Winter is a critical time for many fruit crops, especially if we are talking about young, fragile seedlings and a region with harsh climatic conditions. However, the middle zone, as well as the central regions of Russia, can become unfavorable for columnar apple trees, especially if the wrong approach to covering them for the winter is chosen.
The most effective method in this case is to initially adhere to the correct agricultural technology, creating such growing conditions for the apple tree under which it will receive the maximum of what it needs not only in winter, but also in the warm season. This applies to both the system of introducing nutrients and preventive measures to combat diseases and pests of the apple tree, as well as caring for the soil and crown.
Columnar apple trees differ from other varieties of these fruit trees by the special structure of their above-ground parts, thanks to which they receive the unconditional love and reverence of gardeners around the world. Such apple trees have one growth point, located at the top of the central conductor, and do not produce side shoots or branch, thereby taking up less space in the garden, which is especially important for intensive gardening and saving space in a private garden.
Damage to the main shoot in winter can lead to fatal consequences, including the complete death of the plant, which is why it is so important to understand how to organize decent care for a columnar apple tree in winter.
When to start preparing for winter
It is very important to choose the right moment when to cover the apple tree. Carrying out activities too early, when the negative temperature has not completely established and there is a possibility of heat returning, can lead to damping off of the plant’s root system, as well as to the resumption of active growth of the apple tree.
This almost always leads to its death in winter, since the newly formed sections of the shoot of the columnar apple tree will be too weak to survive the coming winter.
Apple trees need to be covered for the winter only when cold weather has finally set in, leading to a slowdown in sap flow and, accordingly, a cessation of active tree growth.
I would like to emphasize that it can withstand a couple of days with low temperatures without any serious consequences, so you should make sure that the warm period is over before you start covering.
How to choose a seedling for planting
To grow juicy, sweet cherries and get a good harvest, you need to choose the right seedlings. The choice depends on the climate in the area where the plant will be planted.
Recommendations and tips for choosing seedlings:
- More often, nurseries grow cherries for planting for industrial purposes. This option is not suitable for a regular garden plot due to the high stem.
- In central Russia, it is recommended to buy seedlings with a trunk of up to twenty centimeters and it is better to choose frost-resistant varieties of cherries. Southern varieties grow up to two meters per season, so they are rarely planted in the middle zone. They do not have time to ripen and prepare for the winter period.
- It is better to buy seedlings in autumn or spring and carefully examine the root system. The roots should be light cream in color, healthy and vigorous.
How to properly cover a columnar apple tree
Unlike other varieties of this fruit crop, the columnar apple tree must be covered, protecting it from frost for the first 5-6 years, then it will become more adapted to the growing conditions, more powerful and strong.
Then, these measures, first of all, will be necessary to preserve the integrity of the trunk of the apple tree, which may be subject to attacks by rodents. The damage caused by these pests in winter can be very great, so mechanical means used to protect against frost can be doubly useful.
The main stages of preparing a columnar apple tree for harsh winters can be reduced to the following most important points:
- After the onset of frost, it is necessary to remove all leaves that have not fallen from the apple tree. This must be done because the litter under the snow rots and can serve as a source of fungal diseases. One small outbreak of pathogenic microorganisms can destroy the entire plant, especially if there are thaws during the winter.
- Organizing the cover of the root circle: especially important for young, tender seedlings of columnar apple trees, the root system of which is located close to the top layer of soil and is susceptible to frost. As a covering material, you can use agrotex or spunbond, which are attached to the trunk with fabric tapes for durability and strength. As an option, sometimes spruce branches and mulch are used; this is a lightweight covering material that is at hand at any moment. If apple trees are grown in cold regions with harsh winters with little snow, preparation of the root system begins from the moment the seedling is planted: it is located in a planting trench tilted towards the sun. Growing in cold areas, where winter is characterized by large amounts of snow, has its advantage: the snow cover can be used to cover the root zone, raking it under the apple tree.
- Protection of the above-ground part of a columnar tree: in order to preserve the top and prevent it from freezing, which leads to distortion of the shape of such an apple tree, it is wrapped with rags or a special covering material.
Constructing a shelter for mature trees
Adult apple trees also need shelter.
Especially if they suffered from illness this year or the forecast for the winter season is unfavorable. Also, a small shelter is required to maintain the level of fruitfulness of the columnar apple tree. Winter frosts that come along with seasonal precipitation are not so easy to damage adult plants, but cold and snowless conditions are very dangerous for them. Having carried out preliminary preparation (cleaning, watering, disinfection), mulching and insulation, gardeners proceed to constructing a shelter. It looks like this:
- a kind of pyramid is built from wooden planks around each tree;
- dynamic mulch is poured inside the building (if this procedure has not been carried out in advance), about 20 cm thick;
- the pyramids are wrapped in tarpaulin or polyethylene.
In northern regions, it is recommended to cover dynamic mulch with a layer of permanent mulch, consisting of durable materials.
If the winter forecast is unfavorable, similar shelter is required for seedlings of columnar apple trees.
Consequences of incorrect cover
The consequences of unsuccessful wintering can be different, depending on what part of the plant was exposed to frostbite, so you need to carefully study how to prepare it for winter.
When the root system of a columnar apple tree freezes, in the spring there is a depression in the general condition of the plant and delayed bud bloom. If the apple tree is severely damaged, the plant is unlikely to be viable.
Freezing of the upper part of a columnar apple tree is, first of all, a loss of a growing point. The plant, feeling this, forms several side shoots, which should not be removed under any circumstances, because pruning will be perceived by it as another push to stress, which will lead to a delay in fruit formation and an unhealthy state in general.
Spring for gardeners should begin with a visual inspection of the plantings; if the condition of a tree causes concern, you can start spraying with immunostimulants, but it is worth remembering that this should be done only when the threat of frost has passed. Under no circumstances should you feed a tree that is under stress: this will not only not help, but may worsen the situation.
Preparing a columnar apple tree for winter is a process that requires certain experience and skills, but even a beginner can cope with it after studying all the necessary theoretical materials.
Attention to your plantings, constant care, careful adherence to the agricultural technology algorithm - these are the main keys to the successful cultivation of a columnar apple tree, which in return will delight you not only with abundant spring flowering, but also with delicious fruits.
Young apple trees need careful care, especially before cold weather. A few simple recommendations will help gardeners protect these plants from winter damage and speed up their fruiting period.
Features of wintering in other regions
Due to the fact that there are varieties of columnar apple trees bred specifically for cultivation in the northern regions of the country, preparation for wintering apple trees in Siberia is practically no different. Plants adapted to more severe frosts are insulated as follows:
- at the end of October, the bottom of the trunk is mulched with peat, wrapped with plastic film and protected with a chain-link mesh;
- then they are completely covered with burlap, agrofibre or other covering material, and after precipitation falls a protective snowdrift is formed around them.
A significant distinctive feature of wintering this variety of fruit trees in cold regions is to ensure the drainage of water from the roots to prevent them from rotting.
Preparing a columnar apple tree for winter requires the gardener to have certain experience and skills. But after studying the relevant theoretical materials, even a beginner can cope with this.
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