Pruning chokeberry in the fall of 2022 will help you get a good harvest in 2022.
It produces multiple shoots and growths every year. If there are too many of them, the ripening fruits will not have enough light and they will become bitter, since the plant spends nutrients on unnecessary branches. Proper care of chokeberries will increase its productivity and immunity. Dear readers! For you, we have created communities on social networks in which useful articles and interesting ideas are published several times a day! Subscribe and receive useful content in a convenient format!
Mistakes made during pruning.
Among the most common mistakes made when pruning rowan trees, first of all, one should mention not removing branches that grow at an acute angle.
Leaving such shoots is fraught with serious injuries to the tree. Also, quite often, in addition to the central conductor, several large branches growing in parallel are left. Competing with the main trunk, such branches take a significant amount of nutrition, which negatively affects the growth and development of the tree as a whole. The optimal number of main vertical shoots on a bush should be no more than 3 or 5.
The cut is not always made correctly and processed. Thus, a correct cut requires a smooth surface. In this case, it heals much faster, and thereby reduces the likelihood of pathogenic microorganisms entering the wound. Therefore, to carry out pruning, you need to stock up on various well-sharpened tools. Small branches can be removed using pruning shears; larger branches need to be cut down with a garden saw or hacksaw. For very thick and large branches, it is correct to first saw down from below, and then finish from above. This method will prevent the formation of bark chips and lifting of branches.
In addition, it is important that the cut relative to the roots of the tree is made at an angle of 45 degrees. Also, immediately after trimming the branch, it is necessary to treat the cut area
In addition to garden varnish and paint, you can also use special ointments, for example, Funaben 03 PA. This drug already contains a systemic fungicide and significantly accelerates the healing of cuts.
Also, immediately after cutting the branch, it is necessary to treat the cut area. In addition to garden varnish and paint, you can also use special ointments, for example, Funaben 03 PA. This drug already contains a systemic fungicide and significantly accelerates the healing of cuts.
Timing for pruning.
Depending on the age of the tree, as well as the purpose of pruning, the timing of pruning is different.
Thus, he recommends pruning young rowan trees immediately after planting; first of all, this is important for the formation of the crown.
It is preferable to prune mature trees in the summer season. In this case, the cuts made are healed much faster, which reduces the risk of infection of rowan with various viruses and infections that affect wood tissue and tree bark. Practicing gardeners also note that summer tree pruning is more effective than when it is carried out in the spring.
Experts advise pruning rowan trees in good weather, on a warm and dry day, since there is a high probability of avoiding infection of the tree with fungal infections, which spread quite quickly in conditions of high humidity.
After pruning, you must immediately treat the sections using garden varnish or water-based paint. Some gardeners additionally apply fungicide solutions to the cuts. If the cut is not treated, this is fraught with infection by various infections, which can subsequently provoke necrosis of the tree and its death. In order for the cut to tighten faster, it is important that it is even and smooth.
Most often, the following scheme is used for pruning mountain ash. The lower tier of branches is cut so that the height of the trunk is 30 - 60 cm. Pruning is carried out to the ring, that is, almost to the base, or, more precisely, to the influx of a ring-shaped shape. If necessary, trim the skeletal branches, subordinating them to the conductor and aligning them with other branches. The central conductor of the tree should rise 25-30 cm above the upper tier of branches.
Annual pruning of a tree involves cutting off unnecessary shoots, young growth, and removing old branches that are no longer fruit-bearing, but only hinder the development of the tree by taking away nutrition.
In the autumn season, rowan requires more care, which involves taking preventive measures to prevent diseases, and also aimed at increasing productivity in the coming season. Rowan, like most trees, grows more actively in the spring, and in the summer its growth slows down a little. Starting in September, mountain ash gradually enters a state of dormancy, which finally occurs in November. In the fall, it is not recommended to fertilize rowan berries with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, since their effect is aimed at the growth of green mass, and before the imminent start of the dormant period, this is of no use. During this period, pruning rowan trees is also not advisable, since such a procedure will also promote the growth and development of the tree. In addition, cuts made during autumn pruning do not have time to heal quickly, and the tree may freeze.
When the winter is warm and severe cold is no longer expected, you can start pruning rowan trees as early as February. However, in this case it will be very moderate and gentle. Two or four year old trees can be subjected to this pruning. It is better to leave pruning of younger as well as older trees for late spring - early summer. In a number of regions, towards the end of winter, they also begin pruning other fruit trees, such as apple and pear trees, and after a while apricot, plum and peach are pruned.
