Above and root system of apple trees

All gardeners should know the structure of the trees that grow on their plots. This is necessary in order to properly care for them. In addition, the root system of the apple tree can say a lot about the whole seedling. Knowing the type of the structure of the underground part and its condition, you can correctly determine the way of planting.

The above-ground part of the apple tree

The above-ground part of the fruit tree consists of a stem and a crown, which, in turn, has many different formations inside itself.

• Stamp is the part of the trunk that lies between the root collar and the first lateral process. Acquiring a seedling, you need to pay attention to the condition of the trunk: it should not show any damage in the form of violations of the integrity of the cortex, streaks and traces of frostbite.
• The crown is the totality of all branches on the tree.
• Shoots are an annual growth, consists of a stem and leaves.
• The leaves are the green part of the tree, in which many important processes occur, for example, photosynthesis and gas exchange. This element can have a different shape and color, depending on the type of apple.
• Forming branches are divided into many subspecies and components.

Let's see what the forming branches consist of:

• Fruit twigs change every season, their length does not exceed 15-20 cm, the apical bud is flowering (reproductive), and lateral - vegetative.
• Spears are annual shoots, the length of which is from 2 to 15 centimeters. Lateral buds are vegetative, apical may be both reproductive and vegetative.
• The Ring. The age of such branches can vary from 1 to 5 years, their size is not more than 5 centimeters, the lateral processes are underdeveloped.
• Fruits arise as a result of the formation of fruit bags after the flowering of the rings. They are perennial (from 3 to 6 years).
• Fetuses are the most age-related formations (from 6 to 18 years). They are formed from kolchatkas, fruit pads and fruit twigs.

The difference between reproductive and vegetative kidneys is that some form flowers, while others are shoots and leaves. As a rule, fruit buds differ in their large size and roundness.

Biological description of the apple root system

The root system of the apple tree differs little from the systems of other trees, both in structure and in function. From the root collar thick skeletal roots depart from which second-order processes are formed, and from them - the third. The farther away branching, the thinner it is and less. The farthest part is called overgrown, and the finest formations are called "root lobes".

The young part of such branches is the most important in the structure and life of the tree. It is covered with thick thin hairs that actively seek and absorb water, providing this resource with all parts of the apple tree.

Saplings with open root system

An apple tree, whose type of root system is characterized as open, before planting is an overground part and bare roots. Saplings of such trees are easier to inspect and see shortcomings.

To avoid buying a substandard plant, you need to consider the following factors:

• Roots should be white in color and have shoots in all directions.
• An important indicator of quality and health is the absence of mechanical damage and flexibility.
• Overdried roots that crack at the folding sites, most likely, do not get accustomed to a new place.
• A small number of lateral processes or their absence can talk about the older age of the seedling, such material is unlikely to take root or will be much ill.
• If there is a swelling on the roots, then most likely this tree is infected with root cancers.
• Apple trees with an open root system can not be without soil for more than 2 weeks. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the date of bringing the seedlings to the store.

Selecting a place to plant an apple tree

Choosing a place for planting an apple tree, regardless of the type of root system, you need to adhere to the following rules:

• The site should be well illuminated, so there should not be tall and spreading trees nearby.
• It is advisable to choose a place where there will be no strong and gusty winds.
• Apple trees are best placed on a site separate for this crop, the neighborhood with other fruit and berry plantations is not welcomed.
• To provide quality pollination to trees, it is customary to plant a variety of different varieties, differing in the period of fruiting.

Planting apple trees in autumn

The root system of the apple tree must be strengthened so that the tree can begin to bring forth the harvest. Therefore, when choosing the time for planting, many gardeners opt for the autumn period. This method is suitable for southern regions or for seedlings with a closed root system. It is customary to produce these works from the end of September to the beginning of October, while the soil must be loose, let in air and moisture.

