Transplanting an apple tree is a gardener's action that, if done incorrectly, can be fatal to the tree. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately determine the place where the plant will grow, so that such needs do not arise in the future. Unfortunately, many, especially beginners, do not fulfill this requirement, and then transplanting an adult apple tree becomes necessary. How to transplant an apple tree in spring to another place, you can find out from this article.

Why transplant

The question often arises: "Is it possible to transplant an adult apple tree and how to do it?" Ask it in such cases:

  • fruit trees are planted very densely and thus prevent each other from growing and developing;
  • the plant does not develop well, because the gardener, when planting, incorrectly estimated the structure of the soil;
  • for some reason, the summer resident decided to change the garden plan.

The garden becomes too thick when the gardener, when planting the tree, does not take into account its size in the future. Over time, fruit trees grow, their crowns become wider, and they begin to shade each other and interfere with development.

Apple orchard

In addition, during planting, they forget that it is necessary to take into account the composition of the soil, the level of groundwater and the possibility of flooding the site during the spring melting of snow. If the root system is exposed to water for a long time, it begins to rot, microorganisms and bacteria begin to develop on it, and fungi appear. In this case, you need to immediately take action, otherwise the plant will die.

Most often, replanting an apple tree occurs due to the redevelopment of the site. Many residents of suburban settlements begin the construction of additional premises during their residence. In this case, the need to re-plan the garden also arises, since the trunk may be located in the place where the construction is supposed to be.

Important! The correct layout of the garden guarantees future success.

Before getting down to business, you need to know for sure whether it is possible to transplant an adult apple tree, and also take into account the timing of the transplant and whether the tree will undergo such an operation.

When is it better to transplant

Many are interested in the question: "When and how can you transplant an apple tree from place to place?" After all, it depends on how the tree is moved whether it will develop and bear fruit or die.

Apple tree tree transplant

Gardeners who know how to grow trees in the garden are sure that such transplants are possible in early spring or autumn. Summer is categorically eliminated for such procedures. At what time of the year to transfer trees to another place depends, first of all, on the preference of the gardener, but you should not forget about some nuances:

  1. If the soil on the site is not black earth, then this operation is recommended to be done in the spring.
  2. In the dry and cold autumn period, transplanting should not be carried out. It is better to move it to spring.
  3. In spring, you can only move mature trees on days when the sky is cloudy.
  4. The best time for transplanting is still autumn.

In order for the process of moving the tree to be correct, regardless of whether it will be carried out in autumn or spring, you need to choose a period when the apple tree will be at rest. In spring, buds should not bloom on it yet, and in autumn you need to wait for the last leaves to fall. In addition, the transplant should be completed before the first frost. Otherwise, the root system will not have time to adapt to the new place where the apple tree will grow.

If there is an urgent need to transfer a plant that still has leaves, then it should be transplanted in the evening. At this time, the leaves stop evaporating water, and the process of photosynthesis is also completed.

Transplanting a tree is better in the evening

Adult apple trees are most often transplanted in winter. In this case, you need to ensure that the air temperature does not drop below + 5 degrees. It should also be remembered that the branches of the tree and its branches should be located exactly in the direction in which they grew in the old place.

How to transplant an apple tree to another location

When transplanting an apple tree, an important step remains not to damage the root system, since it is thanks to it that the tree grows and develops. In addition to roots, branches, trunk and leaves are a single living organism. Therefore, it is very important to know the structure of the root, so as not to damage it when digging up the plant.

Apple tree transplant

The apple root consists of several parts. The seedling at the initial stage of formation has only one stem. As it grows and develops, additional roots begin to grow. Some are called skeletal, they grow in a horizontal position. After the formation of vertical and fibrous processes. Together they form the root system.

Roots are divided into two groups according to their function:

  • Suction. This group includes roots that are able to absorb all the minerals and other nutrients that are necessary for the life of the tree. These include fibrous and overgrown roots. Despite the fact that their size is completely small, they play a very important role in the life and development of the apple tree. Moreover, these roots are able to recover when damaged.
  • Conductive. These roots are the core and skeletal parts of the root system. It is they who carry out by themselves all the minerals that the kidney roots absorb. They grow up to twelve meters in length. Thanks to this, the tree grows and is kept upright.

