Avoiding Misconceptions in Spring Maintenance of Newly Planted Trees in the North
This article provides detailed experience on common flower care knowledge, emphasizing the avoidance of misconceptions in spring maintenance of newly planted trees in the north. Let's take a look with the editor!
Watering too late or insufficiently
Spring is the golden season for tree maintenance, and watering is crucial. Generally, trees require 2 to 3 waterings in spring. The key is the first reviving water, which can effectively reduce ground temperature, delay tree germination, and prevent damage from late frosts and spring chills. If watering is too late, it will not have the effect of preventing coldness and frost. The timing for watering should be when the ground temperature exceeds 3°C, preferably reaching 5°C before proceeding. In any case, watering time should be adjusted according to local conditions, considering soil moisture and weather conditions. Whether it's trees or shrubs, the reviving water should be sufficient and thorough, which is beneficial for the downward growth of the tree roots. It is not advisable to let the water just wet the surface of the soil, as it may cause soil alkalinity to return.
Improper removal of cold protection facilities
In order to protect trees from freezing during winter, measures such as earthen mounding around the base of the trunk, covering with plastic film, setting up windbreaks, building insulating greenhouses, and wrapping with non-woven fabric are often taken. It is important not to remove the cold protection materials too early or suddenly, to prevent the trees from being unprepared and suffering from late frosts, resulting in wasted efforts.
The removal of cold protection facilities should be differentiated. For trees that have earth mounded around the base, the soil can be dug open in early spring when watering; for trees wrapped with straw ropes, the ropes can be removed when the trees start to bud (if the spacing of the straw ropes is large, they can be left on); for flowering shrubs covered with film, the film should be removed gradually, by making holes in the south side in early spring, then increasing the number of holes each week, with the film completely removed by the beginning of April; in the north, the windbreaks should be removed by the end of March or after the spring monsoon has ceased; the removal of insulating greenhouses can depend on the weather conditions, by initially lifting a small corner on the southeast side for ventilation, and then removing the greenhouse completely after the trees have adapted.
Removing windbreak stakes too early
Newly planted trees with a larger diameter or a broader canopy are generally supported with stakes. In the spring, when winds are strong in the north, the stakes should not be removed too early to prevent the trees from being damaged by the wind, which could affect root establishment. In special cases, the windbreak stakes should be reinforced in spring.
Failure to prune or improper pruning
Early spring is the best time for pruning. It is not only necessary to remove diseased and dead branches but also to cut back some longer flowering branches. Since the nutrients in the tree are limited, more flowers mean smaller flowers and a shorter blooming period, while fewer flowers mean larger flowers and a longer blooming period. Moreover, flowering consumes a lot of nutrients, and since the roots are still in the growth stage at this time, too much flowering is not conducive to the balance between the tree body and the roots, which could easily affect growth or even lead to the death of the plant, especially for trees that bud late and grow poorly. It is essential to thin and cut back the branches. For spring-flowering shrubs like Prunus triloba, Prunus persica, and Prunus mume, removing some flower buds in the first year after planting is also very feasible.
Improper fertilization
Spring is a period of vigorous growth for trees, and fertilizing at this time can supply the necessary nutrients for flowering and growth. However, people often make mistakes in spring fertilization, such as using a lot of chemical fertilizers and ignoring organic fertilizers; or emphasizing nitrogenous fertilizers while ignoring phosphorus and potassium fertilizers; or applying the same fertilizers to all kinds of plants without distinction. These practices are inappropriate.
Ignoring the prevention and control of diseases and pests
Some people think that high temperatures and humidity in summer are the peak seasons for diseases and pests, and often do not pay enough attention to the prevention and control of diseases and pests in spring, resulting in poor growth or death of some trees.
For trees, the prevention of diseases and pests should be the focus in spring, based on the ecological habits of the trees and the occurrence patterns of diseases and pests. For example, applying methyl thiophanate or lime sulfur solution at a concentration of 3 to 5 degrees in early spring to prevent Prunus triloba sooty blight, or using tree trunk whitewashing to prevent溃疡 disease in Populus, and gummosis in Prunus persica, Prunus serrulata, and Prunus cerasifera. It is also possible to manually remove the cocoons of刺蛾 pests during the spring break period. Additionally, for pests that overwinter in the tree trunks, measures such as trunk injection and root burial of pesticides can be taken. Proper prevention can achieve twice the result with half the effort.
The above sharing on avoiding misconceptions in the spring maintenance of newly planted trees in the north aims to bring you a little help in your daily life!