What can be planted under an apple tree

The desire of every summer resident for the rational use of their six acres is not a secret at all. In addition, how much land remains for everything else depends on the number of buildings. As always, there is not enough land. Part of the solution to the problem lies in competent planting in the near-trunk circle, for example, an apple tree.

What can be planted under an apple tree

As a rule, the trunk circle in diameter corresponds to the size of the tree crowns. It is from the trunk circle that water, vital nutrients for the tree and air for the roots come from. The structure of the apple tree crown can be: dense, sparse or delicate. The leaves on the spreading branches of the apple tree create light shading, and thus the place under the crown becomes an excellent place for many shade-tolerant plants to grow.

Moreover, such plantings give an interesting zest to any design, and for the roots of an apple tree there are only solid advantages (there will be no dry soil).

There are several options for using the space at the trunk of an apple tree: sodding, planting flowers, vegetables, greenery.

About turf

When sowing a lawn in the near-stem circle of an apple tree, the composition and properties of the soil are improved with enrichment with air, and moisture is also retained for a long time. Of course, all this has a positive effect on the yield of fruit trees.

What grass can I use for my lawn?

1) Pole grass: with the help of this low-growing cereal, a beautiful carpet is formed in a short amount of time.

2) Pasture ryegrass: This cereal has a smooth stem and bright green thin leaves. It has an important property - it is a medicine for the soil, because protects it from erosion.

3) Meadow bluegrass is often used as lawn grass, the main advantage of which is that it practically does not lend itself to mechanical stress.

4) Many people know about White Clover, this legume is a stunted crop that blooms twice a year, it is loved for the white balls familiar from childhood.

It is worth remembering that lawn grasses tend to tiller quickly. This means that it needs to be cut 4-5 times during the seasonal period, especially if the grass is sown under an apple tree for design.

Quickly enough, under the shady crowns of apple trees, greens of stunning beauty and usefulness grow.

About decorating with flowers

Spring flowers are often planted in the near-stem circle of an apple tree. They appear along with young leaves in the trees. That is, there is still no lush crown, and the flowers have no shortage of sunlight. There is also a minus: already at the beginning of summer the greens of these flowers "evaporate" and the soil surface becomes bare.

To solve the problem, you can pick up plants that appear above the soil surface at different time periods.

For example, the hosta crawls out when many bulbous have already faded. For example, the hosta grows up against the backdrop of wilting tulips.

What plants are suitable for the near-stem area of ​​an apple tree?

Of course, you can plant all kinds of flowers here..

1) Bulbous. They bloom to form a lush crown. This place is suitable for crocuses, muscarias, tulips, daffodils.

2) Astilbe bushes, which have white-pink, reddish or blue shades of panicle inflorescences, are suitable.

3) Beautiful dicentra bushes with their bluish leaves and bright heart-shaped flowers will perfectly fit under the apple tree.

4) With the help of mimulus or lipstick, which blooms twice a year, the carpet under the tree will be leopard.

Also, a daisy, balsam, aquilegia, bell, etc. are suitable for this place.

In addition to flowers, deciduous plants that are not afraid of shade are suitable:

1) hosts - its beautiful bushes with beautiful leaves have a variety of colors;

2) geychera - a plant, carved leaves of various shades of which immediately attracts the eye;

3) ornamental leaves of bruner, this short plant, resemble pointed hearts.

It is contraindicated to plant lilies of the valley and periwinkle near the trunk of the apple tree because of the branches that are corrosive to the soil, taking air and nutrients from the roots of the apple tree.

It is important to first pay attention to those plants that are both beautiful and useful. For example:

- the specific smell of marigolds scares away different types of aphids and prevents fungal diseases from spreading;

- with the help of calendula, you can get rid of pests and prevent the appearance of fungal diseases and harmful bacteria;

- an excellent property of nasturtiums - not only in beauty, but also in the fight against aphids, whiteflies and cabbage moths.

In addition, the roots of these plants supply the soil with elements that improve its structure.

About vegetable, berry and herbal crops

Vegetable, berry and herbal crops are also planted in the tree trunk circle of the apple tree. They basically all tolerate shade perfectly, so they feel quite comfortable.

