Watering the apple tree is the key to a good harvest

All trees, including the apple tree, need timely and correct watering for normal development and fruiting. Do you think that this agronomic method is the simplest and not worth special attention? After all, all it needs is water and a hose. But not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance. Read this article and you will know how, how much and when to water the apple trees.

How often to water?

Many hobby gardeners mistakenly believe that a small amount of water is sufficient for irrigation if done frequently. But this is not at all the case - such watering will not do your tree any good and will be a waste of time.

Watering young apple trees that are not yet bearing fruit should be done up to 3 times in one season, ending in early August. In this case, on average, you need to pour from 2 to 3.5 buckets of water per tree.

It is necessary to water it correctly so that the water falls precisely on the root collar of the seedling and so penetrates into the root system. An apple tree that has not reached the age of 3 should be watered only in the holes. Furrows are used to irrigate a mature tree. More often 4 furrows are enough - 3 of them are made under the crown, and one outside it, retreating about 30 cm.The depth of the furrows usually does not exceed 20 cm.

Furrow irrigation scheme for apple trees

Autumn is the time for active root growth. And if it is dry autumn, then pre-winter watering, called moisture charging, is also possible. Moreover, it must be carried out during or immediately after the leaf fall (keep in mind that for each variety, the leaf falls at one time). It is believed that if the tree is well watered in the fall, then the winter with its frosts will not cause any special damage to the apple tree. If possible, pour 2 buckets of water under each tree every day for a week.

Do not water the apple tree in late autumn - this will lead to repeated growth of shoots, and the approaching winter will not allow the tree to prepare for frost and it will die.

If the apple tree in your area is adult, it should receive from 3 to 5 full waterings per season. The number directly depends on the climate zone in which you live. If the region is hot and dry, then more moisture is needed. Conversely, if you live in areas with high humidity, do not overuse irrigation.

When in doubt about whether to water or not, do a simple test. Dig a shallow hole and take a handful of earth, remember it in your hand, if the earth began to crumble, then do not hesitate, the soil needs water. This method has one drawback, it is not suitable for those who have sandy loam soil on the site.

When to water?

In winter, the plants are not watered. In the spring, water the first time before the apple tree begins to bloom (mid-May). You can repeat the procedure as soon as the extra ovary falls off (mid-June). The third - two weeks before the ripening of summer varieties (end of July). As soon as autumn comes and there are 20 days left before harvesting, water the soil around the perimeter of the crown. During these periods, 1 sq. meter should use 4 to 6 buckets of water.

In the fall, do not water, as frequent rains already saturate the soil with moisture. In late autumn, one water-charging irrigation is carried out, preparing the garden for winter.

It is worth noting that in regions where winter is not characterized by severe frosts, and the climate is warm enough, spring water-charging irrigation can also be used. It is carried out in early spring, if the winter was dry, without snow and the soil did not accumulate enough moisture.

With proper watering of vigorous apple trees, the soil at a depth of half a meter should be saturated with moisture. Trying to keep it in the ground as long as possible, two days after watering, be sure to loosen the soil and mulch with humus, sand or sawdust. In this case, the layer thickness should be up to 5 cm.

If dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties grow in your summer cottage, they should be watered often, but not abundantly, because their root system runs close to the surface of the earth.

Basic watering methods

In addition to simple proven options for watering with buckets or a garden hose, others are used:

• Subsoil irrigation. Thanks to this method, the water is delivered in a targeted manner to the root area. Due to this, their humidity is always at the same level.
• The drip method is used if the site has poor infertile soil. It has many advantages; irrigation is carried out directly under the root of the tree. By using the drip method for watering, you will keep the paths in the garden dry without having to carry around hoses from one tree to another every time. Also, drip irrigation reduces the growth of grass and annoying weeds.
• Sprinkler irrigation is considered to be the best watering method for a garden, in which an even soil moisture can be achieved. At the same time, both the water consumption and the irrigation rate are precisely regulated. But it should be used at sunset or after sunset.

On the slopes, additional barrels and bowls are used to retain natural moisture. To do this, make holes along the diameter of the crown, leveling and equipping them with rollers on the sides. As a result, moisture will immediately be able to get into the area of ​​the soil, which is maximally saturated with roots.

After reading the watering rules, you can grow a healthy and fruitful apple orchard.

Video "Watering the apple tree"

This video will show you when and how to water your apple trees.