Tree seedlings — selection and care of fruit and ornamental trees (120 photos)

How nice it is in our bustling age of high technology to enjoy the coolness in the shade of a spreading tree. What could be more pleasant than your own corner of nature. Each person has his own idea of the ideal suburban area.

For some, the limit of dreams is a large fruit-bearing orchard of fruit trees. Growing, caring from a small seedling to a full-fledged tree brings gardeners tremendous pleasure. And how nice it is to enjoy the fruits of your labors in the end: fragrant apples, juicy pears, exotic peaches.

For others, it is an ideal dacha, a place of quiet relaxation with a favorite book or just contemplation of natural beauty surrounded by ornamental shrubs or exotic trees. A picturesque garden is the fruit of the works of a landscape designer or your personal project.

But, as in the first and in the second variant, the dream of an ideal garden cannot be achieved without basic knowledge about tree care and planting seedlings on your backyard.

Summary of the article:

Climatic conditions in different regions of our vast country differ dramatically, so it is best to choose seedlings of fruit trees for a certain area.

Perhaps one of the most popular types of fruit trees is rightfully considered an apple tree. It is frost-resistant and not whimsical to the type of soil. Pear, plum, cherry are also very popular among summer residents of central Russia.

In the southern regions, of course, the choice of fruit trees is much larger. Cherries, apricots, and peaches are ubiquitous in the suburban areas of warm regions. You can also meet a more exotic pomegranate or persimmon.

Selection and purchase of seedlings

Growing trees is, of course, laborious and painstaking work, which always begins with the selection of a seedling. And if you want to enjoy a rich harvest and a healthy plant, you need to follow certain rules.

The first recommendation relates to the place of purchase of saplings of trees and shrubs. Of course, it is worth choosing a specialized nursery, specialists will give you qualified recommendations on the selection of varieties and care for it. While buying a plant on the market from strangers, you risk being deceived.

Seedlings are usually bought either in early spring or in autumn, this is necessary to adapt to the winter period.

As can be seen in the photo of tree seedlings, the root system can be open and closed, as well as in a container.

The open root system is distinguished by the peculiarities of transportation. Planting material of this type is transported in moistened peat, wrapped with paper or cloth to prevent the root from drying out. Such seedlings are planted immediately after purchase starting in October and ending in November.

Seedlings with a closed root system are sold with an earthen lump on the rhizome, wrapped in polyethylene, that is, the roots are not exposed. It is necessary to transfer such trees carefully, supporting the lower part of the roots.

Planted in early autumn or in April. Storage is allowed for 2-3 weeks, during this period it is necessary to maintain soil moisture on the roots.

Seedlings are usually transplanted into a container immediately before sale, and before that they are rooted in pots.

Basic rules for choosing seedlings

It is best to choose a seedling as young as possible, so it is more likely that it will take root painlessly. The ideal age of the planting material is 2 years and a height of 1.5 m. It is dangerous to transplant older specimens, since the probability of death increases.

Very important to the condition of the roots, they should be thick and moist, wrapped with a cloth. If the roots dry, most likely the plant will die.

Another point concerning the roots, which is important to pay attention to. The root neck must have a place of inoculation, otherwise you are not looking at a varietal seedling, but a wildling or root growth.

The condition of the bark of the seedling will also indicate the degree of its freshness. The top layer should be smooth and elastic, dryness and lethargy indicates that the seedling was dug out a long time ago.

You can do a simple scratch test (of course, if the seller does not mind). Scratch the bark slightly, if the layer under it is fresh and green – the plant is healthy, and if it is dark brown – alas, the plant has died.

The trunk of a good quality seedling should have about five branches from half a meter long. The kidneys should be intact.

Lignified shoots are the key to a good wintering of the plant.

Planting a tree

Before planting seedlings, you need to decide on the place, since there are features of location and care for different types of trees. For example, cherry is a light-loving tree, so it is recommended to plant it on a hillock where there is no shortage of sunlight.

It is also not recommended to plant cherries in acidic soil. The problem of acidic soil can be solved, it is necessary to fertilize it. Phosphorus and potassium should be the main components of the fertilizer. Pears and apple trees are not so picky about the composition of the soil, but they will not refuse a portion of nutrients either.

We have decided on the place, it is necessary to choose the time for landing. Usually autumn or spring is chosen for planting seedlings, but even here there are nuances.

In the spring, immediately after the melting of the ice, you can start planting trees, but it is best to complete this process ten days before budding.

Autumn is a more suitable time for planting young trees. This is due to several factors: the loose soil saturated with rain, the relatively warm temperature and, moreover, the autumn time, this is the dormant period of the plant. Therefore, the survival rate of autumn planting is almost ideal.

The planting schemes of most seedlings do not differ. First you need to loosen the soil for planting, remove debris or stones. Fertilize no later than two weeks with natural fertilizer, namely manure, or purchased in a specialized store.

After the soil is prepared, it is necessary to dig a hole. When planting tree seedlings, pay attention to the age and size of the tree, the depth of the pit directly depends on this, on average about 70 cm.

When planting fruit trees, remember that the crown usually grows quite voluminous, so it is necessary to take into account the distance between the trees about 3-4 meters.

In the center of the excavated pit, a wooden stick should be fixed, pre-treated with a special compound or just fire. This is necessary to prevent rotting in the soil.

Then we plant a tree, sprinkle the roots with soil and tamp them carefully with our hands. The seedling should not be tied with a rigid rope to a stick fixed in the pit. After the tree has taken its place in your garden, pour it with at least two buckets of water. Do not forget to water the seedling on average once a week.

Pest control

Having made considerable efforts in the selection and planting of seedlings, it will not be pleasant if the trees die due to pest attacks. In the spring, before the first leaves appear, carry out preventive treatment of your garden.

Treatment of trees from parasites and insects is carried out in two ways:

Spraying. A special preparation diluted in water is sprayed not only on the trunk, but also on the branches with a spray gun. Such drugs are purchased in specialized stores.

Whitewashing is carried out with lime or water primer. As a rule, only the trunk of the tree is whitewashed. This method protects the seedling not only from parasites, but also from insects, preventing access from the ground.