Decorative apple trees

The apple tree is so wonderful fruit crop everyone knows, but now they are widespread decorative types, especially for decorating streets and squares in cities and towns. But you can plant 1-2 ornamental apple trees at your dacha or on your garden plot to decorate your plot.

The Caucasus and Central Asia are considered the homeland of the apple tree. The wild apple tree grows wild throughout Europe. Siberian berry apple tree grows wild in Eastern Siberia and the Far East. The apple tree belongs to the Rosaceae family. The apple tree genus has about 50 species. These are deciduous trees up to 10 m high or bushy plants up to 3 m in height. To obtain fruits, large-fruited varieties are grown, and for decorative purposes, small-fruited species are used, known to us from childhood under the name- Ranetka. Decorative types of apple trees in the spring present a fabulous picture, when many simple, semi-double and double flowers bloom in pink, burgundy and red shades with a wonderful delicate aroma! And before flowering, the buds are painted an even more intense color. Some apple trees attract attention with the spectacular color of their leaves during the summer growing season, while others- during the autumn period. The fruits of some types of ornamental apple trees can be used to make jelly and compotes; small apples of other types are food for birds in autumn and winter.

Our streets, parks and cottages can be decorated with the following types of apple trees.

Apple tree berry, or Siberian - a medium-sized tree 3-5 m tall with small fragrant white flowers and small red or yellow fruits. It was widely used by I.V. Michurin in his work on breeding new varieties.

Blood red hybrid apple tree - a shrub-type tree up to 10 m high with a tree-like appearance and a beautiful drooping, widely spread crown and shiny green foliage. Blooms profusely in early spring, the flowers are large, simple, fragrant, dark carmine in buds, light pink when blooming. The fruits are about 1 cm in diameter, red or reddish-yellow.

Crown apple tree - a low tree up to 5 m high, maintaining a decorative appearance throughout the growing season. The flowers bloom in May-early June, large, semi-double or double with a pleasant violet scent, light pink. The leaves are green, gradually turning intense red in autumn. Produces many greenish-yellow fruits up to 4 cm in diameter.

Niedzvetsky apple tree originally from the mountainous regions of the Tien Shan. A very decorative tree, 5-7 m high, with a rounded tent-shaped crown. The leaves are obovate or elliptical in different shades of red. The flowers are pink-purple. The fruits are small with reddish flesh.

Niedzvetsky apple tree

Scheidecker hybrid apple tree - low trees with a narrow crown and oval leaves. They are very decorative when covered with a mass of pink fruits. The fruits are small, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, yellow.

Squat apple tree - a large shrub or small tree with a sparse crown, flowers are simple or semi-double, purple-red, fruits are dark red, small, up to 1.5 cm in diameter. In spring and early summer the leaves are reddish-green, and in the second half of summer they become bronze-green.

Globular apple tree - low trees, green foliage. The crown is spherical, dense, and forms naturally.

Consists of small branches with big amount lateral buds, which leads to the formation of lateral shoots and a rounded crown shape.

Red-petalled apple tree - tree 3-5 m high, with a crown in the form of a wide, dense umbrella. The shoots grow arcuately to the sides, then obliquely downwards. The shoots and leaves are reddish, especially in the first half of summer. Flowering is abundant and later, after the garden apple tree has finished flowering. The flowers are small, intensely crimson. The fruits are very small, burgundy.

Hybrid purple apple tree - a hybrid between Niedzwiecki and blood red apple trees. Exists a large number of varieties of purple apple trees up to 4-5 m high. Flowers, depending on the variety, can be from soft pink to dark burgundy color, terry or simple, can completely cover the entire tree. In favorable weather, flowering can last up to two weeks. Young leaves and shoots are burgundy. In some varieties, the leaves become completely green over time, while in others they remain purple or reddish throughout the summer. The fruits are small, purple-red.

All these types of ornamental apple trees are winter-hardy, can withstand our climate and are worthy of the widest use in landscaping.

Agricultural technology for growing ornamental apple trees is the same as for fruit trees. Planting of seedlings can be done in spring and autumn. It is better to prepare a hole for seedlings 2-3 weeks before planting. It is not worth planting apple trees in areas with close groundwater, no matter how hard you try, there will not be a good result. In areas with a groundwater depth of at least 1.5 m, planting pits are prepared 100 cm wide and 60 cm deep. Upper layer earth taken out of the pit is mixed with mineral fertilizers, add humus and peat. We drive a stake into the prepared planting hole in the center and pour the prepared soil around it in a mound. We place the seedling on a mound, straighten the roots and cover it with earth, while shaking the seedling a little so that the earth fills all the spaces between the roots. We compact the earth. The root collar should be at soil level, and the soil level above the hole should be 4-5 cm higher than the surrounding level (over the course of a year, the soil will settle by this amount). Be sure to water the planted tree, 2-3 buckets per plant. The seedling must be tied to a peg with a figure eight loop. For the winter, the trees should be tied with coniferous spruce branches to protect them from rodents and frost and covered with snow. In winter and spring, apple trees often suffer from burns and frost damage. To prevent burns, it is recommended to whitewash wood in the fall or early spring with lime. In subsequent years, decorative apple trees should be fed with mineral fertilizers and organic matter, watered and the crown trimmed to give shape.