Some varieties of rowan are very vulnerable to various diseases, so it is recommended to prune them exclusively in summer.
Pruning rowan in autumn
Rowan requires multiple treatments in the fall, designed to minimize the risk of disease and to prepare the plant well for winter in order to obtain a good harvest next year. Rowan, like many trees, grows most intensively in the spring, and growth occurs more slowly in the summer. Between September and November, the rowan tree should enter a state of winter dormancy and gradually harden before the onset of frost.
Since the main growth period for rowan is spring and summer, pruning it differs from pruning other trees, for example, apple, pear or plum. Pruning of fruit trees is done after the harvest is harvested, usually from August to early September, while rowan trees are best pruned in late autumn. In this case, the continued growth of the plant is controlled. In spring, it is advisable not to cut rowan trees, as there is a high probability of infection with fungal diseases and bacterial infections.
Pruning in autumn
Regular pruning is an integral part of caring for chokeberry in the fall. Proper manipulation not only makes the bush compact, but also increases its resistance to diseases and pests that like to live on the plant.
Why trim
Some gardeners, especially amateurs, are interested in whether it is possible to prune chokeberry in the fall. Yes, it is possible and necessary, because pruning is a vital manipulation for a rapidly growing shrub. If excess branches are not trimmed regularly:
- fruits will be set only on the outer branches, since the central part will be too dense and poorly lit;
- the branches will stretch out in search of light, and the rowan will finally lose its decorative effect;
- the plant will grow greatly and in a short time will fill the free area.
Every gardener who cares about the appearance of the plot and wants to harvest a good harvest of medicinal berries must definitely trim the bush, otherwise it will turn into useless thickets.
When is it better to prune - in spring or autumn?
It is worth answering one more important question: when is it better to prune chokeberry - in spring or autumn? According to experts, formative and rejuvenating pruning is best done in early spring. The shift in manipulation is designed to protect the plant from wasting energy before winter. These types of pruning can only be done in regions with mild winters. In other parts of the country, it is better to spread them over several seasons so that the bush loses a minimum amount of strength.
Sanitary pruning of rowan can be done both in spring and autumn with equal benefits. You can remove excess growth throughout the season, since such intervention does not harm the mountain ash.
Timing for pruning in autumn
It is important not to forget about the timing of pruning chokeberry in the fall. Rowan is pruned before the onset of stable frosts. Depending on the growing region, the optimal time for cultivating a bush is in September-October
How to trim correctly - instructions and diagram
In order for the pruning of chokeberry in the fall to bring maximum benefit to the bush, you need to carry out all the work according to the established scheme. If you cut the plant as you please, you should not expect a positive effect. Moreover, improper pruning will only worsen the condition of the plant.
How to prune rowan in the fall? Formative pruning is carried out as follows:
- 1 year. Thin, weak branches are cut off, and all other shoots are shortened to a height of 10-20 cm above the ground.
- 2nd year 3-5 strong shoots are selected from the shoots and shortened to the same level. The shoots that grow from the root are cut to zero.
- 3rd year. The bush is pruned in the same way as in the previous year. Only 3-4 shoots are left from the young shoots, and the rest are completely cut off.
Please note that after formation, no more than 10-12 branches should remain in the bush. Otherwise, little sunlight will reach the center of the bush, which will lead to a deterioration in fruiting
During sanitary pruning of chokeberry in the fall, dry, diseased, broken and thin branches are removed from the crown. As well as side shoots on skeletal branches that thicken the crown.
Rejuvenating pruning of chokeberry consists of the following steps:
- In adult bushes, old branches over 8 years old are replaced with young ones. In this way, the bush is gradually rejuvenated. Instead of an old branch, you need to leave a young one located nearby. If the distance between them is large, the width of the bush will increase.
- To bring very old bushes back to life, all branches are cut flush with the ground. Next year, a lot of new growth will grow from the rhizome, which must be thinned out throughout the season. Only 2-3 strong branches should remain on the renewed bush. In subsequent years, the bush is formed.
