Fruit Tree Planting Techniques: What Are the Advantages of Planting Fruit Trees in Winter
SummarySeedling selection: Purchase high-quality saplings, about 1-1.5 m in height with a base diameter of about 1 cm and no defects. Planting: Planting should be done from late October to early November, and the planting depth should exceed that of the original seedling. Later management: Mulching with plastic film and trunk heading must be done correctly.
I. Fruit Tree Planting Techniques
1. Selecting saplings
(1) When planting fruit trees, buy saplings free of pests and diseases, and choose saplings that have not shed leaves in the early stage.
(2) Choose high-quality grafted seedlings in their 1st year, with a sapling height of 1-1.5 m and a base diameter of about 1 cm; the roots and stems must have no defects.
(3) When selecting saplings, diseased seedlings, aged seedlings and weak, spindly seedlings should be excluded.
(4) About 7 days before lifting the fruit tree seedlings, water the planting soil once to prevent damage to the roots and stems during lifting, ensure the roots and stems remain intact, and prepare saplings that have undergone long-distance transport.
(5) When lifting the seedlings, keep a small amount of mud on them, then pack them in plastic bags or wrap them well in wet straw, and cover the saplings with a tarpaulin during transport.
2. Planting the saplings
(1) Saplings are suitable for planting from late October to early November; before planting, dig square planting holes of 50-80 cm.
(2) When digging the holes, pile the topsoil and the deeper soil separately; apply about 20 jin of farmyard manure per hole, mix the fertilizer evenly with the topsoil, then place half around the planting hole and backfill the other half into the planting hole.
(3) Pour at least 1 bucket of water into each hole, then use a shovel to stir the soil and water in the hole into a thin mud; spread out the roots and stems of the sapling, backfill the topsoil from around the planting hole into the hole, wait 2-3 hours for the water to seep down, then press down gently.
(4) The planting depth for saplings is usually 3-5 cm beyond the original planting mark of the seedling.
3. Later management
(1) After planting, the saplings can be covered with plastic film to provide protection and insulation, thereby speeding up root and stem healing and also extending the growth life of the roots and stems.
(2) If plastic film is not used after planting, wrap the branches and trunks of the saplings in straw or mound soil at the base of the saplings, with a mound height of 30-40 cm, to improve the saplings' cold resistance.
(3) Before winter begins, head the branches and wood of the saplings and prune away the unfilled parts on the seedlings.
(4) The heading height should be determined according to the fruit tree variety; fruit trees are usually headed at a height of 70-80 cm, and the wounds should be coated with lead paint to prevent water evaporation and drying out.
(5) After Qingming Festival in the 2nd year, uncover the plastic film or dig open the soil mound, and water once to promote sprouting.
(6) After watering, promptly till the soil and cover with plastic film, which helps preserve soil moisture and raise soil temperature, promoting the growth and development of the seedlings.
II. Advantages of Planting Fruit Trees in Winter
1. The temperature before winter begins is relatively suitable for planting fruit trees, and it is also the 2nd peak period for root and stem development of fruit trees, which can promote healing of the root wounds of fruit trees, speed up the absorption of nutrients needed by the fruit trees, and benefit their growth and development in the following spring.
2. Winter temperatures are relatively low, the leaves have all fallen, and the body fluids of the fruit trees do not flow, so the trees stop growing; therefore, they do not need to absorb large amounts of nutrients.
3. When injured fruit trees are planted in winter, the roots and stems do not need much of the nutrients they absorb, so a large amount does not need to be supplied and transported to the tree body; the nutrients are mainly used to supply the healing of root and stem wounds, and during this period some nutrients can also be stored.
4. Winter is the key period for promoting the healing of fruit tree roots and stems. By the spring of the 2nd year, the wounds on the roots and stems of the fruit trees have completely healed, so they can promptly resume normal absorption and transport work, providing sufficient nutrients for the fruit trees.