Suction roots grow on conductive roots. Thus, both groups of roots perform their functions simultaneously and thus form a single system that cannot function separately. If the lobe roots are damaged, the tree will die, since it will not absorb minerals from their soil. At the same time, if the conductive roots are damaged, the suction will not have where to grow, this will again lead to the death of the tree.

If the conductive roots are damaged, the tree dies

Even in ancient times, people believed that for good fruiting, the seedling must be moved from place to place from the seed three times. Moreover, during such transplants, the central root was removed, which contributed to rapid fruiting.

The apple tree, which is transplanted in the first year of life, takes root best. At this time, the seedling adapts very quickly and easily transfers this operation.

How to transplant a 3 year old

At the age of two or three years, when transplanting an apple tree, it is necessary that its root system be closed with a large earthy clod. If you follow all the rules for moving, then a three-year-old seedling will quickly take root and will develop well, and eventually bear fruit.

It is important to know! As long as the crown is directly proportional to the root system, the tree is able to quickly regenerate and restore all its functions.

This is the most optimal age for a transplant, which consists of the following stages:

  1. Preparation of the landing pit. Dig it up three or even four weeks before planting.Fertile soil is placed at the bottom, consisting of a mixture of humus, wood ash and complex fertilizer. The pit is watered abundantly and a stake is driven in in the middle, which will support the tree vertically.
  2. You need to uproot the apple tree with a large earthy clod.
  3. Transportation. You can use two shovels to move the plant from one place to the other.
  4. Transfer. The tree is placed vertically in the hole, the root system is covered with fertile soil up to the root collar. The soil is tamped and watered. Then it is recommended to mulch the root zone.

How to transplant 5 years

At the age of five, the apple tree forms a large root system. With proper plant care, the root system significantly exceeds the size of the crown. The taproot also grows deeper. Therefore, when transplanting such a tree, you need to very carefully dig it from the ground.

Such a plant is transplanted according to the same scheme as a young seedling, but there are several differences:

  • The plant is watered abundantly before digging up.
  • Examine the branches and indicate the cardinal points.
  • They dig in the tree in such a way that an earthen lump is preserved.
  • A lever is installed under the lump with which the tree will be lifted.
  • The apple tree is placed on a tarpaulin and thus transferred to another place.

You will need to use several pegs to support the tree.

How to transplant a 7 year old

An apple tree that has reached the age of seven and older cannot be transplanted on its own, since its root system is two and a half times the size of the crown. Therefore, when digging it out of the ground, damage cannot be avoided. But, despite this, older trees also move, since up to twenty years the tree grows and develops intensively. This will require the help of special equipment and several people.

Important! An apple tree that has reached the age of twenty cannot be transplanted, since its root system ceases to form and only supports and enhances its vital activity.

It is necessary to transplant adult plants in the spring, since they will not have time to take root before the onset of cold weather.

Answers to common questions

Transplanting an apple tree to a new place in spring raises a lot of questions from novice gardeners trying to grow a garden. In their opinion, the following questions are especially important.

Is it possible to plant an apple tree in the place of an old apple tree

In no case should a new seedling be planted in the place of the old one, since the soil is tired and depleted. Apple trees, which are planted in places of old trees, begin to bear fruit much later, in addition, the yield will be several times lower.

If the transplanted seedling does not take root well

If the seedling does not take root, then you need to pay attention to whether the root collar is buried. If it is covered with earth, then this leads to podoprevanie, therefore, to infection with diseases and death of the tree. Excessive watering also negatively affects the survival rate. Having eliminated these errors, one can hope that the plant will grow and develop well.

The transplanted seedling does not take root well

Whether to transplant a columnar apple tree

Columnar apple trees grow for a long time in pots and vases. When transplanting them, the following rules are followed:

  • The root system must be completely shaken off the remnants of old soil.
  • As much fertile soil as possible should be poured into a new container.

In open ground, such a seedling is planted in the same way as an ordinary one.

Transplanting apple trees at an older age is quite possible if all the rules are followed. Only in this way the plant will take root and bloom, and in the future it will be possible to taste a delicious bulk apple.