Care after pruning, fertilizing and fertilizing
After pruning chokeberry in the fall, it is necessary to carry out subsequent care. At the end of the work, the cut branches are removed from the site and burned. Pests and pathogens that have accumulated over the season are destroyed along with the garbage. Large wounds are covered with garden varnish or oil paint.
Fertilizer is applied after pruning rowan only if the plant has not been fed in the previous few seasons. Nutrients are added to the soil in the form of potassium-phosphorus fertilizer.
Trimming Features
A chokeberry bush is a joint growth of many shoots that extend from the base of the root system. If desired, the bush is often created in various forms. Tree-like is more common. The plant has a rather attractive appearance and gives the site a decorative appearance. In autumn, chokeberry leaves are painted in different colors, creating a unique effect.
Young bushes
When shaping young plants a year after planting, the strongest shoot should be left and all root shoots should be removed. Leave up to 6 buds on this shoot annually until the trunk reaches the required height. Then the growth point should be removed.
Note!
This method will stimulate the growth of branches from the sides. Then it will be possible to form the desired crown.
But among gardeners there is an opinion that the remaining single branches can reduce the yield. Young shoots can be removed throughout the summer. Such activities do not harm young plants. Autumn pruning is done after harvesting (black berries).
How to prune rowan trees in summer
Young, recently planted mountain ash is pruned mainly in the spring immediately after planting to form a crown. Old rowan trees can be pruned in the summer, and the cuts heal faster and there is less risk of infection in the bark and wood. Summer pruning of rowan brings better results than in spring.
It is recommended to cut rowan in good weather, on a dry and sunny day. Since in sunny weather, rowan is less susceptible to fungal diseases.
Types and patterns of pruning
There are three types of rowan pruning: formative, rejuvenating and sanitary.
When choosing the type of pruning, pay attention to the following facts: how old is the plant, what condition is it in and how many branches are there that bear fruit?
Formative
It is used for young seedlings. At the very beginning of life, young chokeberry does not need to be cleaned and shaped. Because In the first year, it grows very quickly and actively develops roots; pruning can cause injury to it.
Scheme for pruning chokeberry:
- In a two-year-old rowan, 3-5 strong branches are found that should bear the most fruit, and they are cut at the same height, about 40-50 cm.
- On a plant aged 3-4 years, the branches are chosen in the same way as for a two-year-old rowan, only grown from new roots.
- After 5-6 years, 3-5 branches are selected from the new shoots, which should be strong and produce a large harvest. They are pruned at the same level as the previous ones.
- 10-15 pruned branches form a beautiful crown and should bear a lot of berries.
To maintain the beautiful appearance of the chokeberry throughout its growth, branches are removed once a year at the age of 6-7 years and replaced with younger ones that grow next to the removed ones. When pruning, leave no more than 15 branches that bear fruit.
On a note! The branches that form the crown should be sparse enough to allow sunlight to penetrate and reach each branch, and the roots to be well ventilated.
Ventilating the roots will allow the development of a large number of fruit-bearing branches and will not allow the fungus to multiply, which will greatly simplify the care of chokeberry.
Rejuvenating
This is done only on old trees that are 10-15 years old. To rejuvenate the plant, all branches are cut down to the very roots. A year later, in the spring, the bush will produce new branches. There will be a lot of such branches, and the first fruits will appear in 2-3 years. After radical pruning, a year later, a formative pruning is carried out.
Sanitary
In the fall, all chokeberry bushes undergo sanitary pruning. First, the bush is inspected; if weak branches affected by disease, damage, or deformation are detected, such branches are cut off. All lateral young branches are removed from the skeletal branches.
Trim the branches right to the root so that there are no stumps left above the ground. If stumps remain, there is a high risk of infection of the cutting areas with pests and bacteria. You can determine the age of a branch by the number of sprouts on its trunk:
- annual shoots extend straight from the soil and there are no shoots on them;
- the presence of one shoot may indicate that the trunk is already 2 years old;
- if two shoots have already formed on the trunk, this indicates that the branch is three years old;
- Rowan trunks over 7 years old are much darker than young ones, the shoots can branch, its bark is covered with something similar to lichen.
When pruning chokeberry in the spring, a video for beginners will help you do the job correctly.
