This is not the first time we have been approached with a request to tell about the Stlantsy people. Gardeners from Leningrad region and northern regions Nizhny Novgorod region, where wintering conditions are more severe than, for example, in the Moscow region.

Plants in the stale form have many advantages over standard trees, and not only in terms of wintering. But you should know that there are also disadvantages. And the main one is the high labor intensity of stone formation. It is not enough to give the plant the proper shape; you need to maintain it regularly.

Keep in mind that the slate shape is unnatural for the tree and it will constantly strive to assume an upright position. At the same time, many tops grow. They need to be cut out, leaving only individual branches from which to form the skeleton of the tree. In turn, these branches need to be bent and secured in time so that they are under the snow in winter.

Choosing a place to plant a tree with a slate form

To plant trees in slate form, it is advisable to choose a place protected from the winds. In winter, snow should not be blown away from the site, but rather, it should accumulate on the contrary. Slates need more fertile soil; the bulk of their roots are in the surface layer. For this reason, planting holes can be dug shallow, but at least a meter wide. These holes are filled with fertile soil and humus, and the most delicious and shelf-stable fruits grow on turf soil.

It is important to prevent the root collar from sinking (which easily happens with stale trees), so plant them on a small hill, a hillock.

Formation of slates

There are several ways to form slates (Figures 1, 2, 3). The most common forms are arctic and melon.

The Arctic is also called the plate shape. It was proposed by V.M. Krutovsky. This form can be achieved in several ways:

1. Budding the wild bird with two eyes at a height of 25-30 cm. The shoots grown from the eyes are extended in different directions.

2. By cutting vertically growing annuals at a height of 25-30 cm. 4-5 lateral shoots appear, which are extended in different directions.

3. Budding of overgrown wild shoots into lateral branches. The melon or fan form was proposed by A.D. Kizyurin. The essence of this form is as follows. Ordinary seedlings are planted obliquely at an angle of 30-400, and then formed into a fan. As a result of the growth of branches, an adult stanza most often loses its fan shape and resembles a plate shape.

To maintain the creeping shape, all branches of the melon and plate stems are held in a horizontal position with the help of hooks.

Apple trees grown in such forms occupy in mature age large area. To reduce it, forms in the form of single-arm and double-arm bent steel are used (Fig. 2).

Please note once again that regular monitoring of the growth of the stale form is required: repeated pinning, bending and pruning of branches throughout the season, and most importantly, removal of constantly growing tops. Without pruning the tops, a weakly fruiting “bush” of apple tree grows instead of the stale tree.

Fast-growing branches that make up the skeleton of the tree need to be shortened and bent in a timely manner. The growing lateral branches on the leaders are also shortened, turning them into fruit branches.

Advantages of slants:

1. They don't fall under extreme conditions in winter and under temperature changes in spring. Due to the fact that they are covered with a blanket of snow and the temperature there remains constant, the tree does not wake up ahead of time, which saves it from death. According to experts, large-fruited apple trees in a creeping form can live 60-80 years.

2. An apple tree in a slate form spreads above the ground. The tree is in favorable temperature conditions in summer. It is very important. Many varieties lack the sum of active temperatures in summer. And the branches of apple trees, being at a height of 30-40 cm from the ground, warm up better, their wood ripens better.

3. Slants are almost not affected by pests, and in particular by the codling moth. It turns out that the codling moth butterfly tries to lay its eggs higher than a meter from the ground, and the Siberian apple trees lower.

4. Slate forms can be covered not only with snow, which makes it possible to grow large-fruited varieties in the northern regions. For covering, foam plastic and boards are used, placed as support under the covering material. The entire crown of the apple tree is covered with a single sheet, for example, spunbond highest density. Cover with leaves on top old clothes, blankets and other improvised means.

Prepared material

M.B. Sharova, biologist

You can find this article in the newspaper "Magic Bed" 2010 No. 20.

