What Is the Price of Fringetree Saplings? A Detailed Guide to Planting Methods
The fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) can be used as a rootstock for grafting osmanthus; its hard wood makes it a high-quality timber; its new buds and tender leaves have the medicinal effect of relieving summer heat and quenching thirst; and its dignified, graceful form also makes it an important ornamental tree for landscaping and city street beautification. So, what is the price of fringetree saplings? How do you plant them?
1. What is the price of fringetree saplings?
The fringetree is found in many parts of China. At present, the main production areas are chiefly in Shuyang, Jiangsu, Changzhou, Nanchang, Huzhou, Ma'anshan, Bijie and other places along the Yangtze River region; in other places such as Xingtai, Shandong, Rizhao, Datong, Shanxi, and Chongqing, it has also been widely introduced and performs well.
The prices of fringetree saplings vary quite widely, ranging from a few yuan per plant to several hundred or even over a thousand yuan per plant, depending on the specific circumstances at the time of purchase.
2. How are fringetrees planted?
1) Planting time
Sowing of fringetree is best done from mid-September to early October, while cutting propagation is generally carried out from July to August. The fringetree is not demanding about soil, but it grows best in fertile, well-aerated sandy loam.
2) Site selection and preparation
Because the fringetree itself prefers warmth and light and is very cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant, yet fears waterlogging and cannot stand flooding, relatively fertile, deep sandy loam is generally chosen as the main cultivation plot. At the same time, flat land or gently sloping land is required for establishing the plantation; whichever terrain is used, good drainage must be maintained, and during site preparation the soil must be deeply plowed, organic fertilizer applied, and mechanical harrowing carried out to ensure the base fertilizer is fully mixed with the soil.
In addition, Jimo District has also specially dug drainage ditches around the fringetree plantation to ensure timely drainage and waterlogging prevention after rain. Overall, in terms of site selection and preparation, the fringetree planting base in Jimo District has basically achieved all-round refined management, ensuring that the sandy loam particles are fine and the ground is leveled, which can noticeably raise the emergence rate of fringetree seedlings pushing through the soil.
3) Fertilizer and water management
Before transplanting, apply sufficient organic fertilizer together with nitrogen fertilizer; after transplanting, strengthen the related aspects of fertilizer and water management. Water thoroughly once immediately, then water thoroughly a second time after 5-6 d, and a third time after another 5-6 d, after which water thoroughly once a month.
4) Moderate pruning
During the seedling stage, unnecessary side branches need to be cut off and the main trunk retained, while for landscaping trees, pruning is carried out according to the two methods of single-trunk and multi-trunk forms, retaining a main trunk of about 1.2-2.0 m. Generally, in Jimo District, pruning of fringetrees is usually done once in April-May of the first year, then once in early September, with no further pruning afterward. The main targets of pruning are diseased and pest-infested branches, thin and weak branches, and dead and dried branches.
5) Pest and disease control
Under normal circumstances, fringetrees rarely suffer from pests and diseases. Generally, during the seedling stage, the main thing to guard against is the scarab beetle pest; spraying a 1000-fold dilution of trichlorfon crystals on the root and stem area of the fringetree can achieve a scarab beetle control effect. In addition, physical trapping with black light lamps can also be used with good results.