Chokeberry tincture
Necessity and timing of pruning
If thinning and pruning of the chokeberry tree is not done in a timely manner, the crown will become very dense, and the shoots growing inside will not have enough sunlight. In such a situation, a large amount of useful substances is spent not on laying berries, but on extra branches, on their growth. The appearance of flowers and berries can only be expected from branches located outside. The taste of fruits on thickened bushes becomes sour, the berries themselves are small, and they lack any useful substances. After proper pruning, you can expect a good harvest. In addition, the bush will look well-groomed.
If the procedure is carried out 1-2 times a year, the plant will grow correctly, and fruit set, which contains many valuable macro- and microelements, will improve. If excess branches are not removed, berries will appear only on branches growing from the edges, because the middle does not have enough light, and there will be an impassable thicket there. The shoots will begin to reach towards the sun, and the bush will lose its decorative appearance. Due to its strong growth, the chokeberry will turn into thickets and occupy a huge area.
All about growing healthy Chokeberry
This plant is better known as chokeberry. It is a fruit and ornamental shrub from 1 to 4 meters tall. The crown diameter can reach 2 meters. The homeland of chokeberry is actually North America, but the plant has taken root here due to its unpretentiousness and frost resistance, and as if there is no doubt that rowan is “our” local plant.
This shrub deserves special attention, since its berries are a storehouse of vitamins and various microelements. Chokeberry is early-fruiting and bears fruit within 1-2 years after planting. It is very productive - several kg of berries can be harvested from one bush. And the plant itself is very decorative, especially in autumn. By autumn it will replace its white spring (late May-early June) and beautiful blooms with clusters of no less decorative fruits with a waxy coating, and will dress itself in a colorful autumn outfit. With this plant you can easily kill many birds with one stone - increase immunity, normalize blood pressure, lower blood cholesterol levels, improve the functioning of the endocrine system, improve the strength of blood vessels and simply enjoy its beautiful appearance.
Chokeberry bushes grow very quickly and tolerate pruning well. This plant is great for creating both a shaped and a free-form hedge.
Chokeberry should be planted in open and sunny places. For areas with close groundwater, this plant is ideally suited, and where apple and pear trees will not grow, you can safely plant chokeberry. If you are planting several bushes, keep a distance of 2 to 2.5 meters between them. The best time for planting will be autumn (September-October). Rowan seedlings are placed in holes about 40 cm deep, filled with a mixture of the top layer of soil and compost. From fertilizers, 150 g of superphosphate and 50-70 g of potassium sulfate are added to the planting pit. After planting, chokeberry bushes must be pruned, leaving 4-5 buds on each shoot.
Caring for a chokeberry bush consists of maintaining soil moisture, sanitary pruning of weak and old branches, periodic thinning of thickening branches, loosening and weeding of the tree trunk area, and fertilizing. The plant needs to be fed twice during the growing season. During the season, one bucket of humus and compost is added under adult bushes, and in the fall, up to 70 g of superphosphate and up to 30 g of potassium sulfate.
Pruning chokeberry. It is imperative to carry out sanitary pruning and promptly remove dry, broken, thin and weak branches. You should not let the growth of such a powerful and fast-growing plant take its course and limit yourself only to sanitary pruning. So that over time, due to the intensity of growth of powerful chokeberry shoots, the crown does not thicken, the lighting of the interior does not decrease, and fruiting does not shift to the periphery of the bush, as is usually the case with powerful shrubs, it is necessary to begin formative pruning of the bush in the second year after planting. Your task will be to form a bush with 20-25 strong main branches. To do this, every spring, starting from the year following planting, you should remove all root shoots, leaving 5 of the strongest and most conveniently growing branches. Remove all others at ground level. By doing this for several years in a row, you will form a well-ventilated and illuminated bush with harmoniously arranged branches. All poorly located branches in the center of the crown and not receiving enough light should be removed. After 8-10 years of the bush’s life, it is necessary to begin anti-aging pruning, gradually cutting out all the old, fruit-bearing and unpromising branches from the crown. Try to remove all branches as low as possible, without leaving stumps.
Fruit harvesting occurs, depending on climatic conditions, from August to October. The berries ripen all at once, so you can harvest the entire crop at once. It is convenient to collect chokeberry berries by cutting entire clusters from the branches using scissors or pruners. If you are undecided among the many recipes for using chokeberry, it will easily last for quite a long time in a cool place.
The chokeberry fruit itself is of little taste, and is used mainly to add to other fruits in jams, juices or tinctures, and gives them a very beautiful color. The most common chokeberry variety among gardeners is “Black Eyes”. It is distinguished by the large size of the berries, several times larger than their usual size (about 1 cm), and the excellent taste of the fruit.
