Spring planting guide from A to Z
A garden plot or summer cottage should look aesthetically pleasing - beautiful fruit trees and shrubs serve as an excellent decoration of the territory. If difficulties often arise with apples and pears, then mountain ash is unpretentious. Any gardener will be able to grow trees with elegant red-yellow fruits, the main thing is to observe the planting dates and basic care recommendations.
How to plant rowan in open ground and take care of it, we will consider further.
The content of the article
Planting rowan in spring
In the spring, rowan is planted before sap flow begins. When planted at this time of year, the risk of freezing of the plant is reducedas it sometimes happens in the fall. The young tree will have time to take root in the soil, before winter it will gain strength. In the spring, strong winds occur less often, which means that weak shoots will not break, and the rodents at this time are not as active as in autumn.
Attention! When it is possible to plant rowan - in spring or autumn, each gardener decides on his own. First of all, it is recommended to pay attention to the growing region, climatic conditions and soil condition.
Spring planting also has disadvantages... For example, seedlings are more expensive in spring than in autumn. Summer residents have to constantly check the level of moisture in the soil, make sure that the plants feel good. Often, after winter, there are not enough nutrients in the soil, so it is important to organize additional feeding.
When to plant rowan in spring
Rowan is planted after the snow melts... The recommended air temperature is about + 7 ° С, at minus or zero values the seedlings will freeze. On the day of planting, the weather should be calm, no precipitation.
Some summer residents choose the date in accordance with the lunar calendar.... The appropriate month for the procedure is April, the optimal days fall on the growing moon. It is not recommended to plant fruit trees in the garden during the full moon or new moon: it is believed that at this time a weak vitality is laid in the plants.
Choosing a landing site
Rowan belongs to frost-resistant and unpretentious plants., takes root on many types of soil, including sandy loam, loamy, mixed. Due to its high growth, places are allocated for the tree at the corners of the site or along the fence.
It is important that the adult plant does not overshadow other garden crops.... Rowan is planted at a distance of 4-5 m from other trees and tall shrubs. They choose a sunny or slightly shaded place, the location of the groundwater does not matter. Due to its decorative appearance, mountain ash is successfully used as a beautiful hedge.
Preparation of seedlings
Rowan seedlings are bought in specialized stores. They should be strong and elastic, with a moist root system consisting of 3-4 branches... The bark should be smooth, without wrinkles. If shriveled areas are visible, then the plant has been overdried.
Advice! During transportation, the roots of the seedlings are wrapped with a damp cloth.
Before planting, the roots are placed in a clay mash... It removes germs and bacteria and serves as an effective antiseptic. They make it from water, clay, mullein, water and ash. The roots are dipped in the mixture and placed in sawdust, which acts as a mulch and retains moisture. After the root system is wrapped in a tight plastic bag or burlap.
Soil preparation
How to feed the garden soil before planting? For mountain ash, sandy loam or loamy soil with a neutral reaction is prepared... A drainage layer of expanded clay is welcomed: it retains moisture and protects mountain ash from pests. Before planting, the soil is fertilized: a bucket of compost, 150 g of superphosphate and 300 g of wood ash are added. If there are large clods in the ground, they are broken with a shovel or rake. The planting site should be clean, free from weeds and last year's foliage.
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How to plant rowan in spring
The pit is prepared 2-3 weeks before the planting date... Average depth - 70 cm, diameter equal to the size of the root system. On the day of disembarkation, a bucket of water is poured into the pit and waited for it to be absorbed.
Take a sapling straighten the roots and place them in a depression so that the root collar is located 5-7 cm above ground level... The earth is tamped around the plant, the base is sprinkled with mulch from sawdust, peat or humus. The thickness of the layer is about 5–10 cm. When filling up the hole, gently shake off the tree so that no air pockets appear.
Planting scheme and neighboring crops
Rowan is planted singly or in small groups of 3-4 trees... Several plants make a beautiful background for plantings of perennial shrubs. The distance between rowan and other crops should be at least 4 m. Otherwise, the plants will take nutrients from each other, which will affect the yield.
