During the period of caring for fruit trees, it is necessary not only to prune branches in a timely manner, but also to monitor the correct formation of the root system. This is done while processing the tree's peri-stem circle.

When arranging a garden, many gardeners forget about tree trunks. To figure out how to arrange them correctly, you need to find out what it is. There are a number of design methods that not only promote the formation of roots, but also give the garden an aesthetic appearance.

Trunk circle of fruit trees: what is it?

The near-stem circle of trees or shrubs is a small soil area around a tree, the diameter of which coincides with the diameter of the crown. Experienced gardeners and landscape designers are happy to use the space described above to decorate their gardens. After all, this piece of land plays a very important role in the life of a tree, with its help much-needed oxygen, water and nutrients in the form of fertilizers are supplied to the root system.

Trunk circles

Circle processing

The optimal size of the near-trunk circle for young seedlings, whose age does not exceed three years, is about two meters. And by the seventh year of life, the diameter of the circle should not be less than three meters. In the fall, after harvesting, the near-stem circle must be dug in by removing the roots of the weeds from the soil, this will help to destroy the pests that winter in the soil.

Do not dig deep, this can damage the root system, the sufficient depth is about 5.5 cm.

Important! When digging in trees, the shovel should be held with an edge towards them, this will reduce the risk of damage to the roots.

If the soil in the area is light and loose, you just need to loosen it, while it is best to use a rake or pitchfork. During the whitewashing and cleaning of old wood, the circle must be covered with any covering material, this will protect against harmful substances and insects from entering the soil.

Trunk circles of fruit trees: design

During the first five years, you should not plant any plants in the trunk circle, it is enough to weed the weeds in time and loosen the soil cover. These actions help to retain moisture. The procedures described above must be carried out depending on weather conditions. In spring and summer, loosening is carried out at least four times; in the absence of rain, it is necessary to loosen the soil six times per season.

Trunk circles of fruit trees

Top dressing of fruit trees

A beautiful flower bed is obtained from the near-stem circle. But in order to break it, it is necessary to pick up flowers that will not only give the garden a showiness, but also take root well. Trees with a high bole and high-raised branches are perfect for a flower garden.

Important! Low-growing, shade-loving plants with a compact root system are perfect for cultivating flower beds under trees.

The near-stem space can simply be sown with lawn or ground cover grass, and as soon as it grows up - mowing, this must be done at least ten times per season.The mown grass does not need to be removed, because after decomposition the roots of the trees will receive the necessary nutrients. The best option for turfing is to plant a white clover or bent grass.

Soil mulching

One of the most effective ways to retain moisture is to mulch the soil. Mulch will perfectly protect the root system of seedlings from winter frosts and improve the structure of the soil. Mulching can be carried out immediately after planting young seedlings. It also reduces the growth of weeds.

Compost, humus, straw, and other organic materials work great as mulch. From inorganic materials, it is best to use broken brick, covering material of any color, large and small pebbles.

Mulch has several beneficial properties:

  • perfectly retains moisture in the soil, which reduces the amount of watering;
  • eliminates the effects of lingering precipitation;
  • the temperature of the ground under the mulch always remains at the same level;
  • prevents weeds from growing;
  • preserves the aesthetic appearance of the garden.

What to plant?

Flowerbeds are a traditional decoration of any garden, and arranging a flower garden in the near-stem circle will be an excellent design move. Before sowing flowers, the area under the tree must be properly prepared.

  • dig up the earth, removing weeds, debris and stones from it;
  • loosen;
  • to cultivate the moon.
Watering fruit trees

At the bottom of the moons, you need to lay geotextiles or a fine polyethylene mesh, this must be done in order to prevent the intertwining of the roots of fruit trees and flowers. The next drainage layer can be made of sand, small pebbles or gravel.

Next, you need to fill the soil into the moon, so that half of the hole remains empty. It is necessary to plant flower seedlings so that a couple of centimeters of the root collar remain on the surface of the earth, then the earth must be tamped and watered well.

For planting in the near-stem circle, you need to carefully select cultivated plants.

Important! For the cultivation of beautiful flower beds in the near-stem circle of trees, it is necessary to select plants that grow well in the shade, for example, hosta, fern and other similar crops.

Some flower crops are able to drive pests away from fruit trees. For example, apple sucker does not tolerate nasturtium, and aphids are afraid of marigolds.

For arranging flower beds under an apple tree, it is worth giving preference to unpretentious low-growing plants with a small root system. Often, gardeners in the near-stem circle of apple trees grow white clover, which is a good green manure. It is thanks to this property that after the spring digging it will perfectly fertilize the apple tree.

Flowerbed around a tree

For planting under apple trees, pansies, nasturtium and many other wonderful plants are perfect. And celandine will not only give an aesthetic appearance to the personal plot, but will help to bring out such uninvited guests as ants.

Tips for styling near-trunk circles

Fruit tree pests

Every gardener wants his site to be one of the most beautiful. This can be easily accomplished by decorating the peri-stem circles of fruit trees.

  • Decorating with colored mulch. As you know, soil mulching has many beneficial properties for soil and plants. But you want it to be beautiful too. Therefore, designers and experienced gardeners recommend laying colored wood shavings, cones, pebbles and other decorative elements in the trunk circle. Covering with mulch significantly reduces the maintenance of fruit trees.
  • Sodding of the near-stem circles contributes to the enrichment of the soil with various nutrients. This decorating method is suitable for planting certain crops that need to be mown periodically. Plants need to be mowed several times during the summer.

Rules for the design of the periosteal circles

On the Internet, you can find a lot of different solutions for the design of garden plots and tree trunks of fruit trees. But still, there are several rules that must be adhered to when implementing any design idea:

  • The roots of any tree simply need a consolidated space and a sufficient supply of oxygen. These conditions will allow the tree to bear fruit well.
  • There is no need to obstruct young trees with various decorative elements, this can harm the seedling. For the first five years, the trees are best decorated with organic.
  • The space around the old tree can be used at your own discretion, since the old trees do not need much maintenance.
  • Some summer residents use the free space under the trees to cultivate various greens of parsley, cilantro, lettuce and other plants. But such a neighborhood is not always beneficial, because if the tree was treated with chemicals, then the greens from under it simply cannot be eaten.
  • Under the trees with a large spreading crown, you can arrange a wonderful place for the whole family.

Decorating a garden is an exciting activity, it is worth showing imagination - and the site will be transformed beyond recognition.