If you want to grow an apple orchard on your plot or plant just one such tree, and get abundant crops, you should first figure out how to do it right: how to plant an apple tree when exactly to land in the spring, which place to choose, which scheme to follow, etc. We will discuss this and many other things further.
Did you know? Our ancestors always ate the fruits of wild apple trees. The charred remains of these trees were found by archaeologists at the lake sites of the Neolithic times (in Switzerland). But the domesticated apple comes from the territories of modern Kyrgyzstan and southern Kazakhstan. There and now you can meet the wild apple Sivers, from which comes the popular home tree today.
Planting apple trees in spring: when to start work
The advantage of spring planting is that before the onset of frost, the trees will have time to get stronger and easier to survive a decrease in temperature. The answer to the question "When exactly to plant apple trees in the spring?" depends on your region of residence. For mid-latitudes, the planting period is in the middle of April, and for the northern regions - at the beginning of May. To check the readiness of the soil, just dig it with a shovel: the bayonet should be fairly easy to enter the soil. Do not expect complete thawing of the soil or the beginning of sap flow. When too late planting a tree is not enough moisture, it will begin to ache and lag behind in growth. Everything must be done before the buds bloom. Perhaps the seedlings lose their quality through a sharp jump in temperature. This applies particularly to areas with an early drought. It is very important to choose the right time for planting apple seedlings in the spring, since this largely depends on the favorable outcome of growing the tree.
Important! Trees planted in spring must be constantly and regularly watered. Insufficient watering can cause a noticeable drying out of a weakened root system, which ultimately leads to uneven development of the sub- and above-ground parts of the seedlings.
How to choose seedlings for planting: general tips and recommendations
Having defined the variety of apple trees, you can go for planting materials. Natural markets are not very suitable for this, because in such places there is a possibility of buying the wrong sort or weakened plants that were stored incorrectly. Therefore, it is better to contact a specialized store or nursery. When buying, be sure to inspect the bark of the selected specimen: it should be without damage. At the time of planting apple seedlings in the spring, they should have 1.5 m of growth, a two- or three-year-old developed root system (at least 3 skeletal branches 30–35 cm long) and several branches (at least 3, 50 cm each). In a high-quality seedling, the cut will be bright and juicy, and any signs of pests and diseases should be completely absent. Often the trunk of the plant at the time of sale is already beginning to harden.
Did you know? On the territory of Kievan Rus, cultivated apple trees first appeared in the 11th century. In 1051 (the period of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise) a whole garden was planted, which later became known as the garden of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. In the XVI century, apple trees began to grow in the north of Russia.
Choosing a place to plant seedlings
Before planting an apple tree in spring, take care of a suitable place. Choose a plot with good lighting (preferably not on the south side). and make sure that it is protected from the wind, because insect pollination will be better, and yields are higher. Also be sure to make sure that the groundwater is deep in this place and over time they will not begin to wash the roots of the tree. Apple trees prefer fertile, light, loamy soils.
How to plant an apple tree in the spring, step-by-step instruction
To make it easier to figure out how to plant an apple tree in spring, we offer you step-by-step instructions for this process.
How to prepare the ground for planting an apple tree in spring
Of course, you can simply, without any preparation, bury the seedlings in the ground, but then it is likely that they will not take root or the yield will not be too high. Therefore, it is advisable to dig up the chosen place in advance (at the end of summer / beginning of autumn), and immediately loosen the top layer of soil right before planting the trees.
Important! When you decide to plant a large number of apple trees on your plot, a year earlier it is better to sow lupines, mustard, phacelia or other green manure plants on the selected site. Let them grow, not allowing flowering, and mow. Do not remove mowed grass, leaving it on the site before digging.
If the soil is clay - it will not be able to pass moisture and apple trees will quickly wither. To avoid this, raise the surface level by 80 cm, using compost, coarse river sand and peat.
Landing pit preparation
Preparation of the pit for planting an apple can be carried out in the spring (a week before planting) or even in the fall. This procedure is very important because it will be not just a place for the roots, but a nutrient medium for plants for the next few years.
Therefore:
- Dig the required number of holes 70 cm deep and about 60 cm in diameter.
- If necessary, organize drainage.
- Fix the stake in the center, leaving 30-40 cm on the surface.
- Add peat, rotted manure, humus and compost to the extracted soil.
- Completely fill the top of the hill with yamuin.
- Liberally moisten the soil.
Planting plantation
Speaking about how to plant an apple tree in the spring, it is necessary to include in the step-by-step guide also the plantation for planting seedlings. 
It includes the following actions:
- To begin, place the roots in water for several hours before planting.
- Then, dig a well of the required size in the well prepared in advance (the rhizome should be easily placed).
- Place the seedling in the well so that the stake is on the south side of the plant.
- Spread the roots.
- Water them with warm water.
- Sprinkle the roots with soil before moisture is absorbed. Make sure that the place where the trunk and the rhizome connects is 4-5 cm above the ground.
- Wait for a while and tamp the ground with a shovel.
- Tie an apple tree to a support (near the root and above).
- Water the hole (40 l of water is brought in at a time), and then do not water for about a week.
- Mulch pristvolny circle with sawdust or pine needles.
- Trim to form a crown.
Did you know? When planting apple trees in spring and autumn, it is necessary to observe a certain distance between the trees. It depends on the type of tree. Earlier, most often, they planted large apple trees (at a distance of 6 m from each other). These varieties are planted now, but fruit trees on a dwarf rootstock have become more popular. This is due to their compact size, which is very convenient for harvesting. They can be planted at a distance of 4 m from each other. Colon-shaped varieties are often grown, keeping a distance of 2 m between them.
How to plant an apple tree in spring: common mistakes
So that you can avoid mistakes when planting apples, we will tell you what to consider first.
So:
- These trees grow best in the southwest and southeast.
- When calculating the scheme of planting apple trees, please note that the distance to pipes and underground utilities, gas pipelines, cables, etc. must be at least 3 m.
- Do not alternate apples and other fruit crops.
- Fresh manure or compost introduced into the planting pit will surely burn the roots.
- So that the root system of the seedlings does not dry out, process it with an earthen chaff before planting.
- Securely fix the sapling (you can use the construction not of 1, but of 3 pegs connected by jumpers). Without this, he will lean to the side.
Apple tree - one of the most popular garden crops, so information on how to plant an apple tree in the spring, knowledge of the basic rules and planting schemes for seedlings will help to achieve the most positive results when growing these fruit trees. We hope this article was useful for you and the planted apple trees will quickly take root, and will long please you with abundant crops.