Types of slate crowns

Due to the harsh climatic conditions, it is better to form the crowns of stale trees without a trunk or with a very small trunk. The stem of the Stlantians is often subject to sunburn and frost damage and requires special care and shelter. The standard-free culture of elfin trees reduces the risk of damage and death of the entire tree. Most widespread Amateur gardeners in the northern regions of the republic received the Arctic and Minusinsk forms, which are constantly being modified. Depending on the climatic characteristics of his area, the microclimate of his personal or cooperative garden, a gardener using these molds can grow almost all non-winter-hardy garden plants(Fig. 9).

Arctic form. (Krasnoyarsk double-shouldered stone). It is better to plant seedlings as annuals at an angle of 45-60°. After rooting, they are pinched 3-5 cm, the stem is bent to the ground in the direction of inclination and secured with hooks. The non-lignified shoot that appears at the top of the fold at the end of July is also carefully bent, but in the other direction, and secured. The remaining shoots that appear on the first two are pinched, turning thickenings into shoots. The purpose of these operations is to create

Rice. 9. Slate forms of large-fruited apple trees
From top to bottom: Krasnoyarsk double-shoulder; Minusinsk semi-slate (melon slate); arctic

two shoulders, keep the height of the stem within 20-25 cm and achieve placement of skeletal and smaller branches at a height of 20-40 cm above the soil surface on both sides of the shoulders. Every year, branches that grow vertically are shortened or bent down. If there is excessive thickening, some of the branches are cut out<на кольцо>without allowing thickening. In this way, a ground-level arrangement of the main part of the branches is achieved and both the exposure of the trunk and branches and their excessive thickening are prevented. The bending time is July - early August, when the branches are still flexible. You should not postpone the work of bending until the fall, since by this time the tissues will become woody and the branches that were bent with a delay will rise to their original position after removing the hooks. Experienced gardeners prepare a set of hooks of various lengths in advance and use them to secure a strongly growing branch in the desired direction.
The Arctic form is convenient for areas with thick and stable snow cover (otherwise it is very difficult to protect it from frost).
Minusinsk half-stlane. An annual seedling is planted obliquely to the soil surface. It is allowed to develop freely in one direction, bending and securing the growing part of the conductor to the ground with hooks. The distance from the horizontal part of the seedling to the ground is 20-25 cm. The emerging side branches are also bent to the ground. Some vertically growing branches are shortened to a side branch, some are cut off to avoid shading the underlying branches. After 3-4 years, when the tree is mostly formed, the crown is kept at a height of no more than 1.2-1.5 m.
In winter, the crown is bent to the ground using poles, and covered on top with straw mats, potato tops and snow. The tips of bent branches must be buried with earth, especially in steppe areas with strong winds.
Arctic (plate) slate. To form a plate-shaped crown annual seedling planted vertically and after it has taken root, cut it off aboveground part at a height of 25-35 cm. This technique stimulates the awakening of the nights located close to the base of the tree trunk. The angle of departure of branches that begin to grow is usually obtuse and does not require special fixation. 4-6 branches are brought out, placing them in a circle at equal distances. After some time, bend the branches to the sides of the main branches, shorten or remove vertically growing ones. To hold the branches and protect them from contact with the ground, a stationary rack 20-30 cm high is made, which is installed around the tree. The main branches are laid on it, and in subsequent years the emerging branches of the second and other orders are tied up. Maintenance is somewhat easier because there is almost no pinning; vertically growing branches are shortened to a convenient side branch, thinned out or tilted into a free zone.
Slate is suitable for growing most non-winter-hardy species, such as pears, plums, etc. Their crowns are compact, vertically compressed and tolerate winter well under light artificial shelter or snow. The disadvantage of stanza is its big sizes, requiring a significant area of ​​land.
Slate gardening enthusiasts have developed numerous varieties of Slate (melon, comb, etc.). Thus, the branches of arctic stale are arranged not in a circle, but along them, as a result, the area of ​​land for this formation is reduced.
Gardeners V.M. and V.S. Korotkov reduced the distance between the soil and the trunk of the stylata to 10 cm, sowing under the crowns of the trees and thereby improved the growing conditions.
It has been noted that elfin trees grow better when the crown of the seedling is directed to the south. If the site is located on a slope, then the crown should be directed along the slope from bottom to top. It is advisable to wrap the hooks for pinning branches with a softening pad (burlap, tow, etc.). In steppe areas with strong winds and little snow cover, the stlanets are covered with specially made straw mats, recommended for greenhouses. When used carefully, mats serve to protect greenhouses in the spring, and to protect stale trees in winter.