What to plant next to viburnum? It is not recommended to plant apple or pear trees nearby. Favorable neighbors for mountain ash are viburnum or barberry, conifers and shrubs.
Planting nuances depending on the growing region
In areas with hot and long summers, the plant is planted in partial shade... This will protect it from the scorching sun and improve its appearance. Otherwise, it will take 2-3 times more water to moisten the mountain ash than under normal conditions, and with a lack of moisture, the leaves will be dry, the fruits will be small.
If the tree is grown in northern regions (in the Urals and Siberia), special attention is paid to the place of cultivation and soil preparation. To improve its quality, complex fertilizing is introduced into the pit before planting. They saturate the soil with microelements that help the roots to take root in a new place. It is recommended to use Agros complex fertilizer enriched with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
For growing rowan in regions with wet summers choose a soil with a neutral reaction. The bottom of the planting pit is covered with a drainage layer, crushed stone or expanded clay is used. If you do not create drainage, water will stagnate, which will lead to the development of fungal diseases and the appearance of insect pests.
Depending on the types of mountain ash
There are several types of mountain ash. Red prefers moist areas... In dry soils, it grows slowly, does not differ in a lush crown and bright berries. Common mountain ash bears fruit well in lighted and spacious gardens. There should be no tall summer cottages or other trees nearby.
Chokeberry, or chokeberry, has a highly branched root system - moisture-permeable and light soils are taken away for seedlings. In heavy soil, the plant will lack air and moisture. If the soil has an acidity above 3.5 pH, it is limed: the top layer is sprinkled with lime or dolomite flour. The branches of the shrubs are lush and heavy, so a peg is placed in the ground during planting. Subsequently, the plants are tied to a support.
Further care
The root collar of rowan grows quickly, so summer residents regularly remove it with a hoe or by hand. They also monitor the formation of weeds, which actively germinate in wet weather. To slow down their development, the soil is loosened once a week to a depth of no more than 5 cm.Together with this, the trunk circle is mulched with hay, grass, coniferous sawdust and leaves. Mulch prevents the development of insect pests, improves the condition of the soil microflora, protects against drought and frost.
In the first 2-3 weeks after planting, the seedlings are watered abundantly with water at room temperature... This is done in grooves dug at a distance of 20 cm from the plant. One young mountain ash takes about 8 liters of water. If it rains frequently, the amount of moisture is reduced.
Attention! Rowan is fertilized only from the third year of life. At first, the plant has enough complex dressings, which are laid in the hole when planting.
In the first year, it is important to carry out preventive measures to protect the culture from diseases and pests. Common insects - aphids, midges, sawfly, common diseases - anthracnose, gray and white spots, scab. For spring treatment, use means "Oxyhom" or "Abiga-Peak". Contact fungicides are designed to combat viral and fungal diseases, pests.
Tips & Tricks
To grow a beautiful and productive mountain ash, experienced gardeners advise you to follow simple guidelines for planting and care. Despite the fact that the plant tolerates moisture well, it is not recommended to plant it in swampy areas or near a body of water... The best place is a hilly area in the sun or partial shade.
It is important to choose healthy seedlings with a branched root system for growing.... If their appearance suggests that the plant is sick, such planting material will not make a beautiful tree.
Some summer residents make a mistake: after planting, water the plant with cold water from a reservoir. This can lead to disease, therefore, for irrigation, only water that has been settled and heated in the sun is used. Many people immediately start fertilizing mountain ash with mineral or organic fertilizing - it is important to remember that in the first 3 years of life the tree does not need them.
Read also:
Step-by-step instructions on how to plant raspberries in spring
Conclusion
For planting rowan in spring, choose a sunny and dry day. The step-by-step guide looks like this: prepare the seedlings and soil, place the plants in the hole, spread the roots and sprinkle with earth. Previously, the soil is fertilized with mineral mixtures, otherwise the seedlings will poorly take root and subsequently give a poor harvest. Suitable neighbors for the culture are conifers or shrubs, unsuitable ones are apples and pears. To accelerate flowering and strengthen immunity, the plant is mulched and watered with warm water. Rowan is fertilized only in the third year after planting.