Detailed Explanation of the Planting Methods and Technical Key Points for the Chinese Honey Locust
The Chinese honey locust (Gleditsia sinensis), whose standard Chinese name is "zaojia", is a plant in the Fabaceae family and a deciduous tree. The pod is pod-shaped, can be used as medicine, and also serves as soap. It is a plant endemic to China. It is distributed in mainland China in Gansu, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Hebei, Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Jiangxi, Anhui, Yunnan, Fujian, Hunan, Guangxi, Henan and other places, growing in areas at altitudes of 650 m to 2,500 m, generally growing in valleys, mountain forests and roadsides, and has not yet been introduced and cultivated artificially.
Afforestation: This can be done in spring and autumn, and it is best in autumn and winter. Before planting, carry out hole-shaped site preparation, which can be done according to the size of the seedlings.
Planting method: Before planting the Chinese honey locust, properly prune the seedling roots. When planting, follow "three burials, two treads, and one lift of the seedling": hold the seedling upright, and when the soil is buried to the root collar, gently lift the seedling by hand so the roots spread out, then tread firmly. After planting, water thoroughly to settle the roots, then cover with another layer of soil.
Cultivation and weeding: After the Chinese honey locust seedlings are transplanted and survive, choose a sunny day to loosen the soil and weed in time. Loosen the soil shallowly rather than deeply to avoid damaging the seedling roots, and hoe the surface soil loose to let sunlight enter. During the seedling stage, cultivate and weed 4 times each year, in April, June, August and October respectively.
Fertilization management: For the Chinese honey locust, reasonably select fertilizers according to soil nutrient conditions and tree species characteristics. Generally, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is 3:2:1. Apply base fertilizer before planting, and topdress 3 to 4 times each year, mainly by trench application and broadcast application, which can be done together with cultivation and weeding.
Shaping and pruning: In the young stage of the Chinese honey locust, shape and prune the branches and trunk so that the tree structure and form are reasonable. This can regulate branch growth and development and balance tree vigor. Along with shaping and pruning, also promptly cut off upright water sprouts at the top, and at the same time promptly cut off the autumn shoots at the tips of the branches.