Spouses Irina PAVLOVA and Igor EFIMOV from Irkutsk have been growing large-fruited apple trees for 15 years, but not simple ones...

Gardeners are not hampered by either the harsh climate or the location of the site in a cold zone (at the bottom of a hill). But there is important point: spouses apple trees are grown in shale-bush form.

Tricky trick

In our Siberian conditions, it is better to forget about tall trees with a spreading crown. Apple trees should be shaped more like currant bushes.

We have developed a method of caring for apple trees, thanks to which we grow trees of almost any variety, except perhaps winter ones.

The couple emphasizes: the main problem region - not little summer, but very short autumn. As a result, the trees simply do not have time to prepare for winter (too abrupt a transition from warm to low temperatures) and die. Helps to avoid this outcome correct agricultural technology. And shaping it in a shale-bush form for subsequent shelter is one of the key points.

Our apple trees never shed their leaves - they don’t have time. They always go into winter with leaves. But we cover the plants, thereby prolonging autumn and smoothing out the transition to low temperatures. This is our cunning trick.

Read also:

TREE WITH BOTTLES

Gardeners begin to cover apple trees when the soil has been slightly frozen by frost and even the snow has passed, which melts in the morning. As a rule, this is the end of October - beginning of November.

But first, we bend the branches to the ground as much as possible,” explains Irina. - We tie a load to them - first large bottles of water, a little later we add small bottles so that the apple tree lies completely. And so that in the future the crown does not break under the weight of snow drifts, we put supports under the large skeletal branches that bear the main weight. In places where large cluster branches, place arcs of reinforcement.

After this, agrofibre is thrown over the entire tree - two stitched canvases measuring 6x10 m each. But the main shelter is still good layer snow.

The famous varieties of apple trees - Papirovka, Melba, Orlik, Spartan - are quite suitable for the stale method of cultivation. It would be even more correct to find the varieties Chudnoe, Brat-chud, Carpet, and Prizemlennoe. The height of these plants barely exceeds 1 m, so they are much easier to grow in the North.

Spring came!

Apple trees open in late April-early May. If you delay this, they will bloom right under the shelter, which will not destroy the trees, but may affect the quantity and quality of the harvest. Having removed the cover and freed the branches from the load, you need to give the apple trees time to rest. The trees stand and straighten for a couple of weeks. And then the branches are tied to a support.

Near each tree, at a distance of 15-20 cm from the main trunk, they drove metallic profile 130 cm long, which has a square cross-section with sides of 2.5 cm. The bottom of the pipe was pre-sharpened so as not to cut off the roots. They left 50 cm above the surface of the earth, explains Igor. - It turned out stationary design, which we do not remove at the end of the season. In the spring, we insert another, smaller pipe into this piece of pipe.

At its upper end there are hooks, to which we tie the branches using polypropylene twine. At the same time, we distribute them so that they do not interfere with each other, each has enough sun and air, and in the future the fruits do not hit each other in windy weather.

The shape of the crown of apple trees in Siberia is created by man to produce larger fruits. Because real large-fruited varieties are not winter-hardy enough; they hardly grow here for the harsh climate. But the ranetkas turn out well, often quite large. Ranetkas - semi-cultures are given a stylescent-bush shape and the trees bear fruit better. The base of the tree is made of slate, but earlier it was grafted onto a winter-hardy rootstock. There are several types of slate.

Crown shape of apple trees - slate

• The bush-shaped shale of the Krasnoyarsk bush has a circumference of 60 - 70 cm and is elongated by 2-3 meters. For the first 2 years, only a slate base is made, suppressing vertical growth. In the third year, for a trunk, on each shoulder, there should be 4 - 6 branches. Free growth is allowed, one vertical shoot at a time, from which a productive branch develops. The branches are arranged in a circle, forming a crown like a round bowl.

