Is "Xuanxu crabapple" a tree or a shrub plant?
Abstract: This article introduces the plant cultivation tips regarding whether "Xuanxu crabapple" is a tree or a shrub, as well as its growth characteristics and cultivation management techniques. Please refer to the detailed introduction below.
Growth Characteristics and Cultivation Management Techniques of "Xuanxu crabapple"
Xu Kefeng
"Xuanxu crabapple" belongs to the modern crabapple varieties. It is a deciduous small tree with a compact shape, abundant flowers, bright colors, and a vibrant overall ornamental effect. Therefore, "Xuanxu crabapple" has high ornamental value and is a famous ornamental tree species in northern China. "Xuanxu crabapple" is a variety of North American hawthorn, native to the United States, and is a plant variety for spring flowering and fruit viewing in summer and autumn. Under normal conditions, "Xuanxu crabapple" has a plant height of 4-6 meters, a crown width of about 6 meters, new leaves in red, and flowers in deep pink. Its blooming period is around mid to late April, and the fruit ripening period is from June to October. Currently, the Henan region in China has also introduced and cultivated "Xuanxu crabapple". Henan Province is located in the central part of China, with a climate characterized by a transition from north subtropical to warm temperate continental monsoon climate, and it also has a transition from plain to hilly and mountainous climate from east to west. Taking the Henan region as an example, this article elaborates on the growth characteristics and cultivation techniques of "Xuanxu crabapple".
1 Growth Characteristics
"Xuanxu crabapple" has strong cold resistance and can safely overwinter without any protective measures in winter. It also has strong drought resistance and prefers moist soil. "Xuanxu crabapple" has a strong preference for sunlight and is not shade-tolerant. Inadequate sunlight can lead to poor growth conditions, such as weak plants and small branches and leaves. "Xuanxu crabapple" has strong salt and alkali resistance and ability to tolerate poor soil, with no high requirements for soil quality and can grow normally in slightly saline-alkali soil.
2 Cultivation Management Techniques
2.1 Cultivation Planting
Use combined land preparation machinery for land preparation. The best time for land preparation is usually after autumn and before winter. The plowing depth is usually 25 cm. When using combined land preparation machinery to level the land, large soil clumps need to be tilled. After completing the land preparation, water the land thoroughly. Apply fertilizer in the furrows after mechanical land preparation. The best time for furrowing is usually early April, ensuring a furrow width of about 70 cm and a depth of about 50 cm. Also, the distance between the two furrows should be kept at 2 meters. After furrowing, apply base fertilizer by spreading decomposed organic fertilizer at the bottom of the furrows at a rate of 30 t/hm2. Select healthy seedlings for planting, and剪 off injured and diseased roots before planting. Under normal conditions, plant seedlings in the direction of the planting row, with 1 seedling per meter, keeping the planting depth at about 20 cm. After planting, make ridges and water.
2.2 Fertilization and Water Management
Scientifically water and fertilize according to local climatic conditions and soil moisture. Water promptly after planting, and after the first watering, water again within 10 days. If it is dry weather, water a third time after another 10 days; in early November, water thoroughly for overwintering. Applying base fertilizer in autumn is the best, usually from early September to early October, which can effectively promote nutrient accumulation in the tree and improve the nutritional level of the tree, thus promoting the growth and development of "Xuanxu crabapple". Base fertilizer should mainly consist of organic fertilizers such as compost, manure, crop straw fertilizer, green manure, and human waste, combined with an appropriate amount of compound fertilizers such as potassium sulfate and fruit tree-specific fertilizers. Base fertilizer is usually applied by spreading it throughout the garden and then lightly hoeing it into the soil. Top-dress according to the growth condition of the tree. Under normal conditions, the first top-dressing should be 10-15 days before germination, applying 0.1-0.2 kg of urea per plant; the second top-dressing should be during the initial fruit growth period, with strict control of the top-dressing amount, applying 0.5-1.0 kg of fruit tree-specific fertilizer per plant; the third top-dressing should be during the fruit expansion period, mainly using phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, applying 0.5 kg each of calcium phosphate and potassium sulfate compound fertilizer per plant. In addition, during top-dressing, foliar feeding can also be combined with the tree's growth condition, usually from early May after the leaves unfold to September, applying foliar spray every 7-10 days, from the germination period to the flowering period, applying 0.3% urea and 0.3% plant nutrients. To prevent soil compaction and promote root growth, do a good job of intertilling and weeding. During this process, intertilling and weeding should be done 3 times a year in conjunction with watering, and if there is too much weed, the frequency of intertilling and weeding can be increased. Under normal conditions, the intertilling depth is 5-10 cm.
2.3 Pruning and Shaping
To effectively enhance the ornamental value of "Xuanxu crabapple", regular pruning and shaping of the seedlings is required. Under normal conditions, pruning and shaping work is carried out in the year of planting. First, perform trunk shaping and bud removal. Trunk shaping involves pruning the plant after planting to ensure that the main branches remain upright without side branches. The timing of trunk shaping should be in the year of planting. During this process, pruning should be done at a height of 80 cm, leaving 6-8 plump buds below the cut. After the seedlings sprout, remove new buds except for the plump ones when they grow to 5-10 cm. After trunk shaping, retain one upright growing branch as the main stem and select 4-6 oblique branches as the main branches of the "Xuanxu crabapple" crown. Next, perform pruning and shaping. As "Xuanxu crabapple" grows, its crown shape will change with the increase in tree age. Therefore, to enhance the overall ornamental effect of "Xuanxu crabapple", pruning and shaping should be carried out. The timing of pruning and shaping should be determined based on the ornamental use of "Xuanxu crabapple". Under normal conditions, pruning and shaping is done in the second winter after planting. During this process, the tips of the main branches can be shortened without pruning other branches to effectively promote more flower bud differentiation. In the third and fourth years of "Xuanxu crabapple" growth, cut off diseased branches, dry branches, inner branches, and overlapping branches to effectively improve ventilation and light penetration of the tree.
2.4 Disease and Pest Control
The common pests of "Xuanxu crabapple" include hawthorn red spider, apple red spider, apple leaf roller, apple aphid, and pear flower net bug. For controlling hawthorn red spider, you can use the bundle grass method on the trunk of "Xuanxu crabapple" in autumn to trap hawthorn red spider eggs overwintering; for adult hawthorn red spiders, you can use 5% abamectin 3,000 times solution for spray control, applying every 7 days for 2-3 consecutive times. For controlling apple red spider, you can spray lime sulfur solution before seedling germination in spring to eliminate overwintering apple red spider eggs; for adult apple red spiders, you can use 5% abamectin 3,000 times solution for spray control, with the same control plan as for hawthorn red spider adults. For apple leaf roller, you can use black light traps to kill adult apple leaf rollers. For apple aphid, you can hang yellow traps to monitor apple aphid density and spray 40% dimethoate emulsion 1,000-1,500 times solution for control. The common diseases of "Xuanxu crabapple" include bacterial leaf spot, fungal leaf spot, and gray mold. For bacterial leaf spot, promptly remove the necrotic parts of the affected plants. For fungal leaf spot and gray mold, you can spray 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder 800-1,000 times solution, applying every 15-20 days for 3-4 consecutive times.
The above content introduces all about whether "Xuanxu crabapple" is a tree or a shrub and its growth characteristics and cultivation management techniques. Have green plant enthusiasts understood it?