Pruning chokeberry (chokeberry)
By pruning chokeberry, a bush is formed from young, strong shoots. They ensure that shading is not created and that the entire crown is saturated with fruits, and not just the upper part of the bush. The main pruning is carried out in early spring, before the buds open. Sanitary pruning is carried out in the spring and during the summer.
Chokeberry bears fruit from the previous year's growths from the lateral apical buds. The most productive branches are up to 6-8 years old.
Pruning first year chokeberry.
Saplings grown from seeds tolerate replanting well, without requiring shortening of annual growth.
When planting, shoots of two-year-old seedlings are cut off, leaving 2-3 buds on each.
Pruning second year chokeberry.
Next year in the spring, 3-5 of the strongest branches are selected from the shoots emerging from the root. They are equalized in terms of growth strength - they are cut so that the tops are approximately at the same level. The remaining young branches coming from the root are cut out at the base.
Pruning of the third, fourth year.
From the shoots emerging from the root, 3-5 of the strongest branches are again selected. They are equalized in terms of growth strength - they are cut so that the tops are approximately at the same level. The remaining young branches coming from the root are cut out at the base.
Pruning of the fifth and sixth years.
From the shoots emerging from the root, 3-5 of the strongest branches are again selected. They are equalized in terms of growth strength - they are cut so that the tops are approximately at the same level. The remaining young branches coming from the root are cut out at the base.
Old branches of the 5th-6th year are cut out at the base, as low as possible, without leaving stumps. They also get rid of broken, diseased and damaged, thin and weak branches.
Further, every year (starting from 5-6 years) 10-15 fruit-bearing branches of different ages are left in the bush (basal shoots older than 5-6 years are cut out annually, leaving the same number of young, developed shoots to replace them).
When the bush is already formed, carefully ensure that there is good lighting throughout its entire depth. Without a sufficient amount of light, there will be no normal branching, and flower buds will not form.
Every year in spring, summer and autumn, the bushes are inspected and the crown is cleaned as necessary. Remove broken, drying out, diseased, weak, thin and other branches of little value.
A very old (or neglected) bush may benefit from rejuvenation. Cut off the entire above-ground part of the bush (both old and young branches). A large amount of growth will appear in place of the removed bush. The 2-3 strongest ones are selected and the rest are removed. During the summer, the emerging shoots are cut out several more times. After 2-3 years the bush will be completely rejuvenated.
Bush formation and maintenance sanitary pruning
During the formation of the shrub, carefully monitor its crown.
After planting a young chokeberry seedling, transplanted or grown from seed, the current year's growth does not need to be shortened. In the first year, all the plant’s forces are aimed at adapting and developing the root system.
In subsequent years, when young chokeberry shoots begin to appear, the formation of the bush needs to begin. It is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Three or four of the strongest and most promising branches are left from the shoots, cutting off all other shoots at soil level, as well as those that will grow in the summer.
- For the next four years, the procedure is repeated, leaving 3-5 young shoots and cutting out all unnecessary ones. Thus, in the sixth year, the base of the chokeberry bush will be about 10-12 branches of different ages.
- Then only sanitary cutting is carried out - weak, broken or frost-damaged branches are removed. The root shoots are cut out and the density of the crown is controlled.
- Around the seventh or eighth year, gradual rejuvenation of chokeberry begins. Branches older than seven years are cut off at the very base, leaving no stumps, which can become a breeding ground for infections and pests.
- To replace the removed branches, in the spring they leave such a quantity of strong, healthy shoots, which after a few years will become the basis of the crown.
- In subsequent years, the procedure for replacing branches is repeated, thus achieving constant rejuvenation of chokeberry, without loss in yield.
During the formation of the shrub, carefully monitor its crown. Excessive branching inevitably leads to thickening of chokeberry, and lack of sunlight is the main reason for the decline in yield. Remove all unnecessary shoots that grow inside the crown, because they will be of no use anyway, and nutrients will be wasted.
Why does rowan need pruning?
Chokeberry is a perennial shrub with edible and healthy fruits.
