How much and how often to water the apricot in the summer: detailed instructions

Apricot trees are not found in every garden, but any beginner dreams of growing this delicious, beautiful and healthy fruit. Although apricot is considered a thermophilic crop and grows in the southern regions, there are many varieties that grow in central Russia, and winter-hardy varieties ripen even in the harsh Siberian climate.

In the summer, apricot requires close attention and goes through several stages of care. Today we will talk about summer watering, which is especially important for culture.

Do I need to water the apricot in summer

Watering plays an important role in the full development of the tree and the quality of the crop.

With a lack of moisture, it grows poorly, its leaves dry out, and the fruits shrink. But too moist soil often leads to decay of the root system. Proper watering ensures the health of the plant and a good harvest.

Does he like water

Apricot watered regularly in the first half of summer, when moisture is needed for the growth and formation of flowers, as well as if the tree transplanted... Lack of moisture during this period becomes the cause of crop failure.

In the second half of summer, the plant is moistened only during drought. August over-watering leads to prolonged growth of shoots. They do not ripen and most often freeze in winter.

How often to water

How often an apricot should be watered in summer depends on climatic and weather conditions, the age of the tree and the growing season.

Most of all, the plant needs moisture a few weeks before the start of fruit ripening. Depending on the region in which the tree grows, and its varieties, this period lasts from mid-June to early July or its first decade.

If at this time it is already possible to estimate the future volume of the crop, the amount of moisture is determined by it. Also, they do not allow the soil to dry out.

In dry summer, young plants are watered once a week; in extreme heat, the amount of watering is increased. Biennial trees moisturize as the soil dries up. Plants over 3 years old are watered 4 times in warm summer. In drought, more frequent irrigation is required.

Reference. The older the apricot tree is, the better it will tolerate heat and drought.

Water volume

How much water to pour under each tree depends on its age. The easiest way to calculate the volume of water is 10 liters per 1 year of the tree. For example, if an apricot is 3 years old, it will need 30 liters of water.

Irrigation water requirements

The plant can be watered with plain water. Water from a well or a well that is on the site is suitable.

In cases where the site has a water supply for irrigation, they use it. Experienced gardeners advise using standing water for apricot trees.

What can be added

The settled water can be enriched with minerals.

700-800 g of high-moor peat or 1 g of furnace ash in a linen bag are placed in a barrel of water for 3 days. This water becomes soft and at the optimum level of acidity.

Important! Make sure that after watering the water does not stagnate near the trees.

How to properly water an apricot in summer

Water the apricots in different ways. Each of them is necessary for the plant in the summer.

Regular watering

The easiest way is using a watering can or bucket. Also watered with a hose. A furrow is dug around the trunk at a distance of 0.5 m. A hose is brought to it and water is turned on with a very low pressure.

In 2-4 hours, it soaks the entire root system, reaching the smallest roots. This method is equivalent to a drip.

Sprinkling

With this method of irrigation, both the soil and the green mass of the plant are moistened.

Use a hose or special watering equipment to regulate a constant water pressure. Sprinkling does not erode the top soil layer, which is the most fertile.

Liquid top dressing

In summer, the crop requires nitrogen and potash fertilizers. Use the method of foliar feeding. The solutions are sprayed on the leaves of the plant.

Nitrogen mixtures are used in early June, when ovaries are formed. After 2-3 weeks, the procedure is repeated. With this method of feeding, the leaves are processed from all sides.

What mistakes to avoid

There are a number of watering mistakes that can damage your crop:

• violation of the timing of watering;
• lack or excess of moisture;
• watering around the stem (fills the root collar).

Watering apricots when planting

When planting apricot trees watering plays an important role in the further growth and development of the tree.

For the first time, the plant is moistened immediately after planting, even if it rained the day before.

During flowering

During flowering, the apricot is watered through furrows that are made around the crown. Their diameter is ½ the diameter of the crown.

The amount of water is determined depending on the age of the tree: 1 bucket per 1 year of the seedling. In cool and rainy weather, the amount of moisture is reduced.

During fruiting

Sprinkling is preferred during this period, especially if the weather is dry and hot. Also, under the crown of a tree, the earth is evenly watered from a watering can with a spray.

Important! At the end of fruiting, apricots are moistened only in the south of the country if there is a severe drought.

Seedling watering rules

Watering rules differ for apricot trees of different ages. Young and mature trees tolerate drought and excessive moisture differently.

Wood from year

Young trees are watered for the first time at the beginning of flowering and then during the summer in such quantities as to prevent the soil from drying out.

Sprinkler irrigation and irrigation through the grooves are applied.

Wood from 2 to 5 years

In trees of this age, the root system already goes deep into the ground, so the number of watering is reduced.

With a sufficient amount of precipitation and moderate soil moisture, plants are watered during the growth of young shoots, before and after flowering, and 2 weeks before the fruits ripen.

5 to 15

Trees after 5 years of age are usually watered no more than 1 time per month. Be sure to moisturize after flowering and at the stage of fruit ripening.

Old trees

Trees over 15 years old are watered the same way as 5 year olds. At the same time, liquid mineral fertilizers are added, which are applied to the holes along the perimeter of the crown.

Experienced gardening tips

When watering apricots, it is necessary to observe some nuances that beginners do not yet know about.

Experienced gardeners advise you to pay attention to the following points:

1. Mulching after watering helps maintain soil moisture.
2. If watering time is missed during the ripening period, you can lose the crop. In this case, humidification at this stage must be abandoned.
3. Liquid foliar dressing should not be carried out in sunny weather in order to prevent leaf burns. Choose morning or evening time, as well as cloudy weather.
4. For watering seedlings, use no more than 2 buckets of water.
5. To check if there is a need for watering, a hole is pulled out near the tree to a depth of 35-40 cm, a little earth is taken from the bottom and squeezed in the palm of your hand. Sufficiently moist soil clumps into a dense lump.

Conclusion

Apricot does not require frequent watering, but a number of mistakes should not be made. The main time for watering the plant is the first half of summer. Do not pour water around the trunk of a tree.This leads to decay of the root collar.

Together with watering, the culture requires liquid fertilizing, especially old trees. In order for the soil to retain moisture longer, it is mulched. It is also important to take into account the climatic conditions of the region and weather changes. If you follow these rules, you will harvest a bountiful harvest of apricots in your garden.