Chestnut Tree Planting Methods and Key Technical Points

Chestnut trees are planted in Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hebei, Henan and other places. It is a deciduous tree that can be planted as an economic fruit tree or as a landscape tree. So what are its planting methods?

Chestnut Tree Planting Methods

1. Orchard Establishment and Land Preparation

Chestnut likes light and is best planted on a sunny plot. The soil should be neutral to slightly acidic sandy loam, and gneiss mountainous areas are best. It is not suitable to establish an orchard where the soil is too heavy and clayey or in low-lying, easily waterlogged places. Before planting, dig large holes, preferably trench-shaped ditches. On slopes below 25°, it is best to prepare the land with an excavator, digging 4m-wide platforms along the contour lines and planting 2 rows. On steep slopes, first build terraces and do a good job of soil and water conservation.

2. Planting

Planting is carried out from late March to early April in spring, or from late October to early November in autumn. When planting, use the planting method of “three burials, two tramplings, and one lifting of the seedling.” After planting, promptly establish the trunk height, generally 80-100cm. Spacing is 3m×4m. In addition, plain chestnut orchards are suitable at 30~40 trees per mu, and mountain chestnut orchards at 40~60 trees per mu. Planned dense-planting chestnut orchards can plant 60~111 trees per mu, then gradually thin by alternate rows and alternate trees.

3. Water and Fertilizer

From mid-March to early April, after the soil thaws, choose potassium sulfate compound fertilizer, applying about 250-500g per tree, dug into 20cm-deep holes near the drip line at the outer edge of the canopy, about 50-100g per hole. During dry periods, water more appropriately, and drain promptly during the rainy season.

4. Pruning

Chestnut tree pruning is divided into winter pruning and summer pruning. Winter pruning is carried out from after leaf fall to before bud break the following spring. Summer pruning mainly refers to bud removal, pinching, male flower removal and branch thinning during the growing season. Choose different pruning according to different situations.

In addition, common pests and diseases of chestnut trees include powdery mildew, chestnut rust, and dieback. Chemical control and other work should be done in advance to avoid the occurrence of diseases.