• About a month before planting the seedlings, it is necessary to excavate a pit with a depth of 70-80 cm and a diameter of 1 meter, the fertile soil layer must be separated and laid aside.
• That the future apple tree had a support, you need to dig a peg, which is 40-50 centimeters should protrude from the ground. To the bottom is not rotten, it is pre-baked.
• The soil should be maximally fertile, so you need to pour a mixture of humus, manure, compost, peat and fertile soil layer into the pit, which was removed in advance.
• During planting, you need to make a shallow hole in which the roots of the tree are placed, then they must be sprinkled with soil. In this case, the root neck should protrude from the ground for 5 centimeters.
• Then you need to bind the seedling to the peg and water it abundantly.
• On average, the distance between trees should be 3-4 meters. When choosing a planting scheme, you need to pay attention to the apple tree variety.

Planting apple trees in spring

This method is best suited for areas with temperate climate and frosty winters. Also, apple trees with a closed root system protect themselves in the spring planting.

Its features are as follows:

• Making planting works is best in the 20-th of April.
• The entire technology of the process is completely analogous to the autumn period, except that in spring and summer it is necessary to provide the young tree with the right amount of moisture.
• Before planting, the roots of the seedling with the open system should be moistened, leaving them for a day in a bucket of water.
• The soil around the pillar must be mulched to maintain moisture.

Saplings with closed root system

Apple trees with a closed root system are grown not in the open ground, but in greenhouses in special plastic containers or bags. And each germ has its own individual packaging.

Advantages of such seedlings:

• In plastic containers, the root system of the apple tree is safely hidden in the ground, so this planting material can be used at any time, without fear that it will become unusable.
• When the tree is transplanted into the open ground, the roots are not damaged and quickly take root in a new place.
• After planting, such apple trees start to bloom more quickly and bring a harvest. This is due to the fact that the root system in the container with the land is more developed than those of the seedlings that were extracted from the habitat.

What to look for when buying a seedling with a closed root system

Many gardeners, when they come to the store, can not decide which saplings should be bought - domestic or foreign. Starting from the issue of adaptation and zoning, gardeners most often choose their choice on Russian trees, but such a decision can be erroneous. Cultivated in southern regions, apple trees do not get well in the middle belt, but seedlings from Poland, Germany or Finland will show the best stability.

Making a choice, first of all it is necessary to start from the characteristics of the variety, its frost resistance and other factors:

• The container must have drainage holes.
• Blossoming roots should have a healthy appearance.
• When extracting the seedlings from the container, the soil must retain its shape.
• If there are weeds in the container, this indicates that the tree was actually grown in a container, and not transplanted there.
• If in the summer period the foliage is yellow and falls, it means that the apple tree was poorly tended. Such a sapling will not take root in a new place and will often ache.

How to plant an apple tree with a closed root system?

The easiest process is planting an apple tree with a closed root system. In autumn, spring or summer, this seedling will be well established in the open ground and will please gardeners. This type of planting material is stronger and more stable.

• To begin with, you need to dig a pit not more than 60 centimeters deep and 1 meter in diameter.
• Lower part of the soil should be removed, and in its place to fill up fertile soil, humus, compost and mineral fertilizer.
• Then, in the resulting mixture, a depression is made, equal in size to the container with the seedling. The resulting fossa is watered, as is the root system of the tree.
• The apple should be carefully removed from the container and placed in the open ground. According to the rules, you can not sprinkle the sapling with soil from above, you have to compact the soil on the sides.

• The holding peg should be installed so that the integrity of the planting material is not impaired. Then you need to tie a tree to it.
• Planting apple trees with a closed root system ends with a watering procedure. On average, one bucket requires 2 buckets of water. To moisture evaporate as slowly as possible, the soil around the column of the tree must be mulched.

Colon-shaped apple trees

The main difference is that the root system of columnar apple trees is devoid of the core root, which extends deep into the soil. It is completely at the surface level, located approximately in a radius of 25 centimeters from the tree trunk. Another difference is the compactness of such landings. The root system grows a little, in this connection it is possible to plant a whole garden on a small piece of land.

The apple tree is one of the most common fruit trees in the central part of Russia. In the garden nurseries you can find many varieties of different varieties. But there are general rules that have been described above, they are related to the planting and selection of seedlings.