The crown shape of apple trees in Siberia is made up of 5 branches. An additional technique for such crown formation is the annual, regular suppression of growth on the trunk and branches. As soon as the shoots grow 15-20 cm, they are shortened. Leave a part of the shoot with 2-3 true leaves. You can break them to the same length.

When shaping an apple tree, combinations of pinching and breaking give good results. Suppressed shoots protect the trunk from sunburn and additionally nourish the tree.

• The second crown option is comb-shaped. When the conductors are located in 2 opposite directions, extended by 2-3 meters. With a comb-shaped form, in the 4th year, 4-6 vertically directed shoots are also allowed to grow freely. Further care, like a bushy tree.

The winter-hardy skeleton-forming agent is carried out along knots at a height of 60–100 cm, depending on the height of the snow cover, so that the grafting ends up under the snow in winter. The most commonly used skeleton-forming agent is winter-hardy varieties Siberian ranetki. But there are gardeners who are able to grow varieties of apple trees in Siberia.

Crown shape - European varieties

Only slate crown forms of apple trees in Siberia are used. The formation of an apple tree is done in a horizontal position, about 50 cm from the soil, by bending and pruning. The tree is held in this way throughout its life. Vertical growth must be suppressed by everyone using existing methods. Pinching, breaking, bending, twisting, tying. Otherwise, the trees will freeze in winter.

From the first year of a tree's life, starting at the nursery, it is given a bent position. This is how the stylized crown begins to form. However, it is better to give a vertical direction to a bole 5–30 cm high. This will ensure the normal position of the tree's roots and its longevity.

The main shoulders of the slate are positioned from the standard at right angles. The transition from the stem to the horizontal shoulder should be smooth to avoid breaks at the bend points. Best time for bending - July, because summer sap flow begins, when the tree is most flexible. 4-5 skeletal branches are left on the main arms of the stanza. To do this, shoots grown from the lateral buds are taken. At a distance of 30 - 40 cm from each other.

The gaps between them are filled with semi-skeletal and overgrowing branches. Special attention require vertical shoots. We must suppress their growth while they are in the grassy state. Due to the horizontal position of the branches, the slaty tree begins to bear fruit earlier, compared to the vertical growth of the tree, open to all winds.

At our dacha we don’t have a slate-shaped crown of apple trees, because we haven’t tried to grow them like that, but I want to try. Of course, we sell apples now all year round, but you rarely come across tasty ones, and more often they are beautiful, but tough.

You might think that the slate shape of the crown of apple trees is violence against the tree; I saw such trees in a fruit nursery in the city of Minusinsk. The trees did not look unhappy, on the contrary, the tree grew inclined, but beautiful, the foliage was fresh, fruiting was moderate, but annual. The fruits were incredibly tasty,

Many gardeners believe that creeping apple trees take up a lot of space.

For this reason, they prefer to plant upright growing trees.

But the advantage of stlanes is their resistance to cold climate conditions.

This is a tree (slate), the crown of which has a creeping, squat shape. Its branches do not grow upward. Home distinctive feature slate is its flexible elastic trunk.

Eat good varieties apple trees with a natural creeping crown. Some of them:

Melba – Canadian variety apple trees. The ripening period is summer, with the fruits fully ripening in August. They are medium in size, weighing up to 100 grams. Shade – white with red. Shelf life is about one month.

The apple tree has an average yield rate. It begins to bear fruit after 3–4 years. It is easy to shape, but tends to thicken and requires thinning of shoots. Affected by scab.

Borovinka - Russian variety of apple tree. The ripening period is autumn, with full ripening of the fruits in early September.

The apples are large, the weight of one reaches 200 grams. It has a light yellow or greenish color. Shelf life 2 months.

The variety has good plasticity, high yield and resistance to scab.

Some gardeners independently form a crown along the surface of the soil, cut and bend branches to it.

To create stlanza, any variety of apple tree is used. But it is better if the tree bears large fruits, the taste of which is quite high.

On plate shaped, there are 3-4 humeral processes.

To create a squat crown position, the following condition must be met. It is necessary to timely transfer the growth of the tree growing upward to a horizontal position.

Formation of a two-armed slate.

An adult apple tree can have any shape created by pruning. Flat plate is the most common crown shape.

