The apple tree grows for several decades.
This unpretentious fruit tree can grow and bear fruit in any soil, in sunny and shaded places. But it grows better in sandy loam, loamy, fertile soil.
The plant should not be planted on clayey, marshy, too alkaline or too acidic soil.
Cold air accumulates in the lowlands, which the apple tree will not like either. Groundwater should be no closer than 1.5 meters from the soil surface. If it is close, the tree is planted on artificial hills or ridges.
An apple tree on a small plot is grown along the northern or north-eastern side. Then it will not shade other trees.
Tall varieties of apple trees are planted at a distance of about 6 m, medium-sized ones – 3 m, and low-growing ones (on dwarf rootstocks) – at 1.5 m.
In warm climates, it is better to plant the tree in the fall, a month before the soil freezes; in the middle zone – in April.
Planting holes are dug in advance, in autumn they are prepared 10 days before planting, for spring – in autumn. Because in spring the soil will not have time to thaw during planting.
For tall trees, holes are dug to a depth of 60 cm, a width and length of 120-150 cm. For apple trees on dwarf rootstocks, a depth of 40 cm, a width of about 90 cm.
In low places and dense soils, the holes are dug no deeper than 50 cm, so that water will not accumulate in them. Then the bottom is loosened with a crowbar.
Stages of planting a seedling
1. A stake is driven into the middle of the hole, a third of the depth is filled with fertile soil of the top layer, which was previously taken out when digging the hole, pre-mixed with fertilizers. Then fertile soil without fertilizers is poured.
2. When filling the hole, compact the soil at the edges and in the middle 2-3 times. Fill the hole with soil so that a mound is formed in the middle.
3. Place the seedling on the mound at a distance of about 5 cm from the stake so that the root collar (or graft on clonal rootstocks) remains 6-7 cm above the edge of the soil. Then, after the soil settles, the seedling will remain at the level of the edge of the hole.
4. The roots of the tree are carefully spread over the mound and covered with fertile soil without fertilizers.
5. During planting, shake the seedling 2-3 times to ensure that there are no voids between the roots.
6. After planting, a ridge of soil taken from the bottom layer of the hole is poured along the edges of the hole, up to 10 cm high, to water the tree.
Then the seedling is tied to a stake and watered.
Approximate composition of fertilizer for one seedling
About 3 buckets of rotted manure. 150 g of superphosphate and potassium fertilizers or 1 kg of ash. If the soil is acidic, then add another 600 g of dolomite flour.