VARIETIES OF DECORATIVE APPLE TREE,

FIRST INCLUDED IN THE STATE REGISTER OF BREEDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2014

Garnet bracelet - The tree is columnar, medium-sized. The leaf is long, green with anthocyanin coloring. The shoots are red-brown. The flowers are flat, simple, large, 5 pieces per inflorescence, open arrangement. The petals are oval in shape. The buds are red, the flowers are light purple. The aroma is strong. Flowering is abundant. The fruits are small, red, round, the flesh is red.

Carmelita - The tree is columnar, low-growing. The leaf is medium long, dark green with anthocyanin coloring. The shoots are red-brown. The flowers are large, round, flat, non-double, 5 pieces in an inflorescence, the arrangement of flowers is open. The petals are oval in shape. The buds are purple, the flowers are pink-red. The aroma is strong. Flowering is medium abundant. The fruits are small, flat-round, dark lilac, red flesh, long-lasting on the tree, decorative.

Raspberry Necklace - The tree is columnar, low-growing. The leaf is medium long, dark green with a reddish-brown tint. The shoots are brown. The flowers are round, flat, simple, 5 pieces in an inflorescence, the arrangement of flowers is open. Petals are rounded. The buds are light pink, the flowers are red-purple, the aroma is strong. Flowering is abundant. The fruits are small, round, light red, pink flesh.

Alluring aroma - The tree is columnar and tall. The leaf is medium long, green with anthocyanin coloring. The shoots are brown. The flowers are round, flat, large, simple, 5 pieces per inflorescence, open arrangement. The petals are oval. The buds are light pink, the flowers are red-purple. The aroma is strong. Flowering is abundant. The fruits are small, round, red, slightly glossy, decorative, pink flesh, decorative.

Pink fairy tale - The tree is columnar, vigorous. The leaf is medium length, dark green, matte. The shoot is red-brown. The flower is slightly cup-shaped, simple, large, 5 pieces per inflorescence, open arrangement. Oval petal. The bud is red, the flower is purple. The aroma is strong. Flowering is medium abundant. The fruits are small, round, with a pronounced glossy shine, red, pink flesh. The state of preservation on the tree is average.

E. F. Alekseyuk

From the editor. Some varieties of ornamental apple trees can freeze slightly in our conditions. So, when tested in the Main botanical garden RAS in Moscow, the hybrid blood-red apple tree ripened by 90%, and the Scheidecker hybrid apple tree- by 75%. Accordingly, their winter hardiness is low

Decorative apple trees

The apple tree not only serves as a source of tasty, aromatic and healthy fruits, but is also a magnificent ornamental plant. Most species and varieties used for these purposes are relatively not tall, rarely exceeding 4-5 m. Their crowns are usually proportional, and the leaves are glossy. The flowers of ornamental apple trees are usually dark red or pink, less often white, depending on their color in wild parent species and forms. The fruits are small, numerous, often dark red or yellow with a red blush (photo 1). Such trees are decorative until late autumn, until leaf fall. They are especially good for landscaping small gardens; they are most attractive when planted alone or in small groups. These apple trees perfectly serve as focal plants against the backdrop of a lawn or larger ornamental trees. In addition, their fruits can also be eaten, especially since the yield of such varieties is usually very high. The only thing is that their fruits are more often used in processed form, since, usually, they are not as tasty as those of large-fruited garden apple trees. Caring for ornamental apple trees is standard, the same as for fruit varieties.

One of the first trees to be used for decorative purposes was the Siberian or berry apple tree. Another name for it is Siberian crab (Malus baccata (L.) Borkh). Homeland - Transbaikalia, River Valley Angara, Buryatia. It is very beautiful and decorative. Its trunk is low, sinuous, and its crown is rounded. The bark is rough, ash-gray, and red-brown on the shoots. Flowering is very abundant (photo 2). Its flowers are 2-3 cm in diameter; collected in umbrellas of 4-8 pieces.