Every year it grows a large number of new branches, which stretch out, preventing new shoots from growing. It is dark inside the crown; due to lack of light, the fruits develop poorly. If pruning is not done, then after 3-5 years the fruiting will decrease several times. The berries will ripen only on the outer branches; there will be none inside the crown. Ripe fruits will become small and sour, as the plant will spend all its energy on growing branches. Old and wild plants may not produce fruit at all. An unpruned bush does not look neat. Every year the outer branches become thinner. To form the crown and make it decorative, the bush is pruned annually. The procedure is done in spring or autumn, this helps to rejuvenate the bush. Fruiting in chokeberry occurs 5-7 years after planting. During the first 2-3 years the bush develops; pruning is not recommended.
The density of the crown leads to infection of the plant. Fungi settle in the shady part of the crown, where moisture is always retained. Rowan can be inhabited by insects that harm it and spread diseases. With a large number of branches, new shoots stop forming and developing.
Why chokeberry pruning?
Chokeberry, or as it is sometimes called. chokeberry is a shrub, so you should not be surprised at the large number of annual shoots. New shoots, growing, fill a significant area, increasing the base of the bush. To avoid shading, adult branches tend upward, sometimes reaching a height of more than 3 meters. At the same time, the growing shoots develop further, thereby causing thickening of the crown. If you do not interfere with this process, then after two or three years the fruiting of such a bush will noticeably decrease and, at best, only the outer branches will bloom and bear fruit, which will receive a sufficient amount of sunlight. But even ripe berries will be small and not juicy, because the nutrients are consumed by the huge green mass of the plant.
Similar problems with the yield of chokeberry are typical for old, as well as neglected, “wild” shrubs. Only timely and regular care will help keep the plant healthy. It should be remembered that branches aged from 5 to 8 years are considered the most fruitful, so plants are often rejuvenated simultaneously with pruning.
How to properly form a chokeberry bush
For beginners, you can watch a video in pictures of step-by-step pruning of chokeberry in the fall. The work is performed with clean and sharp pruning shears. Special means are used to disinfect instruments. When working with a blunt instrument, the plant will be severely injured and will have to be practically torn. The cut is made slightly obliquely above the upper eye. If you cut at a large angle, the vulnerable surface will be large. The stump above the kidney should be small, then the wound will heal faster. Only the right approach will give a good result.
The purpose of shrub formation is timely pruning and removal of root shoots. Every year, no more than 5 strong branches are left on the plant; the tops of annual shoots are cut off. A good fruit-bearing bush should have from 30 to 40 shoots of different ages. If properly cared for, it can produce a crop for a maximum of 20 years, a minimum of 12. To increase the fruiting period, the tops of perennial branches are cut off. As a result, the dormant buds will wake up, sprout, and new ovaries will form on the new shoots.
Branches are cut in spring:
- sick;
- shrunken;
- frozen;
- heavily exposed;
- poorly flowering;
- old.
Once these have been removed to leave the crown more open, further thinning can be done. On shoots that are 8-10 years old, you can’t expect any berries, so they should be cut off. Old branches differ from young ones in color; they are dark, with a large number of side shoots. In the fall, sanitary pruning is performed. After harvesting, you need to inspect the plant, remove broken, dry, unhealthy, weak shoots. At this time, the lateral shoots are cut off from the skeletal branches. Those shoots that cause the bush to become very dense can be removed in the summer. Otherwise, some of the nutrients will be wasted on them. The cut areas must be coated with garden varnish.
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Types and patterns of pruning
When pruning, you should take into account the condition of the tree, its age and the number of fruiting branches. When pruning, diseased, frozen, non-flowering and dried branches are removed. After removal, it is necessary to thin out the crown. Branches that are more than 10 years old must be removed immediately, as they may carry a risk of developing various diseases. Agronomists distinguish several types of pruning.
Formative
A young chokeberry plant does not need pruning in the first year. The plant roots are actively growing. Pruning can only do harm.
Starting from the second year, you must adhere to the following scheme:
- Year 2: you need to select 3-5 branches, cut them approximately at the same distance, no more than 50 cm high.
- 3-4 years: 5 strong branches are separated from the young shoots and pruned at the same level.
- 5-6 years: 5 branches are taken from young shoots, aligned with the rest and a young crown is formed from the resulting 15.
Then pruning is carried out at the rate of 10-15 branches of different ages to form the crown.
Note! All shoots that are under 7 years old are removed and replaced. New young branches grow faster than others.