At the size and configuration of the site are taken into account and her landings.

Caring for a creeping apple tree

The stlanets needs a certain especially in the fall. At this time, it is necessary to insulate the crown. By pressing the branches with young shoots to the ground with special poles, they are secured with metal hooks.

Reed mats, vegetable tops, and spruce spruce branches are used to cover the crown. This will help her cope very coldy.

To protect the root collar of a young apple tree from freezing, its trunk is covered with earth 8 - 10 cm in height. In winter they add protective layer snow.

Otherwise, all aspects of how to care for a creeping apple tree are the same as caring for regular apple trees.

Watch the video on how to prepare correctly fruit trees for winter:

How to save a frozen apple tree

Having noticed that the slate apple tree had suffered from severe frosts, urgent measures must be taken.

A depressed state after spring blossoming, small whitish leaves due to lack of moisture are the main signs of freezing. - a necessary measure to save the tree. And as a result, new wood will quickly grow and its functions will be restored.

According to experienced gardeners, young shoots contribute to the formation of a healthy vascular system.

Thanks to them, the entire tree will be rejuvenated and metabolism will be normalized.

held in early spring. In order not to aggravate the situation, it can be carried out in last days spring and first days of summer. Warmth will help fast healing wound

Dead branches are completely removed. Shortening of living branches is done with the aim of causing strong growth.

Using garden varnish, cover the cut areas. Oil paint, red lead or ocher are used to paint large saw cuts.

Attention! A damaged tree needs intensive care. It needs regular watering and feeding. Mulching the tree trunks will retain moisture in the soil.

Whitewash

In autumn the apple tree needs thorough whitewashing of the trunk and the main branches branching from it.

To prepare the solution, use lime, clay (in small quantities), and paste for better adhesion. You can use fresh mullein for this purpose.

During whitewashing, the solution is applied to both the trunk and the skeletal branches. The close proximity of all parts of the tree to the ground cover creates an excellent habitat for diseases and pests. This could be a trunk, a standard, branches.

Procedure provides protection not only from the sun, but also from various pests. With its help you can get rid of insect eggs and pupae.

Rodent protection

To protect a creeping apple tree from rodents, winter time use different methods:

• Adding creosote to the whitewash mixture, both as a deterrent and as a disinfectant.
• Shelter with spruce branches.
• Laying down plastic bottles with poisonous bait under the trunk of an apple tree.
• Using special nets for shelter.
• Tying herbs to the branches (mint, wild rosemary, elderberry).

Using at least one of the methods, you can save the bark and roots of the apple tree from garden pests.

Watch the video advice on how to protect an apple tree from rodents:

Weed control

During the growing season (spring and summer), the soil should be kept in a state of black steam.

By digging and loosening, it will be clean and free of weeds. Mulching is very useful. Mown grass or sawdust is spread between the rows of creeping apple trees. This helps retain moisture and improves soil microflora.

Weed control must be carried out carefully. If they grow through the crown of a tree, its vital functions will deteriorate (photosynthesis of leaves, laying and development of fruit buds).

The main processing in the form of deep digging is carried out in the fall.

Watering

IMPORTANT! For Slants, careful attention is required. During this procedure, it is necessary to raise the tree branches to a height of 20 - 30 cm with the help of supports. They should not touch the soil.

Late August and early September watering must be limited to create conditions conducive to wood ripening.

Feeding the elks

To increase the efficiency of fruiting, the apple tree needs fertilizing. For the Elks, as for other species, it is the same.

The application rate depends on the age of the tree and the occupied area.

Soil condition affects right choice fertilizing

To reduce acidity levels fluff lime and dolomite flour are added to the soil. The use of chalk, ash, old plaster will also improve his condition.

To increase acidity sawdust and peat are used.

In the spring, fertilizers containing nitrogen are applied by root feeding. To the zone trunk circle you need to add one of the fertilizers: urea, ammonium nitrate, nitroammophoska, humus. They are introduced during digging.

When did the flowering begin?, apple trees are fed with liquid solutions. Chicken droppings, slurry, a mixture of potassium sulfate and superphosphate and urea are used as fertilizer.

