How and for what purpose should trees be watered in autumn

What is it for

Remember the most important rule: the more moisture in the soil, the better the fruit trees grow. Experienced gardeners advise to water the trees during the growing season, then next year the condition of trees and shrubs will be at a height. Due to long-term watering, they will be enriched with vitamins and nutrients. Moreover, it will be easier for plants to survive the cold, the number of fruits for the next year will increase and the root system will not freeze out. In other words, watering trees in autumn is preparation for the winter period, because, as a rule, moist soil freezes less.

As for transplanted and young plants, they need to be given more attention. The reason is the fact that the root has not yet taken root in the trees or shrubs.

If we neglect the autumn watering of trees, individual branches can dry out, especially the risk increases in the cold season. Another disadvantage can be a sunburn of the bark of trees.

Video “Expert Advice. Autumn watering of the garden ”

What is the best time to start watering? How?

Watering features

Watering trees in autumn, in other words, is called moisture charging. It is carried out in those places of the site where natural moisture gets the least. First of all, columnar or dwarf trees require watering, since their roots are close enough to the soil surface. Such plants have a risk of freezing the root system - they need to be watered abundantly and in a timely manner.

Typically, water recharge irrigation is carried out in October and until mid-November. In September, at least at the beginning of the month, it is not advisable to water the plants, as they may start to grow and will not be able to overwinter.

In the middle lane, watering is carried out from mid-October. In hot regions - from October to November.

As for the amount of water, then the size and age of the plants must be taken into account. Currants, honeysuckle, blackberries require three to five buckets of water. For trees four to seven years old, five to ten buckets are usually used.

When watering plants from a hose, you need to set the watering time for 10-15 minutes several times a day. The stable amount of moisture for trees is 60-90 liters per square meter.

When calculating how much water needs to be applied for each plant, it is important to take into account the soil moisture in a particular area. You can check this in the following way: take a small lump of earth and squeeze it in your palm. If it does not crumble, then you need to water the soil less, but more often, several times a day. In dry autumn, especially in September, it is better to double the amount of watering.

Remember that the root system of trees will absorb as much moisture as it needs. Even if you water the plants more than necessary, they will not suffer from this. But it is better to water in moderation, especially in September, when trees and shrubs are just moving away from the summer season.

It is necessary to dig up the soil around the plants so that the earth is enriched with oxygen and the absorption of water is carried out faster.

Techniques and methods

There are several methods for watering fruit trees and shrubs in the fall. Let us consider two main ones, at which the most optimal moisture enrichment of the root system is carried out.

First. Around the crown of the tree, that is, along the perimeter, you need to dig a small hole 10-15 cm deep and pour water there. If you prefer to water the plants with a hose, this is the best method. Since the hose can be installed in the desired position and the water will fill the hole. After watering and absorbing water, the ditch must be buried with earth.

The second method is underground watering of plants. It is best applied when the root is close enough to the soil. Around each tree, it is necessary to make wells, the diameter of which should be 10-15 cm, and the depth of 50-60 cm. The well itself should be filled with pieces of brick, crushed stone or coarse sand. And through these fillers to water trees, you can also apply any kind of fertilizer. It is thanks to this method that the elements of phosphorus and potassium freely enter the root. At the same time, no crust remains on the surface, and the soil continues to be enriched with oxygen. Usually, experienced gardeners recommend using this method in September - thanks to the sand and gravel filter, the optimal amount of moisture is supplied to the plant root system. But for young, newly planted plants, the first watering method is recommended.

In winter, the holes made must be covered with some kind of fertilizer or peat, otherwise there is a risk of freezing.

What not to do

The first is to count on rainy days in the fall. Raindrops can only penetrate forty centimeters into the soil, and this is not enough for fruit trees. Therefore, it is worth additionally watering plants and even shrubs.

You should also not resort to winter watering on heavy clay soil and in lowlands. This method will be appropriate in forest and podzolic soil.

Of course, excessive moisture levels will not have a beneficial effect on plant growth in spring. Set a time frame and amount of water per day. To achieve the optimal water-to-soil ratio, test how much wetted the soil is.

Many people neglect garden compost, but in vain. By combining top dressing and compost from sawdust and straw, you thereby protect the root system for the winter.

In summer, we always expect a rich harvest of apples, pears and other fruits. Their quality directly depends on how you care for the trees in the fall. It is at this time, by watering the plants, we lay them immunity to different weather conditions. The soil saturated with air and moisture allows the root system to develop for the better. Thus, increasing the quality of the fruit harvest.

How to compost video

The video describes in detail how to quickly prepare compost from grass in a regular barrel.