How to plant fruit trees in the fall: planting times

Summer residents, when trees are planted in spring or autumn A number of contributing factors are taken into account. Weather conditions and soil conditions can change from year to year. And seedlings also vary in quality.

Both times of year have advantages and disadvantages that should be taken into account to ensure that the seedlings take root better.

Pros and cons of autumn planting

Weather conditions such as snowfall, ice, and strong gusty winds will adversely affect the health of young trees. As a result, the seedlings are damaged, and the money spent on them is wasted.

Main disadvantages

1. Pests that are hungry at this time can eat the bark of planted trees and shrubs.
2. After planting, the still-weak seedlings will be exposed to severe frosts, heavy rains, and wind. The root system isn't yet mature enough to withstand such challenges.
3. Oddly enough, garden plants are often stolen when a person is absent from the garden plot.

Benefits of planting fruit trees in the fall

1. There's a huge selection of planting material at fairs and in specialty stores. When purchasing plants after the summer fruiting season has ended, gardeners can see not only the quality of the seedlings themselves but also the fruit's size, shape, and flavor.
2. The soil is moist and loose in autumn, which minimizes human labor required for watering.
3. If the seedlings are planted on time and correctly, then by spring they already have a well-developed root system, which cannot be said about trees planted in the spring.

What types of trees are planted in autumn?

When planting trees and shrubs at their dachas in the fall, gardeners avoid using seedlings and plants brought from southern regions. Even with light snowfall, they die. The list of permitted plants includes two types of greenery.

Time is of the essence

A gardener can successfully plant fruit trees in the fall if they follow the schedule. In the central part of the country, garden trees are planted in early autumn. The list is as follows:

• cherry plum;
• cherry;
• rowan;
• apple;
• plum variety "Siberian".

In the central part of the country, I don't plant apricots or peaches until spring. This can only be postponed until fall in southern regions. If the plot is located in the northern region, then planting fruit trees in the fall is permitted from early September until October 15th. Residents of southern regions plant from mid-September to mid-November.

If the deadlines have passed

It's not always easy for gardeners to meet the deadlines for autumn planting of fruit trees. The procedure in such situations is as follows:

• a hole is dug in the highest part of the garden;
• a plant is placed in it;
• the place for the hole should not be surrounded by standing water;
• they dig a gentle southern wall of the ditch;
• the height of the northern wall is 0.5 m;
• the northern wall is made vertical;
• the roots of the seedlings are sprinkled with earth;
• the roots of the seedlings are generously watered;
• the roots should not be intertwined;
• the seedlings are covered with soil so that only the tips of the branches remain;
• green spaces are covered with spruce branches to protect against pests;
• As soon as a full layer of snow has fallen, it is compacted around the tree trunk circle.

As soon as spring arrives in full force, transplant the seedlings from their temporary holes into permanent ones at your dacha. This should be done before the first buds appear.

Stages of tree planting

The starting point is planting a fruit tree on paper using a diagram. The density is determined based on the tree's root system and the factors listed below:

• Is it planned to plant trees in a checkerboard pattern?
• maximum height of each fruit tree;
• type of rootstock used.

After analyzing the listed parameters, markup is created.

When drawing up a diagram, take into account the area that the plant’s root system will require.

The second rule when creating a garden plan is to plant compatible trees next to each other. Beginners should ask themselves two questions. The first is which fruit trees are recommended for planting in the fall on my property. The second is how they should be arranged.

The “+” sign indicates 100% compatibility, “-” indicates that joint planting is prohibited, and “+/-” indicates that there is a slight chance of mutual hostility developing.

Choosing a landing site

The practical stage of planting fruit trees in the fall in the Moscow region begins with site selection. This requires a level surface. Tall and low-growing varieties should be positioned so they don't block the light. In areas where space is limited, seedlings are planted in the shade of the tallest greenery. The third rule is to avoid sites with a high groundwater table.