Dissolve the required component in water and apply it under the tree. If the weather is dry, fertilizer is applied in liquid form. When it rains, it is scattered dry.

After flowering a creeping apple tree can be fed with a mixture of nitrophoska and sodium humanate diluted in water. You can make green manure by soaking green grass clippings in water.

Root feeding is sometimes replaced by foliar feeding. At the same time, the trees are sprayed with urea. Through the leaves the apple tree receives necessary elements for development.

It will not be superfluous for the garden. It is necessary to add substances containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium several times every 10 to 14 days.

Conducted with substances containing potassium and phosphorus. Nitrogen fertilizers It is not recommended to apply, as the wood may not mature.

WORTH CONSIDERING! Minerals are especially important for apple trees before winter cold. They will increase their winter hardiness.

Growing stanza in Siberian conditions

Growing apple trees in the conditions of Siberia, where there are severe winter colds, is quite difficult. Only slate is suitable for such climatic conditions.

Its crown should be as close to the ground as possible. This will cover it with snow, which will protect it from the harsh Siberian frosts.

Insulation of the root system of the slate apple tree.

Caring for them has a number of differences. In autumn, the loose bark is removed from the trunk, whitened or wrapped in a light-colored cloth.

Particular attention should be paid to the roots. Fallen leaves, spoiled fruits and other debris under trees must be removed. To feed and insulate the roots, you need to cover the soil in the root zone with a layer of humus.

Important! The branches of the stanzas bend towards the soil and are secured with iron hooks. To protect trees from rodents, the branches that form the skeleton should be wrapped with dense synthetic fabric.

When falling out sufficient quantity snow the crown of the apple tree takes cover. Having covered it with snow, additionally insulate it with burlap. Compact the edges with snow to prevent rodents from getting inside.

It is not recommended to cover the tree until snow has fallen. Mice can set up a home and destroy a tree.

Slates must be insulated and prepared for winter until severe frosts set in. This will prevent them from freezing.

In this region, creeping apple trees must be provided with proper care, taking into account all natural factors.

Causes of creeping apple tree infertility

When buying a seedling, you should ask when it will begin to bear fruit. An early fruiting apple tree variety begins bring the fruits 4 years after planting, and a late-fruiting variety – after 8 years. Once you purchase such a tree, you will have to wait a little.

But there are a number reasons that may affect fruiting:

• The seedling was planted incorrectly.
• The crown is incorrectly formed.
• The conditions of agricultural technology are not met.
• The variety does not correspond to the growing area.

Any of the reasons can lead to a bad result.

IMPORTANT! Seedling High Quality and the corresponding variety can only be purchased from farms specializing in this profile.

Infertility Slate apple trees depends on many reasons.

How to grow a trailing apple tree

To grow an apple tree in a creeping form, it is necessary to fulfill all the conditions for planting and forming its crown. In this case, a creeping apple tree requires the same care as for a regular tree.

Correct fit

For growing such trees there are certain rules of agricultural technology.

Selecting a landing site

When choosing a place for a creeping apple tree, it is worth determining to what extent it protected.

It should be on a hill and provided with good protection from the cold north wind. Cold air should drain to a place located much lower.

It is necessary that in winter the wind was unable to blow the snow away from the area. It will be better if it accumulates.

Required for Slants fertile soil. Their main roots are covered with a surface layer. Due to this, the pit can be of small depth, and its width is about 1 m.

It should also be taken into account that Slants do not like swampy places.

When is the best time to plant elfin?

Early spring is the most favorable period for planting elfin. It is necessary to choose the moment before the buds bloom on the seedlings.

In autumn, when the trees shed their leaves, you can also plant apple trees. You just need to calculate it so that there are 2 - 3 weeks left before the soil freezes.

How to plant correctly

When planting a creeping apple tree, you should take into account the characteristics of its growth. The soil must be mixed with humus and poured into the prepared hole in the form of a cone. Place the seedling at an angle of 35° - 45°. The top should face south.

IMPORTANT! The cut rootstock spike should face the ground surface. If its wound is higher, the seedling can be broken when tilted.

Its root collar should be positioned so that it is 5 cm below the ground level.

Features of planting creeping apple tree seedlings.