When carrying out the formation, you must follow simple rules. So that the crown from the base to the crown is equally illuminated by sunlight and warmth. The base area should be well ventilated. These are necessary conditions for the formation of future buds. Such measures prevent damage to various diseases and provide proper care for chokeberry.
Rejuvenating
This type of pruning is used mainly for mature plants that are more than 10 years old. The essence of the method is to remove all branches at the root in the autumn. In spring, the chokeberry will have new shoots. They will begin bearing fruit within 3 years.
Starting next year, the bush must be shaped using the usual methods. Before work, it is better to study the information, watch a video on pruning chokeberry in the fall for beginners in pictures step by step.
Sanitary
Used exclusively in autumn. Conduct a visual inspection of the bush, remove all weak, deformed and diseased shoots. Side branches also need to be removed.
This pruning of chokeberry acts as a preventative. If you prune chokeberry in the fall, it will produce a good harvest the next turn.
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Processing of sections and further care
Measures for caring for chokeberry in the fall include autumn cleaning of the garden and vegetable garden area from trimmed branches. It is advisable to burn them, this way you can destroy the insect pests and pathogens that have accumulated during the warm season. Fertilizing with mineral and organic compounds is allowed if the plant has not been fed for several years. The soil near the trunk of the bush must be dug up to a depth of 30 cm, and the weeds must be pulled out. Chokeberry is an undemanding plant; it is disease resistant. As preventive measures, it is recommended to spray with a solution of urea and Bordeaux mixture in the autumn: 7% and 1%, respectively.
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Chokeberry care
Gardeners carefully prepare rowan trees for winter, trying to do the pruning before the onset of cold weather. In addition to pruning, the shrub needs feeding, mulching and watering if the autumn is dry. The branches need to be pruned to increase the fertility of the rowan and maintain the compactness of the bush.
Pruning rowan is necessary not only to increase fertility, but also to prevent the growth of bushes in the area. If you do not take care of the crop in time, it will quickly fill useful square meters of fertile land and stretch up to three meters in height.
Note! Some gardeners prune twice a year. Watering the bush in the fall is necessary to saturate the roots with moisture.
In chokeberry, the root system is located at the very surface of the earth, so the plant may suffer from a lack of moisture. For watering, make a furrow around the bush and fill it with water (2-3 buckets). Water is poured in portions: first one portion of water should be absorbed, then the second is poured. If there is a lack of moisture, the fruits will be tasteless and small
Watering the bush in the fall is necessary to saturate the roots with moisture. In chokeberry, the root system is located at the very surface of the earth, so the plant may suffer from a lack of moisture. For watering, make a furrow around the bush and fill it with water (2-3 buckets). Water is poured in portions: first one portion of water should be absorbed, then the second is poured. If there is a lack of moisture, the fruits will be tasteless and small.
Top dressing
Rowan is not demanding when it comes to fertilizer; you can apply organic fertilizers (1.5 buckets per adult bush) once every two years. Potassium-phosphorus chemicals are added every third or fourth year: potassium sulfate 30 g, superphosphate 70 g. Young bushes do not need intensive feeding; adult plants from five years old are fertilized.
Important! If you fertilize frequently, the bush will stop bearing fruit due to overgrown foliage. Mulching is carried out using fallen leaves, spruce branches or other organic matter.
A layer of mulch 10 cm high is poured around the roots. This will not only protect the root system from freezing, but will also retain moisture on the soil surface
Mulching is carried out using fallen leaves, spruce branches or other organic matter. A layer of mulch 10 cm high is poured around the roots. This will not only protect the root system from freezing, but will also retain moisture on the soil surface.
Note! Before mulching, carefully dig up the soil around the seedlings to a depth of no more than 10 cm so as not to damage the root system. Is it necessary to cover chokeberry for the winter? This plant tolerates frost well down to -35C, so it does not need shelter. In more severe frosts, care should be taken to additionally protect the rowan from freezing.
However, this applies to adult plants; young bushes need constant protection from the cold.
In more severe frosts, care should be taken to additionally protect the rowan from freezing. However, this applies to adult plants; young bushes need constant protection from the cold.
Is it necessary to cover chokeberry for the winter? This plant tolerates frost well down to -35C, so it does not need shelter. In more severe frosts, care should be taken to additionally protect the rowan from freezing. However, this applies to adult plants; young bushes need constant protection from the cold.
