Preparing for winter and caring for apple trees in the fall in the Moscow region

Apple

Before the autumn frosts arrive, many gardeners rush to prepare their trees and shrubs for winter. To ensure that the trees survive the winter well, proper apple tree care should be provided in the fall. Winter preparation consists of several stages: including pruning, fertilizing, whitewashing, and other activities. This integrated approach is designed to ensure resistance to harmful factors during the cold season.

The relevance of autumn care

Some gardeners postpone all gardening work until spring, considering autumn to be unimportant. This common mistake can lead to plant infestations and winter deaths for a variety of reasons. Autumn care of apple trees consists of the following:

Carrying out preventive work to protect trees from the penetration of parasites and their larvae.
Protection from development diseases.
Protection from damage by small rodents.
Protect the bark from sunlight. Direct and prolonged exposure of the tree trunk to sunlight can cause sunburn.
Increased frost resistance.
Improving the quality and quantity of crop yields.

Important!

Based on this list, it's clear that even in autumn, a gardener has a lot of work to do. If the bushes aren't cared for after the harvest, they'll have a much harder time surviving the winter.

Timing of pre-winter works

Gardeners' workload doesn't diminish in the fall. This is the time to harvest, store it in the cellar for long-term storage, or prepare it for winter preserves. Before the first frosts, it is recommended to carry out the following measures:

Remove fallen leaves from the garden.
Fertilize and water the bushes.
Loosen the soil under the trees.
Clean the trunks and prune old branches.
To combat pests, treat trees with disinfectants.
Whitewash the apple trees before the cold weather.
Mulch the soil under the plant trunks.
Protect the base of the trunks from frost and rodents.

Healthy!

Each of these steps doesn't require much effort or time. If you plan the entire process into several stages and study their sequence in advance, your apple trees will delight you with abundant harvests for seasons to come.

Each region begins work at a specific time. In the Moscow region, apple trees begin preparing for winter in mid-October. Trees are covered when the temperature drops to -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) for several days.

In the Urals, preparations for winter begin in September. Residents of Siberia are also sheltering fruit varieties Plants begin to be pruned with the onset of autumn. In the Leningrad region, this work is carried out after the first frosts.

Removing fallen leaves

After harvesting fruit, gardeners begin clearing their property of fallen leaves. Some gardeners prefer to skip this step and use dry leaves as mulch around the tree trunks. In reality, this step leaves a haven for harmful insects. Ticks often make their homes in leaves, debris, or dry grass.

To prevent pests from spreading, remove not only fallen leaves and weeds from trees, but also broken branches from the garden. All collected debris should be burned.

Fertilizing and watering apple trees in autumn

Once harvesting is complete, you can begin watering and fertilizing your garden trees. To allow the soil to absorb moisture and nutrients, it's recommended to perform this stage of apple tree care in August and September.

To save time and effort, it's possible to combine these two types of work. To do this, pour a bucket of water under each trunk and add fertilizer. Fertilizer is applied twice in September—at the beginning and end of the month. Watering is done two to three times a week. During frequent and heavy autumn rains, the frequency of watering is reduced to avoid excess moisture and root rot.

After abundant fruiting, trees require potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. These substances should be applied in the amounts indicated on the packaging. It's also important to combine the procedures in the correct order: first watering, then application of fertilizerEvery gardener should understand the importance of autumn apple tree care. Proper preparation for winter will ensure the survival of all the trees and a bountiful harvest.

Loosening the soil under trees

To ensure adequate moisture and nutrients for the roots and to enrich the bushes with oxygen, it's necessary to loosen the soil regularly. The root system needs one month to restore its natural balance and nutrient reserves.

It's advisable to begin loosening the soil after re-fertilizing. Experienced gardeners recommend using a pitchfork for this procedure. Use it very carefully. so as not to damage the root systemWater the plants generously the day before loosening. Carefully dig the soil within a 1-1.5 meter radius, being careful not to disturb the root system.

