the same time, their color becomes dull, green-blue. Then the foliage begins to curl and wrinkle. Gradually the foliage turns yellow and acquires a purple-red hue.

Gland

Iron deficiency can manifest itself as a lack of buds and yellowing of the foliage.To eliminate the problem, it is recommended to bury several rusty things under the tree and spray the trunk with a 0.1% solution of iron sulfate.

Zinc

Zinc deficiency is mainly observed when the seedling is planted in black soil with a high content of phosphorus compounds. You can recognize the problem by small leaves, slow growth of branches, and small apples. Gradually, the fruits begin to change their taste, the branches dry out, and the leaves turn white in the vein area.

Excess or deficiency of a trace element

Not only a deficiency of a nutrient or microelement can affect the growth of a tree, but also its excess.

Nitrogen

An excess of nitrogen compounds can be detected if the foliage of the plant acquires a dark green tint, the branches are distinguished by active growth, but a softened structure. At the same time, there are few flowers on the plant.

Nitrogen deficiency can be recognized by weak branching of the plant. The shoots become short and the apples become small. Young leaves are small in size and have petioles at an acute angle relative to the branch.

Phosphorus

With a small amount of phosphorus compounds in the soil, the shoots are characterized by slow growth and curvature. The leaves take on a dull, dark green color with a reddish, purple tint.

With an excess of phosphorus, the appearance of small foliage is observed. In this case, the leaves curl and become covered with growths.

Insect infestation and tree diseases

The growth and development of an apple tree can be negatively affected by damage to the tree by pests or diseases. It is worth considering that the tree should be regularly inspected for the presence of their vital activity.

On what soil do apple trees grow poorly?

In some cases, the slow growth of an apple tree is affected by the soil. Therefore, when such a problem occurs, it is necessary to find out what type of soil is located on the site.Apple trees do not grow well on sandstones, sandy loams, and loams. This is due to a deficiency of nutrients in them.

On putrid soil

When a plant is planted on putrefactive soil, it is more often susceptible to disease and grows worse. This is due to the fact that such soil does not allow for a full flow of oxygen to the roots. Also, it does not contain the required amount of nutrients, and water stagnation forms.

To peat

Peat soil is distinguished by the fact that it develops a deficiency of copper, potassium, phosphorus compounds, and magnesium. Peat is also highly acidic, which is why apple trees cannot fully develop in it.

Why don't apple trees grow?

Apple trees may be characterized by slow growth in other cases. Sometimes they stop growing after pruning.

After trimming

When carrying out hard pruning that involves several skeletal branches, the apple tree will need time to recover, which will cause it to lag in growth. You can cope with this situation by feeding the plant with complex fertilizer.

On a dwarf rootstock

Dwarf apple trees can stop growing for any of the reasons presented above. This is due to the fact that they require the same care as tall plants. The main reason for the poor development of such trees is that they are planted on unsuitable soil.

Dwarf trees are distinguished by the fact that their root system does not go very deep into the soil and is capable of drawing nutrients only from its upper layers.

In height

If a columnar apple tree does not grow in height, you need to pay attention to the area where it is planted. If it is in a draft, in the shade, the plant will develop poorly.Also, the apple tree will grow slowly if a damaged seedling was used for planting.

Causes of poor growth of apple tree seedlings

When purchasing seedlings, you need to ask the seller where they were supplied from. For cultivation, it is necessary to take seedlings that were grown in the region where planting is planned. In this case, the plant will be resistant to regional climatic conditions.

The best option is to buy a seedling that is 1-3 years old. In this case, the plant must have well-developed roots.

First year

If the seedling does not grow in the first year, it is necessary to check whether an apple tree previously grew in this place and died. If there are other mature plantings nearby, they should be freed from dry branches and old bark, and then whitened. After planting the seedlings, their trunks should also be whitened.

Second year

When the planting does not grow for the second year, it is necessary to check the soil on the site. Particular attention must be paid to the depth of groundwater. Another reason is the tree being damaged by diseases or pests.

Third year

When an apple tree does not grow even for the third year after planting, it means that the soil or climatic conditions are not suitable for it. This situation can also arise if there are remains of an old tree in the soil.

What to do to restore growth

What to do if the planting stops growing? First of all, it is necessary to discover the factor influencing the slowdown in its growth. Next, the summer resident needs to eliminate it. It is worth considering that after eliminating the cause of the plant’s slow growth, it will need time to recover.