But they, for special decorative purposes, lack a little brightness and variety of colors. They are always white, only slightly pinkish on the outside (other related types of apple trees - forest, domestic, Chinese, etc. - have the same drawback). The fruits (apples) are very numerous, spherical, up to 1 cm in diameter, weighing up to 10 g, red or yellowish-red in color, very similar in appearance and shape to large cranberries. Their characteristic sign is the falling of the calyx. They taste sweetish-sour and tart. Fresh ones are little edible, but quite suitable for making jam, marmalade, and juices. But, hanging abundantly throughout the entire crown, they wonderfully decorate the tree from mid-summer until late autumn. The Siberian apple tree itself is very unpretentious and hardy, withstands frosts below -55°C. Not demanding on soil conditions, drought-resistant. Although it still prefers rich, fairly moist and well-drained soils. Easily takes root when transplanted. Propagated by seeds and root shoots.

However, red-leaved varieties look even more impressive among ornamental apple trees; one of the ancestors of which is certainly the Niedzwiecki apple tree. It should be taken into account that in old literature it is sometimes called in Latin - correctly, but in Russian - erroneously - the Sievers apple tree. The latter is a completely independent species that should not be confused with the Niedzwiecki apple tree, although there are certain similarities between them. But the Sievers apple tree does not have the most important distinguishing feature - the bright red (anthocyanin) color of all organs and tissues.

Let's consider some of the most interesting, from a decorative point of view, red-leaved species and varieties that most fully meet the goal. Of course, first of all, it will be the Niedzwetzkyana apple tree itself (M. Niedzwetzkyana Dieck.). She comes from Central Asia (Western Tien Shan, Karatau, Kurama Range). It grows along mountain slopes in the belt of trees and shrubs, is rare, and is on the verge of extinction. Sometimes cultivated by the local population. It is a low tree 2-6 m tall, but in natural conditions, in its homeland, old trees can reach 18 m in height. Popular name- kuljinka, or red kuldzhinka. Some taxonomists sometimes combine it not only with the Sievers apple tree, but also with the low apple tree, but most botanists believe that both of these species, although close, are nevertheless independent. In this case, as with the Sievers apple tree, the main hallmark is the presence of anthocyanin (red pigment) in the Niedzwiecki apple tree in all parts and tissues of the plant: leaves, flowers, fruit pulp, seeds, young bark, and other organs. As a result, the young trunk and perennial branches have a dark purple, red-brown or purple color. Annual shoots are also dark purple, dark red-brown, sometimes almost black. Even its wood has a reddish tint. The leaves are leathery, obovate, elliptical or oblong, narrowed at both ends, with a short pointed tip at the apex, up to 8 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. When blooming, both sides are covered with tomentose-hairy pubescence; which, in the future, is preserved only from below; the petioles are also pubescent. Fully expanded leaves are dark green with a reddish tint, or even violet-red in color and dark purple petioles; they turn red in the fall. This color makes the crown of the tree very unique and attractive; the latter most often has a spherical shape. No other species or variety of apple tree, except its own descendants, can compare with the Niedzwiecki apple tree in beauty. Its buds are dark purple in color, and the blossoming flowers are very large, up to 3-4.5 cm in diameter, intense pink or bright crimson-purple (photo 3), on white felt pedicels, of exceptional beauty. Flowering usually lasts two weeks, from mid-May to early June.

The tree blooms in 5-6 years. The fruits are solitary, slightly ribbed, spherical, flat-spherical or slightly elongated, tapering towards the apex; small or medium, sometimes up to large. Their saucer is spacious and deep, the cup is closed or half-open. The stalk is thick and short, almost not protruding beyond the limits of a small and shallow funnel. The skin is entirely violet-dark red with a strong waxy coating. The pulp is dense, juicy, sweet, beautiful pink-purple in color. The Niedzwiecki apple tree is unpretentious, but grows better on fertile soils. At high groundwater levels it is short-lived. It propagates well by grafting; any type of apple tree can serve as a rootstock. Transplantation from a nursery to a permanent place is usually carried out 2-3 years after grafting. Naturally, it is most decorative during flowering, as well as fruit ripening, and before leaf fall. When landscaping, it is usually used as tapeworms ( single landings), in contrasting groups and to create alleys. In the conditions of the Tien Shan it has high winter hardiness. It grows well in cultivation in the Southern and Southwestern regions of the country. In the central zone and to the north, the winter hardiness of the Nedzvetsky apple tree is insufficient, but many varieties bred on its basis are quite winter-hardy. All of them have large pink or purple flowers of rare beauty (photo 4), as a result, during flowering, they resemble huge azaleas (photo 5).