Features of autumn care for chokeberry and preparation for winter
Activities to prepare chokeberry for winter:
- Moisture-charging irrigation.
- Fertilizing strengthens the immune system and lays healthy buds for the future harvest.
- Crown trimming.
- Loosening the tree trunk circle and mulching the surface.
- Covering a young tree (if necessary).
It is important to choose the right time to carry out work in different regions:
- In central Russia and the Moscow region this is usually October.
- In Siberia and the Urals, the dates are shifted to the second half of September or early October.
- In the Leningrad region and other northwestern regions, the optimal time is the first half of October.
- In the southern regions - the second half of October and the beginning of November.
Important!
The general recommendation is that work should be carried out 3 weeks before the onset of frost, but not later.
Rejuvenating pruning of sea buckthorn bush
Sea buckthorn in the photo
Pruning sea buckthorn is mainly sanitary; it is also necessary to remove root suckers in a timely manner. If you don’t pay attention to them, instead of two or three trees, you will get a real “grove” in record time, which will be extremely difficult to get rid of.
Sea buckthorn is a dioecious plant, and it is impossible to change the sex of the tree by pruning. Male plants are distinguished by “promising” large buds, which is sometimes taken advantage of by unscrupulous sellers. Sea buckthorn produces good yields when there are 5-6 female plants in the “harem” of one male plant. If there is not enough space for several trees, you can graft a branch of a male plant into the crown of a female one. There are varieties of sea buckthorn that differ in tree height, fruit size and their shades - from light orange to almost red, and theoretically, sea buckthorn, like an apple tree, can be used to make a “garden tree”.
When placing sea buckthorn in the garden, remember that it is a wind-pollinated plant, and for good fruit set, the crown must be blown by the wind. In cramped conditions you can’t count on high yields.
This shrub is prone to thickening and bare branches. Therefore, you will need rejuvenating pruning of sea buckthorn; for beginners, we can advise combining thinning with harvesting, cutting out part of the branches with fruits and “plucking” them at home, in a calm environment.
Sea buckthorn fruits remain on the branches after leaf fall and even in winter. However, you need to think about protecting the crop from birds; sometimes blackbirds and waxwings arrive as early as September.
Watch the video “pruning sea buckthorn” to better understand how to carry out this important task:
https://babushkinadacha.ru/dachnyj-sad/kak-obrezat-aroniyu-i-oblepixu.html
How to prune chokeberry and sea buckthorn
Both chokeberry and sea buckthorn are quite tall shrubs. Therefore, when pruning chokeberry, as well as when rejuvenating sea buckthorn pruning, you cannot do without a stepladder. To give the bushes a neat shape, it is recommended to shorten the branches at approximately the same height. Sea buckthorn, like chokeberry, must be pruned so that air flows freely penetrate into the crown for better pollination and ventilation of the bush.
How to properly prune chokeberry in spring
In order not to injure the chokeberry branches, pruning is carried out carefully, following the pruning rules. Shoots located on knotty short growths on deformed bark are removed. Diseased branches are removed to the base.
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Required materials and tools
All tools for forming a bush must first be disinfected. Treat it with alcohol, manganese solution, chlorine, copper sulfate. Scissors must be sharp and well sharpened. A blunt instrument will cause injury to the bush, and the branches will begin to ache.
Tool for cutting chokeberry:
- garden pruner with curved blades for removing shoots up to 3 cm;
- carpenter's saw for cutting large branches;
- gloves, special clothing;
- fresh brew, crushed coal.
You must wash your hands before and after work. A person can infect a plant after pruning if he does not follow hygiene rules.
How to properly cover rowan for the winter
Most chokeberry varieties do not need additional protection from frost, as they can withstand temperatures down to -35 °C. But if the seedling was planted shortly before frost or extremely low temperatures are predicted, it is better to cover the chokeberry for the winter.
The easiest way to do this is this: carefully tilt the young plant towards the ground and secure it with wire staples so that the wood does not press against the ground. You can cover the surface with coniferous spruce branches. Next, the rowan should be covered with straw, ephedra or other material. Cover the top with roofing felt or film, but at the same time you need to leave ventilation gaps so that condensation does not form inside due to temperature changes.
Important!
The cover should be removed as soon as it gets warmer, otherwise the plant will begin to rot.