A guide to planting a pear tree in the fall

The pear tree belongs to a genus of fruit and ornamental trees that have been cultivated since ancient times. Its seedlings are planted in the spring, but fall planting is considered more favorable. To ensure young trees develop quickly and begin bearing fruit within 2-3 years, it is essential to plant the pear tree correctly in the fall. To do this, it is important to understand all the intricacies and advantages of this process.

Main advantages

Despite a number of disadvantages, planting pear seedlings in the fall has many advantages. During this period, you can acquire higher-quality planting material, as almost all nurseries dig up large quantities of young trees. Furthermore, There are some more advantages:

1. The cost of seedlings is much lower than in spring.
2. The root system of the planting material develops much more actively.
3. Due to frequent rains, the roots receive sufficient moisture for favorable development.

After spring planting, the seedling primarily develops green mass, while the autumn crop develops its root system. This means that autumn-grown trees develop 20 days faster than spring-grown ones. Pear trees' root systems have time to acclimate to winter cold, so they tolerate spring frosts much better.

With the onset of the first frosts, new plantings become their primary food source. Severe frosts can destroy fragile seedlings, so pears are not planted in the fall north of the temperate zone.

You may be interested in:

This drugstore remedy will help cure blackening and curling of pear tree leaves.
Being one of the favorite fruit trees of summer residents, the pear tree is often attacked by insect pests and…Read more…

Favorable timing

In autumn, seedlings are dormant as they prepare their root system for frost. This can be determined by the absence of foliage. Therefore, it is crucial to plant seedlings 2-3 weeks before the onset of cold weather, otherwise the roots will freeze and the tree will die. For each climate zone there are planting times:

1. In the Moscow region, planting begins in late September and ends in mid-October. The root system usually has time to establish itself before frost sets in.
2. The Urals and Siberia – since autumn in these regions is very short, pear trees are planted starting in early September. If they take root, the mature tree will tolerate winter frosts well.
3. Belarus – in this area, apple and pear trees are planted almost until the end of October.

Gardeners try to find out the forecast for the first frost before planting. If they feel they won't have time, they postpone the process until spring. To do this, place the seedling in a bucket with a mixture of peat and sawdust. Store it in a basement, cellar, or other cool place.

Selecting a seedling

To ensure high-quality and undamaged planting material, it's best to purchase it from reputable sources. During this period, sellers offer young plants with bare roots. It's believed that seedlings up to two years old develop best. They better withstand digging, transportation, and handling. must have the following characteristics:

1. The central root is at least 30 cm long, with 4-5 branches extending from it. All elements of the root system should be undamaged and bend easily.
2. The crown of a young tree and its roots should be equally developed. If there are too many branches and not enough root shoots, then the seedling was not grown and dug up properly.
3. The bark on the planting material should be dense, without obvious damage.

After purchase, the seedling should be planted within two weeks. During this time, the roots are covered with damp burlap and wrapped in paper to prevent them from drying out.

Preparatory work

Pear seedlings tolerate sandy and harder soils well. If the soil contains a lot of clay, it's better to choose a more favorable site for planting. If the soil is very humid, it's necessary to raise the soil level and provide drainage to prevent root rot. Once a site has been selected, gardeners begin preparing the planting holes. This process usually begins a few days in advance. they carry it out in stages:

1. Dig a round hole with a diameter of 0.8 m; if it's square, the sides will be the same size. The depth depends on the age of the seedling: 0.5 m for a one-year-old; 0.6-0.7 m for a two- and three-year-old.
2. A fertile soil mixture is prepared for each hole and fertilized. Pear trees thrive on superphosphate and ammonium fertilizers. To do this, the selected topsoil is mixed with sand, peat, superphosphate, and rotted manure. If the soil is too acidic, lime or wood ash is added.
3. A drainage layer of broken brick or coarse crushed stone is placed at the bottom of the hole. If the groundwater is very close to the surface, it's best to plant the young crop in a different area.

Landing rules

The process is virtually identical to planting other fruit trees. The key is to perform all steps correctly and carefully to avoid damaging the seedling and ensure its rapid development. To achieve this, you should follow the step-by-step guideTo plant a pear tree in the fall:

1. First, gardeners trim away thin sections of the root system, leaving a thickness of 2-3 mm for a one-year-old young tree and 3-4 mm for a two-year-old tree. This procedure allows the treated roots to better absorb moisture and minerals. If they are not trimmed, the rooting process will take significantly longer.
2. A small cushion of fertile soil mixture is prepared in the center of the planting hole.
3. Carefully place the seedling on the mound and gradually fill the entire perimeter with loose soil. First, cover the roots evenly, then completely fill the hole.
4. The planting site is lightly compacted, a peg is installed next to the trunk and the seedling is tied to it.
5. All young trees must be watered to encourage new growth. To do this, pour 5-6 buckets of warm water under each bush.
6. Mulch made from peat or wood shavings is poured around the trunk.

Caring for a pear tree

Young trees require careful monitoring and care. If the fall is dry, water the trees promptly. After watering, loosen the soil around the trunk to prevent crusting. If weeds appear, remove them to prevent them from interfering with the growth of the young plant.

To keep rodents away from their plantings, gardeners tie spruce branches or material to the tree trunks. treated with a special substanceAs frost approaches, gardeners cover their bushes with acrylic tents. When snow falls, additional snow can be piled onto the cover. There are a number of diseases, which can affect young pear trees. These include:

• scab;
• fruit rot;
• rust;
• powdery mildew;
• sooty mold.

As a preventative measure, gardeners spray their trees at the end of October. To do this, dissolve 700 ml of urea in a bucket of water. To whitewash the trunks, prepare a solution of water, slaked lime, and 1% copper sulfate.

You may be interested in:

Now we know the reasons and what to do if a pear tree drops its fruit ovaries.
Drying and subsequent fruit drop on pears results in half the harvest being lost. The peak of the disease's development is the end of...Read more…

Otherwise, cracks will appear in the bark, where pests and fungal spores can settle and survive the winter. Unlike mature trees, seedlings are completely covered with the solution. With proper care, young pear trees will bear their first fruit in 2-3 years.