Rules for planting and caring for columnar apple trees in Siberia

Among the various varieties of apple trees, colonized species are distinguished by their special attractiveness and beauty. Moreover, such trees bring a rich harvest, and since the variety variety of apple trees is large enough, they will easily please summer residents not only delicious (the taste of different varieties may differ), but also beautiful multi-colored fruits. All columnar apple trees (it does not matter if you chose seedlings for the middle band or for Siberia) have one vertical stem, around which by the autumn fruit formations are strewn, covered with colored fruits. In this article, we will pay attention to the varieties of apple-tree columnar intended specifically for cultivation in Siberia, since the climate in this area differs significantly from other regions, which means that the plants here grow unusual.

Kolonovidnye apple: varieties for Siberia

All varieties of columnar apple trees have a high level of precociation. Some of them may bloom in the first year after planting (for example, Maluha, Iksha, Barguzin, etc.).

It should also be noted that most of the varieties are medium-sized varieties of culture, which begin to actively bear fruit only by the 3-4th year after disembarking to a permanent place of growth. In varieties of late ripening, fruits are formed only in the 6th year after planting. As for the columnar apple trees grown in Siberia, the number of their varieties increases every year. The average lifespan of plants with active fruiting phases most often does not exceed 12 years, and to the best varieties with high rates of winter hardiness should include such: "Senator", "Ostankino", "Vasyugan", "President", "Triumph", "Arbat", "Currency", "Dialogue", "Medoc", "Gin", "Chervonets", "Sparkling", " Renet Mazherova, Iksha, Elite and others. The increased level of winter hardiness from the listed varieties is distinguished by "Iksha" (up to -40 ° C), "Vasyugan", "President".

Peculiarities of planting of columnar apple trees in Siberia

Since the climate in such harsh areas is difficult to call familiar to most areas of the country, then growing fruit trees for Siberia is a delicate matter and requires adherence to certain rules of planting and care.

Selection of seedlings for planting

The first step towards successful cultivation of columnar apple trees in Siberia is the selection of good, viable seedlings (better than one-year old).

It will be better if you go to the garden center or nursery for planting materials, as when buying seedlings on the market or in other places there is a serious chance of acquiring summer varieties instead of autumn ones.

Also, you can sell a low-quality copy or even a different culture.

In order not to be mistaken in your choice and purchase truly high-quality seedlings of a columnar apple, we recommend that you adhere to the following rules:

• Buy only planting material with a tag with the specified age and plant variety (you can additionally ask the seller for written confirmation of the zoning of the seedling, its fruiting period, winter hardiness, resistance to diseases and pests, etc.).
• Pay attention to the type of root system (open or closed). When buying seedlings directly in the nursery, it is better to give preference to the closed root system. Such planting material has a longer shelf life before planting in the ground, and a high percentage of survival rate when placed at a permanent place of growth. Also pay attention to the container itself: you need to determine whether the sapling grew in it from the very beginning or was transplanted into a container before sale. In the latter case, the apple tree will be easily removed from the container, and with high probability it will not be able to take root in the new place.
• If you came to a nursery for a sapling, ask them to dig a selected plant with you, having carefully examined it. Sapling of the columnar apple should not have any mechanical damage to the root or bark, otherwise planting and subsequent care of the plant will not bring the expected result, and no matter if you are in Siberia or in the more southern region.
• If the plant is grafted, then carefully inspect it (the fragility of the rootstock and the scion can cause damage to the junction). The stock deserves special attention.
• If by the appearance of the sapling it is noticeable that it was specially prepared for sale, then be sure to check the root system. Good seedling roots should be resilient, resilient and not have any knobes and nodules. When removing the bark from the root, the fabric under it should be lively and white. There should be no sign of drying on the bark of the plant.
• In the annual seedlings, which should be preferred, there are no side branches. Their trunk is usually 6-7 cm in length, and there are at least 5-6 buds on it.

Choosing a place in the Siberian garden

The best varieties of columnar apples for Siberia and other regions of the country need to create certain conditions for their growth. However, first of all, you should choose the right place for planting acquired seedlings. Since all representatives of the apple tree of this type have a weak branching root system, it is logical that ideal option for planting will be fertile soils with high moisture capacity and a good level of water and air permeability.

On heavy clay soils in the landing pit requires a good drainage layer. To create a garden of columnar apple varieties, it is better to select areas with high groundwater storage (at least two meters from the soil surface).

Celled apple trees cannot grow and develop well in the shade and with strong gusts of wind, which means that the chosen area should be sunny and protected from the prevailing wind corridors.

How to plant a columnar apple in Siberia: technology and planting scheme

When planting apple trees in Siberia, the process of planting itself and subsequent care is somewhat different from similar actions in warmer climatic zones. Nevertheless, these apple trees in any case do not take up much space, and they are planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other, keeping at least a meter of free space between the rows. In regions with a harsh climate, it is best to land with the arrival of spring., since during the autumn planting of a sapling there is a probability that he simply will not survive the harsh winter. As for the planting pit itself, it is prepared from the fall, selecting the size, based on the size of the seedling rhizome (all roots should be placed freely in it, without kinks and cracks).

At the bottom of the pit it is imperative to put the fertilizer in the form of several handfuls of humus or compost. It is better not to use mineral feedings yet, because the root system of apple trees is so weak that it can not cope with them, and the seedling will die.

In the autumn preparation of the pit, you can use phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, only in this case, the dosage should be 10 times lower. The exact amount of fertilizer can be found in the instructions on the package.On average, one young tree has about two tablespoons of the composition. Also, do not forget about the benefits of peat or humus introduced into the planting pit in the event that your columnar apples will have to grow on completely depleted soils.

