How to water an apricot - in summer, during ripening and fruiting
Content:
Timely watering of the apricot is essential for harvesting. Lack of moisture often leads to the fact that young trees do not develop and may die. Therefore, it is important to know how to water the plant and what frequency to observe.
Periodicity
Watering the apricot should be done at regular intervals. Otherwise, the root system of the plant quickly rots, which can provoke various diseases. It is especially necessary to pay attention to young seedlings that have not yet had time to adapt to the place of growth.
How often you water your tree may depend on the following factors:
- weather;
- the age of the tree;
- season;
- soil type.
Clay soils do not allow moisture to pass through well, therefore they require regular loosening. Otherwise, the soil quickly oxidizes, which contributes to the development of mold.
Watering in spring before and after flowering
In spring, the plant requires a lot of moisture. This is necessary to stimulate the appearance of buds and the formation of an ovary. Therefore, you should know how often to water the apricot tree. In the spring, the tree is watered in 3 stages:
- the first watering is carried out in early spring before the buds open;
- the second application of water is carried out 10 days after the end of flowering. Moisture is necessary so that the ovary does not fall off;
- the third watering is carried out as needed. If dry weather conditions are observed, it is necessary to moisten the soil.
It is especially important to moisten the soil for seedlings that have just been planted on the site. It is not recommended to water the tree during flowering. This will cause the buds to fall off before the ovaries have time to form.
Irrigation in summer
Timely irrigation during the ripening period is of particular importance. Watering the apricot during fruiting is carried out every 20 days. For young crops, the procedure is carried out every 10-15 days.
In autumn
Taking care of the apricot in the fall after harvest is also important. Watering is reduced to once every 30 days. However, a week before the onset of frost, it is necessary to saturate the roots of the tree with moisture. Therefore, the trees are watered with a lot of water.
Saplings
After planting, the seedlings must be thoroughly watered. This procedure is necessary so that the culture is saturated with moisture, and the roots begin to actively develop.
Also, the watering procedure is necessary so that the soil settles a little. It is recommended to spray young seedlings in the summer. During this period, the plant especially needs moisture.
Young trees up to two years old
At the age of two, the tree should not be watered so often. The first watering is carried out before the flowering of the plant. The second watering is carried out in the summer before the fruit ripens. The next application of moisture should be carried out only in the fall.
However, if prolonged dry conditions are observed, the soil must be moistened more often. Before irrigation, the soil around the trunk must be loosened. Otherwise, all the moisture will stimulate the growth of fungus and damage the roots.
How to water an apricot over three years old
Trees over 3 years old can tolerate fairly long droughts. The following guidelines should be used:
- the first application of water is carried out in April before the beginning of the formation of buds. It is especially important to perform the procedure if the winter was not snowy;
- the second watering is carried out in mid-May, after the plant has faded;
- in summer, watering is carried out every 10-15 days, but if rainy periods are observed, irrigation should be carried out no more than once a month;
- with the onset of autumn, one abundant humidification is carried out in mid-September.
Autumn watering is recommended only for the southern regions. For the Urals and Siberia, the last soil moistening is carried out at the end of August.
Determination of soil moisture
In order to find out the level of moisture in the soil, you can use some proven methods.
"Finger test"
Most often used. To do this, you need to take a small amount of soil and grind it in the palm of your hand. The moisture in the soil will prevent the soil particles from scattering.
Using a special device
Small gauges that show the amount of moisture in the soil. Such devices are expensive, but they show moisture levels with high accuracy. Most often purchased by summer residents who have large garden plots.
Using a knitting needle
This method is used if it is necessary to check the moisture content of the soil near the seedlings. The spoke must be immersed in the soil and removed. If soil particles remain on the spoke, do not water.
Soil moistening methods
In order to figure out how to grow an apricot tree, you need to know how often to water it. Irrigation can be carried out in several ways, the most popular should be considered in more detail.
Furrows
This method involves the formation of furrows along the rows of trees. With the help of a hose, water is poured into the furrows, and the crop independently consumes the required amount of moisture. Also, using this method, it is convenient to make top dressing.
Wells
This method involves the formation of a hole around the trunk. Watering is carried out in prepared holes. Water is absorbed and delivered to the roots in a short period.
Drip irrigation
The essence of such irrigation is the gradual supply of water. For the drip method, it is necessary to hold plastic pipes with holes and turn on the water.
Feigned
This method involves watering the entire area of the garden or vegetable garden using hoses. The advantage of this method is that all types of crops can be watered in a short time. However, it should be noted that this procedure consumes a large amount of water.
Spraying
This method is used only for young seedlings that are no more than 1 year old. Spraying is carried out during the hottest period and allows you to keep the foliage green. It is necessary to spray seedlings late in the evening.
Spring work
In the spring, after the snow melts, it is necessary to clear the area of last year's foliage. After all the garbage is removed from the site, the plants are watered and fertilizers are applied. In the spring, it is recommended to feed apricots with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers.
How to keep the soil moist
It is important to know how to properly water apricots in the summer; for a greater effect, experienced gardeners recommend keeping moisture in the soil. This can be done using the following methods:
- Distribution of mulch. The use of mulch allows not only to retain water in the soil, but also to protect the site from weeds. The material can be sawdust, pine needles, grass cuttings or straw. The advantage of this material is that during the decay process, the mulch fertilizes the plants.
- Planting perennials. Preference should be given to ground cover plants. Such crops are most often grown in the southern regions, and retain moisture for a long period.
Such methods are especially often used in the absence of precipitation for a long time. Plants protect the soil from drying out.
Experienced gardening tips
In order for the apricot tree to give a large harvest, you must follow simple care instructions:
- During the formation of fruits and during the period of hardening of the seed, watering for the plant is simply necessary. Otherwise, the tree may be depressed and shed its leaves and fruits. Such actions occur as a result of plant defense reactions.
- In order for the plant not to hurt, you should not alternate between abundant watering and prolonged drought. Such a change in factors can negatively affect the condition of the tree.
- To facilitate watering, it is recommended to dig in the pipe. Through it, water enters the soil layers and nourishes the root system.
- In the spring, the tree must be pruned. All damaged shoots should be removed, as well as branches with traces of pests.
- Watering young trees is necessary with warm water. Cold liquid leads to shedding of leaves and slow growth.
- In the fall, it is not recommended to water the trees before frost. This can stimulate root growth. With the onset of frost, the tree may die.
Following simple recommendations allows you to grow a healthy plant that will delight you with a large harvest.
It is important to know when growing an apricot how often to water the tree. Young trees need to be moistened frequently and the soil should be monitored. For mature apricot trees, watering is rarely done, but using a lot of water. In order for the plant to actively develop, it is necessary to follow simple recommendations for caring for the garden.