1) Pumpkin culture (cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin). The main thing is that they do not grow together!

2) Tomatoes. If you plant them in a circle, then the apple tree will be protected from the moth, and on summer days you will get a wonderful harvest.

3) Berries. Good place for wild or garden strawberries.

4) Legumes. With planted peas or curly beans tied to the lower branches, you get an effective design solution for your site.

5) With healthy herbs - dill, lettuce, sorrel, spinach or mint, you will always be with vitamins, especially if the soil in the trunk circle is nutritious and moist.

6) All gnawing pests will escape from garlic with its phytoncides, planted in the near-stem circle of an apple tree, and in summer it will enrich the soil with useful substances.

It is important to remember that the plants planted under the apple tree are not suitable for food if it will be treated with any chemicals.

Separately, it should be said about siderates (natural fertilizer). They are cut and buried in the soil. Thus, the land becomes rich in nitrogen, weeds do not grow here, and the probability of the spread of various diseases is minimal.

More about green manure.

1) The group of cereals, it consists of oats, barley, millet and rye.

2) The legume group, it consists of alfalfa, clover, soybeans, field peas and fodder peas.

3) The cruciferous group, it consists of mustard and rapeseed.

Siderates are sown several times per season and receive several harvests of useful fertilizer. It is quite easy to grow them, and special skills are not required.

It should be remembered that cherries should not be planted under an apple tree, they will not have enough sun, and a decent harvest will not work.

What is planted close to the apple tree

Different crops planted together must be compatible with each other and with the apple tree. It is very important to choose a symbiosis of plants, in which they have a positive effect on each other, on the soil and on the root system. As a result of competent selection, plant crops have a positive effect on the root system of the tree, fill the earth with nutrition and strength, drive away pests, and the apple tree, in turn, creates conditions for plant growth with its partial shade from the crown.

Cultures are planted at a distance of 0.2 m from the apple tree trunk. Planting should be sparse so that in the event of falling apples, you do not need to step on the plants.

It is worth remembering: if you process apple trees with some kind of poisonous chemicals, then it is better to plant decorative deciduous or flowering plants, or green manures under the tree.

The earth under the crown must be dug up with half-shovels. Try not to injure the root system and work more with the forks.

The apple tree is fertilized not in the center, but around the circumference. Alternatively: cut off the bottom of the plastic bottle, bury the bottles so that the necks are in the ground, and feed through the bottom. The crown and roots will grow, the bottle devices will move, and the pits will be covered with soil.

Before planting vegetables, add soil and fertilize it with manure and humus. The plantings will have enough nutrients from the soil, just like the apple tree. And then you will get a double excellent harvest.

A little advice: carry out top dressing so that the fertilizer does not touch the root necks of the trees, so that there is no damping out.

Carefully consider the choice of green spaces for the trunk circle: their root system should not be deep. Otherwise, the apple tree will be deprived of moisture, oxygen and nutrients that are so necessary for it.

As for watering, it should not be frequent in order to avoid secondary growth of shoots on trees (this is unacceptable before wintering).

About cleaning the garden after the harvest

So, the harvest was successful, and it was time to harvest the site. First you need to pull out and destroy dry plants. Further, after the fall of the apple foliage, it is necessary to carefully dig up the ground without harming the roots. It is not necessary to break up lumps of soil. In case of expectation of a frosty winter, it is necessary to mulch the trunk circle.

Spring is the time of the second digging. This must be done before the leaves bloom. Dig it to a shallow depth using a pitchfork. The soil is gently broken, the surface is leveled.

In the summer, they loosen only in the case of the formed crust and weeds.

Digging is an important step in caring for apple trees, thanks to which the soil receives oxygen, moisture, and nutrients. Along the way - there is a fight against soil pests, weeds, which positively affects the growth and development of the plant.

Planting in the near-stem circle helps the gardener solve many problems: from creating a picturesque recreation area on an empty site to real benefits for the entire garden.

Knowing just a few subtleties of landing under apple trees crowns and nearby, even an amateur gardener can easily and usefully transform his garden space.