6 Key Techniques for Apple Seedlings to Survive After Planting

1. Scientific storage, planting at the right time

For seedlings, winter storage (heeling in) and planting in spring when local apple buds begin to swell are best. For heeling in, choose a shaded spot that does not collect water and dig a trench, maintaining stable and suitable moisture and temperature; when heeling in, make sure the roots are in close contact with moist sand (soil).

2. Do a good job of soil management

When planting a new orchard on rotated land, make full use of "mature soil": do not disturb the soil layers; when planting an orchard on continuous-cropping land, you must use "imported soil" on site: deep dig more than 60 cm (disturbing the original soil layers) and remove tree roots. Whenever an orchard is established by digging trenches or making raised beds, you must water heavily to settle the soil before planting.

3. Do not use chemical fertilizers, use farmyard manure with caution

When planting a new orchard, do not use chemical fertilizers; if farmyard manure is not fully decomposed, it can have side effects, so it must be used with caution.

4. Pay attention to seedling treatment before planting

Before planting, the seedlings must be soaked in clean water for more than 24 hours. Promptly prune off diseased and insect-damaged roots and the dry stub at the graft union, and promptly apply a fungicide to treat them. When planting, plant in rows according to size grades. The trunk heading height should be roughly the same for each row.

5. Use a reasonable planting method

For ordinary seedlings on standard rootstock or own-rooted seedlings, the planting depth can match the depth in the nursery; for M-series "interstem" seedlings, use the "double rootstock" planting method. Plant at a depth that buries two-thirds of the interstem.

6. Do a good job of post-planting management

To ensure survival after planting, promptly water 2 to 3 times heavily, then mound up a conical soil pile. To prevent the tree from leaning after watering, support it with bamboo poles; after planting, promptly head the trunk high by cutting back at a plump bud, and protect wounds such as the cut. Carry out the work of whitewashing the trunk in late autumn and early spring.