Pruning and cleaning the bush trunk

Besides watering and fertilizing before frost, the bulk of apple tree care must be done in the fall. Pruning involves removing old branches. Besides pruning, tree trunks should be thoroughly cleared of moss, lichen, growths, and cracked bark. Open cuts and damaged areas should be sealed with special substances, which every gardener should have on hand.

Before starting work, prepare all necessary tools and materials. To clean the trunks, you'll need a plastic spatula and a large piece of rag or film. Fabric gloves and plastic goggles are recommended for protection.

It's best to begin work immediately after rain, when the bark is still damp. In dry weather, the tree trunks need to be generously moistened to make the bark pliable and soft. The procedure is carried out in the following sequence:

They spread oilcloth under the tree trunk.
Using a plastic tool, remove all unnecessary things: moss, lichen, old and cracked bark.
They begin to remove old branches.

Important!

Gardeners remove moss and lichen, as well as old, cracked bark, to prevent plant diseases. Many insects often spend the winter under tree bark, where they hatch their larvae in the spring. Apple tree bark is an ideal habitat for them.

Unlike older trees, young ones don't require as much maintenance. Caring for young apple trees in the fall is limited to light pruning. Only diseased, damaged, or dead branches are removed.

Severely crooked shoots should also be removed. In addition to pruning young trees, it is recommended to shape the crown. Formative pruning is performed annually in the fall during the first five years of the bush's growth.

Mature apple trees undergo rejuvenating pruning to increase yield. In addition to deformed branches, about a third of the crown is pruned. To ensure adequate sunlight exposure, the tree tops are thinned.

To prevent the spread of spores to healthy plant parts, all removed debris is immediately burned. All exposed areas after removing affected branches are treated with garden pitch, clay slurry, or any other suitable product.

It's important to complete these steps a month before the first frost. This allows time for all wounds to heal and the cuts to dry. Final gardening work is done in October.

Disinfection measures

Due to inexperience, some gardeners only begin spraying for pests in the spring. However, spraying apple trees in the fall is no less important. Numerous harmful insects lay their larvae in small cracks or under the bark of trees. Adults also find shelter from the cold there.

To prevent infection, trees are treated in the fall. Spraying is done a week after pruning. During this period, sap flow slows, and concentrated, potent treatments can be safely applied.

Whitewashing the trunk

After disinfection, it is recommended to wait ten days before whitewashing. Fall whitewashing will not only protect trees from insects but also prevent sunburn. Minor sun damage may not be immediately noticeable. However, over time, yield declines, the tree becomes weak, and may die if the gardener doesn't take appropriate measures.

To prevent these unfortunate consequences, apple trees should be whitewashed. You can make the solution yourself or purchase a ready-made mixture from a store. The product should be lime-based, suitable for older trees. For young trees, chalk-based products are recommended. Whitewashing should be done in dry weather, preferably during a week of no precipitation.

Adding special substances like "Creolin" or "Knockdown" to the whitewash will provide protection against rodents. It is recommended to select a brush appropriate for the trunk width. Branches should be whitewashed to a height of 30 centimeters from the base. A few days after whitewashing, you can begin mulching the soil.

Mulching tree trunk circles

Not all gardeners consider mulching a necessary part of tree care. However, this method not only helps retain moisture in the root system but also protects it from freezing during cold weather. It is recommended to use spruce branches, sawdust, or peat for this purpose.

Mulching with fresh manure runs the risk of burning the tree's trunk. Wet and rotting foliage will become a haven for numerous pests and a source of infestation. Mice can nest in the straw and chew on the bark throughout the winter.

For mature apple trees, the mulch layer should be at least 15 centimeters deep. For young trees, it should be 25 centimeters. In northern regions, this height increases to 35 centimeters. Chain-link fencing can be used to protect against strong winter winds or rodent attacks. Wrap it around the lower part of the trunk, over the mulch.

If you follow all the steps in strict sequence, preparing for winter won't seem difficult. It's important to create a rough schedule of work in advance and adhere to it strictly. The viability and productivity of your garden depend on these activities.