You just need to consider:

• At shallow landing the rootstock can produce shoots. It needs to be removed every year.
• When planting deeply, if the soil is heavy with a high degree of moisture, the bark may rest at the neck of the root.

Having installed the seedling correctly, spread its roots evenly along the sides of the mound, cover it with earth and compact it thoroughly. For watering you need to take 2 buckets of water per apple tree..

Carrying out pre-planting work and preparing the planting hole is the same as for ordinary trees.

Reproduction

You can propagate the stanella with the help drops.

Since its branches are located very low, this process is not difficult to carry out. A small transverse incision is made at the point of contact of the branch with the ground, which slows down the outflow nutrients. This causes swelling and small roots to form.

Having deepened the prepared branch into the ground, fix it with a wire bracket. Sprinkle some soil on top. Watering is necessary 2 times a week, depending on weather conditions.

In autumn, the mother branch can be pruned. And transplant the rooted plant to a new place.

Can be propagated by grafting, if you find the right rootstock.

In autumn, when sap flow stops, an annual shoot (cutting) is cut off. It lasts until spring.

And during the period until the buds have blossomed, they vaccinate, choosing a solid branch.

It should grow away from other branches so that they do not obscure it. Make a diagonal cut on the branch. The cuttings must also be cut off, leaving up to four buds.

A cut is made on the branch and on the shoot and they are matched by cuts so that their bark touches and aligned. Using film, wrap the grafting site and cover it with garden varnish.

Even a novice gardener can perform this procedure.

Rootstocks for creeping apple trees

Any variety can be used as a rootstock for stlanes. Just so that he doesn't have fragility. Beneficial use of clonal rootstock Progress, as it has high frost resistance and winter hardiness of the roots and top part.

Pruning a creeping apple tree

Pruning should begin in early spring. At this time, diseased and withered shoots are removed. Further throughout the season (summer and autumn) follows control their growth and trim off unnecessary branches that lead to thickening of the crown.

Proper pruning creeping apple tree.

Shoots that lead to thickening of the crown are cut into a ring.

Autumn pruning involves removing dry branches.

How creeping apple trees are formed

The horizontal position of the crown branches from planting and the entire fruiting period is maintained by holding them near the ground. The inclined branches are directed in opposite directions with free space.

The shoots that grow at the base of the trunk are bent in the opposite direction relative to its growth and pinned.

The horizontal position of the apple tree branches is ensured by pinning them to the ground.

When forming the crown, it is necessary to remove damaged, broken branches, as well as those that create shading. At the beginning of spring and summer, shoots that create shading are removed.

Each skeletal shoot should grow in the right direction and be provided with good lighting.

Growing shoots turn into fruit branches by pinching them near the fourth or fifth leaf. If they are industries, the procedure is repeated.

To form the correct crown of a creeping apple tree, it will take almost 6 years.

This is not a difficult job, but it must be done every year.

Slate seedlings can also be planted in upright position without tilting. In early spring it should be trimmed at a height of 12 -15 cm.

When the kidneys will produce shoots up to 20 cm long, you need to direct them to the sides. Pressing it to the soil, pin it with metal hooks, leaving a gap of up to 8 cm between them.

Further actions are carried out in the same way as when forming seedlings planted at an angle.

Important! In autumn the stlantsy formed different methods, hunkering down for the winter.

Errors that occur during formation

Sometimes during the formation of stanza there is problem when the skeleton became irregular shape . Of course, it is very important to know how to form a creeping apple tree.

To correct the situation, it is necessary to tilt the growing shoots to the side to correct the shape, pinning them to the ground with hooks.

It will take several years to form a high-quality crown of a creeping apple tree.

To achieve good result, need to create optimal conditions for her growth. By applying fertilizers, watering, and removing weeds in time, you can create all the necessary prerequisites.

Useful videos

Watch the video from experienced gardener on how to create a slate:

Watch a video about shale formation, the experience of professionals:

Having planted an apple tree seedling in the garden and formed a stele from it, you will buy a frost-resistant plant which will give wonderful harvest fruits

At the same time, caring for a creeping apple tree is not difficult for beginning gardeners.

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