As soon as the preparatory stage will be successfully completed, and it will warm up a little on the street, you can proceed to the direct planting of a seed-bearing apple tree in the ground. Agrotechnics planting plants is quite simple, although there are still some points that should not be forgotten.

For example, before planting an apple tree, make sure that the roots of the seedlings are not dried. If this is not the case, then the rhizome should be placed in water for 10 hours. This procedure is also carried out in the case when the bark of the seedling is wrinkled. If everything is normal, then the seedling is placed in a prepared pit, straightened the roots and tied to a peg driven into the center, after which you can begin to fill the pit.

There are several main nuances that should be considered not only when choosing apple seedlings, but also when planting and further care, in particular in Siberia. So, it is necessary to cut off the roots of a seedling before placing it in the planting pit. This procedure will help the plant to settle down faster in a new place.

Once the seedling is in the pit and you gently straighten the roots, sprinkle the rhizome with soil and lightly tamp so that there are no voids around the plant, then pour plenty of water. Next, you need to level the ground (fill up the hole, leaving the root neck of the apple tree above) and thrash the tree trunk with grass, which will help to retain moisture better.

When planting several trees at once, always adhere to a specific pattern of their placement, according to which the distance between neighboring saplings should not be less than 1 m. The amount of the resulting crop depends on the accuracy of following this rule. It is necessary to carry out the procedure of planting of apple-shaped apple trees extremely carefully, otherwise damage to the root system will have a detrimental effect on the viability of the tree.

Rules for the care of columnar apple trees in Siberia

We considered which apple trees to plant in Siberia and how to do it correctly, it remains to determine the right care for them. There are several basic requirements for watering, feeding, pruning a tree, as well as the process of controlling its pests and diseases.

How to water the fruit plants

The juiciness of the pulp of the fruit of the tree is largely determined by the quality of watering, so when caring for apple trees (not only in Siberia, but also in other regions), it is so important that the tree receives enough moisture during the growing season. When performing individual watering, it is better to form low sides (not more than 2 cm), which will help retain moisture.

Each apple tree should have at least 1-2 buckets of water., after using which the soil in the tree circle should be mulched with dry grass. The need to perform the next irrigation is determined based on the depth of drying of the soil. So, if the soil had time to dry 4-5 cm deep, it means that the plant needs another portion of moisture.

If irrigation system is used for irrigation, the procedure is performed between rows. In the dry season, columnar apples respond well to irrigation, which is carried out in the morning or evening, after sunset.On light soils, watering is performed about 2-3 times a week.

Top dressing of Apple

First feeding Colony-shaped apple trees are made when planting a seedling, when fertilizers mixed with soil are placed at the bottom of the pit. With the arrival of summer, about a month after planting a young tree, the plants are fed again, using a solution of urea (50 g of the substance must be taken in a bucket of water), and the plant is watered at the root.

Second feeding spend two weeks after the first, and the third, respectively, two weeks after the previous one. Only one urea solution can be used as a fertilizer, because this fertilizer will be more than enough for normal growth and development of the plant.

Features pruning Apple-shaped in Siberia

Pruning apple trees in Siberia is another important aspect in the care of such plants. Taking into account the unique structure of the crown of these apples, they practically do not need pruning, and most often gardeners simply cut off dying and damaged branches (affected by pests or frosts).If the apple tree is overgrown with young shoots, it is also better to cut them, using the extra parts for grafting new bushes. Experienced gardeners know exactly when it is necessary to prune apple trees in Siberia (usually in early spring), but when cultivating colonic species in such harsh regions where there is always a risk of freezing tops of trunks, they are not just shortened, but cut to the next strong escape. Due to the fact that only one of the most developed shoots remains, the trunk of an apple tree will be only one. Replacing shoots grow very quickly and soon begin to bear fruit abundantly.

Despite the fact that when grown in Siberia, a sufficiently large part of the crown will die off all the time, the apple tree itself is fully capable of continuing its development after appropriate pruning.

Major pests and diseases of the columnar apple

Like other types of apple trees, columnar trees are not able to resist pests on their own, which is why gardeners have to spray the crown with special preparations even when insect damage is not strong.At the same time, it should be noted that the columnar varieties have a higher level of resistance to pests and diseases, therefore, it is easier to deal with them than when growing ordinary varieties of these fruit trees.

In the epiphytotic years, a massive invasion of pests of buds, aphids and tsvetoedov can cause significant damage to the crop. Protection against this scourge involves the use of the same measures as in ordinary apple orchards: spring processing with special preparations, collecting and burning the foliage and branches remaining after the winter, etc.

Colonoid apple trees and insecticide plants (for example, lemon balm, dill, marigold or calendula) protect the plant well, especially since their planting will not only help to solve this problem, but also help decorate the garden.

How to protect the apple tree from frost

No matter what frost-resistant apple trees for Siberia you planted on your plot, in particularly frosty winters there is a probability of freezing of the top bud on the central shoot.

To prevent this trouble, a young tree is covered on top with several layers of burlap, spunbond or any other insulating material.

With the arrival of winter, mice and hares may start in your garden, which often gnaw up the bark of trees. It is possible to fence off their columnar apple trees from their attention by simply wrapping the trunk with a net-rabbit, prikadav it into the ground by 2-3 cm (only very carefully, so as not to damage the root).

After each snowfall, gently seal the snow around the trunk of the tree, which will also help block the way for rodents.

In general, the process of planting and further care of the columnar apple trees in the harsh Siberian regions is slightly different from their cultivation in warmer climatic zones. The main condition is attention and strict adherence to all agrotechnical requirements.