Soil preparation

Proper planting of fruit tree seedlings in the fall begins with choosing the hole diameter. The standard diameter is 40 cm (diameter) and 60 cm (depth). If you plan to plant pome fruits, the hole size is 80 x 80 cm. It's best to plant fruit trees yourself, following the recommendations below:

• If the seedling does not fit into the hole, then it needs to be enlarged, and not the roots cut off;
• the bottom of the pit is sprinkled with a layer of crushed stone, pebbles, small gravel - 40 mm;
• When removing the top layer, be careful;
• Organic or mineral fertilizers are added to the top layer.

After planting, the seedling needs time. For the next 24 months, its source of nutrition will come from the nutrients it absorbs from the soil.

Preparing seedlings

For planting seedlings in autumn Select plants with a well-developed root system. If there is minor damage to the roots or branches, do not use them. In extreme cases, prune the seedling back to a healthy area. If a gardener decides to plant seedlings with pruned roots, the harvest may be reduced. The minimum length of the main root is 35 cm or more. A shorter root is unacceptable, otherwise the harvest will not be possible. The second requirement is the presence of a large number of branches from the main root.

Landing

A stake is placed at the bottom of the dug hole. This is necessary to create a guide. The next step is to spread out the roots of the bushes or trees. They are then filled with a mound of nutrient mixture:

• 1 kg of rotted manure;
• 1 kg of fertile soil;
• I use up to 30 kg of mixture per hole.

Fruit trees are best planted in the fall without using fresh manure. Gardeners planning to plant trees in clay soil can improve its characteristics. Repotting will not be necessary in the spring if a mixture of three buckets of peat and three buckets of compost is added to the hole. The layered "pie" is then covered with two buckets of river sand.

Proper care

Saplings transplanted to their permanent location must be properly treated. The root collar should be positioned so that after planting, it is above ground level. The soil should not touch it. The second rule is that each green planting requires a specific depth of planting. For example, apple and pear trees can be planted in the fall as long as the root collar is 6 cm above ground.

Regular watering

Gardeners make mistakes. While some economize, others are generous with water. After learning what trees your neighbors plant in the fall, it's a good idea to clarify their watering guidelines. Residents of northern regions apply one bucket of water, those in the center two, and those in the south three buckets after planting. Further watering depends on the region's climate. In moderate humidity during the fall, water once every 20 days. If forecasters predict a rainy season, Mother Nature is the one to take charge.

You can't rush with whitewashing

Botanists advise choosing trees with smooth bark, which are best planted in the fall. They can be whitewashed regardless of weather conditions. The situation is more complex with varieties with perfectly smooth bark. These should not be whitewashed. This prohibition applies to the branches and trunk.

You may be interested in:

Fruit seedlings from Moscow nurseries: where to buy
There is no need to doubt that only a healthy seedling of a properly bred variety can ultimately grow into...Read more…

Advice from experienced people

Gardeners who want to plant fruit crops correctly in their plots choose seeds from Ural or Siberian selections. They are guaranteed to survive the winter. Residents of southern regions select seed for growing stone fruits based on their tolerance to high temperatures. Scheduled plantings are carried out in late October. After planting, water thoroughly. Compost will help protect the plantings from the vagaries of nature. It is placed around the tree trunks and compacted.

List of errors

The list of gardening mistakes begins with incorrect timing. Fruit trees can be planted in the garden before the onset of cold weather. Winter should be at least 45 days away. The second common mistake is making holes too deep. The lower the root collar, the higher the risk of rot. The list of other mistakes is as follows:

• organic abuse;
• excessive application of mineral fertilizers;
• adding undiluted chicken manure to the hole;
• introduction of a large volume of saltpeter.

The list of mistakes ends with excessive pruning of the crowns of seedlings.

Botanists remind us that there is no universal list of fruit trees and shrubs that are suitable or not for fall planting. From September to the end of October, select varieties that are best suited to the region's climate. The second rule is to plant trees one month before the onset of frost. If this deadline is not met, botanists recommend the following: Plant the seedlings of the selected fruit trees in temporary holes. In the spring, when temperatures stabilize, they should be transplanted to their permanent locations.