If trouble occurs and an apple tree seedling breaks, gardeners say that this is a sure sign of insufficient care for it. But there is no time to blame yourself when this happened, and there is no point in giving up on a damaged plant. It is better to try to help the small tree and save it from possible death.
An apple tree seedling breaks - what to do?
First of all, you should start with assessing the damage and see what part of the tree was damaged - branches broke off, the trunk cracked, only the bark was damaged, or it was completely broken.
Injury to a seedling can occur for various reasons: due to bad weather, improperly installed supports, improper crown formation, or temperature changes.
It is important to find out what caused the damage to the plant.
Damage in the upper tier
If one or a couple of the main branches of the crown of a seedling have broken off in half or more, then after planting it in the ground you need to prune it. During the process, damaged branches are removed below the fracture site by one healthy bud.
When branches are broken at the base, where they extend from the trunk, it is recommended to carefully cut them off at the site of the break. Then the damaged area should be cleaned with a sharp knife and the wounds that appear on the trunk should be smeared with a layer of garden varnish - purchased in a store or prepared with your own hands.
After the event, the tree can be planted in a permanent area.
Fault in the lower tier
If the seedling's trunk is damaged in the trunk area - from the neck of the rhizome to the first skeletal branches of the crown, you need to act slightly differently:
- If the bark has peeled off and wood is visible, it is also recommended to thoroughly clean the damage and cover it with a layer of garden resin.
- If a seedling breaks in the area of the trunk above the grafting site, then it is advisable to plant it in a temporary place until it is completely restored. Before planting, it should be cut below the fracture, but before grafting. Subsequently, young shoots will appear on the stump, from which you can choose the strongest one and obtain planting material from it.
- If the seedling trunk breaks below the grafting site, then knowledge of the technique of grafting this fruit crop will be required. After pruning the apple tree below the graft, it should be planted until it is restored.The strongest one is selected from the regrown shoots, and the crop of the desired variety is grafted onto it.
Is it possible to restore a seedling?
When a seedling is completely broken, there is little chance of recovery, but it exists. First of all, you should try to secure the barrel with a bandage, for this you need the following:
- attach a rubber gasket to the barrel;
- wrap it around with wire up to 5 mm thick or rope;
- It is advisable to tighten the fastening so that it holds the trunk and prevents it from cracking;
- then the entire trunk should be covered with a mixture that includes ash, clay, mullein and vitriol, and wrapped with a clean medical bandage;
- the surface of the bandage also needs to be generously lubricated with a “medicinal” mixture that has a fungicidal, stimulating and regenerative effect.
Before winter, the composition should be washed off and the dressing material should be removed. The wire remains for now, and it is recommended to lubricate the cracks with melted garden varnish. In the spring the procedure is repeated.
Useful tips from gardeners
Treating a young tree is not easy; it will require some effort and skill, so it is advisable to prevent possible damage:
- To stimulate the growth of side shoots and further eliminate the possibility of the fragile trunk breaking due to winds, it is recommended that after planting the seedling in the ground, shorten the trunk by 2-3 buds.
- Young apple trees are objects of desire for voracious rodents, and in order to protect the plant from them, you can tie it up using spruce branches or reeds - this is done until the trunk is covered with strong bark, which is “too tough” for small animals.
By following useful recommendations, you can revive a damaged seedling, which will subsequently delight the gardener with a rich harvest.