The color of the skin of the fruit is dark cherry-red, and the flesh is dark red. Even with repeated crossing, i.e. in the third generation, in 20% of seedlings, the anthocyanin color of shoots, flowers and other parts of plants is not only preserved, but sometimes even enhanced compared to the original species. Almost all of them were bred for the middle zone, and are grown there. These are Michurin varieties such as: Pepin crimson, Red standard, as well as Bellefleur trilobed, rugosa, purple and red. In the latter, the signs of the Niedzwiecki apple tree appeared so strongly that they were not only expressed in the reddish-violet color of young leaves, reddish veins and petioles, the dark red surface of the fruit, and the pink flesh of them. But they also caused a slight decrease in the taste of the latter, compared to the mother variety Bellefleur Chinese. Their shape is flat-round, size is average; covered with a waxy coating. But the bright pink flowers of this variety are especially beautiful. It is most widespread in the Tambov region. The winter hardiness of the trees is average, at the level of the widely known Babushkino variety, which is hardy enough to grow in the North-West of the country. However, another red-leaved descendant of the Nedzvetsky apple tree is best suited for cultivation in this region - the Komsomolets variety, bred by I.V. Michurin. Parents - Bellefleur-Chinese x Rubinovoe. The tree is medium-sized, has high winter hardiness, both in the middle zone and to the north. The crown is round, the variety is not affected by scab. The period of fruiting begins at 9-10 years. The flowers and leaves are similar to those of the other varieties listed above. The fruits are long, truncated-conical, medium in size, weight - 80 g. The skin of apples is completely covered with a red integumentary color, brighter on the sunny side. The pulp is intensely pink, dense, juicy, sweet (sugars 10.0%), with pleasant sourness (acids 0.8%), vitamin C - 7.7 mg/%. Although the organoleptic taste of the fruit is only average, due to the brightness of the color of the skin, and especially the pulp, it subjectively seems much better. Apples are stored until February - March and are suitable for processing. The variety is decorative and technical, the yield is high, it is especially good for amateur gardening.

For decorative purposes, you can also use Budagovsky's Paradise (synonyms: red-leaved paradizka, PB, PK-9, V-9) - a red-leaved variety bred by V. I. Budagovsky. The latter was created as a dwarf rootstock or intercalary insert for tall, large-fruited varieties of domestic apple trees. He is also a fourth generation descendant of the Niedzwiecki apple tree. Parents: rootstock M8 x Red Standard. Therefore, it has a pronounced red color of the leaves, dark cherry of the shoots, and bright pink of the flowers. It is very decorative, especially in spring and autumn, and can be successfully used not only as a rootstock, but also for landscaping purposes. However, since the variety was created for a very specific use as dwarf rootstock, then obtaining large and tasty fruits from it was not the goal when breeding it. They are small, although brightly colored, sweet and sour, their flesh is pink. Due to their ordinary taste, they can only be used for technical purposes and for processing. Productivity is high. The tree is low-growing, the wood is fragile, red in color. Propagated by layering, green cuttings, grafting. The variety is well compatible with all large-fruited varieties. Root system branched, fragile, located in the lower part of the arable horizon, withstands temperatures down to -13...14ºС. The winter hardiness of the trees is average, but in the North-West the variety can grow, although in some years it freezes slightly. Scab resistant. There are some other red-leaved rootstocks, bred later than Paradise Budagovsky (including on its basis), which can also be used for landscaping purposes; for example, rootstock 62-396, which also has high winter hardiness, rootstocks No. 57-146 and No. 57-49, which are currently undergoing extensive testing. In addition, many small-fruited red-leaved varieties can be used for the same purpose. First of all, this applies to the Pionerochka variety, which was bred at the Pavlovsk VIR station, and which is also a descendant of the Nedzvetsky apple tree. It is distinguished by its strong growth, the crown is elongated, rounded, openwork. The shoots are thin, reddish-brown, shiny. The leaves are dark green, medium-sized, with red petioles and veins; turn red in autumn. The fruits are small, 20-30 g, the skin and pulp are colored with anthocyanin (red), contain 11% sugars, up to 2.0% acids, 32 mg/% vitamin C. They are harvested in early September. They are not stored in storage. The variety is highly winter-hardy, resistant to scab and other diseases. It begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting and produces abundant harvests every year. The fruits are mainly used for processing: jam, compotes, marmalade, etc.

In addition, a whole group of small-fruited apple trees consists of special decorative varieties, the so-called crabs. They are especially popular in the USA. Among them there are many red-leaved ones with pink flowers of various shades. These are varieties such as: Makomik, Alba, Violescence, Garingo, General Grant, Marengo, Minnesota, Oblonga, Striata, Fastigata bifera, Floribunda, Floribunda astrosanguinea and others. Most of them are short or medium height trees with an elegant crown, blooming profusely and beautifully. The fruits are small or medium-sized (photo 6), brightly colored, suitable, in most cases, only for processing. Winter hardiness is high. If desired, a more detailed description of them can be found in the book by L.P. Simirenko “Pomology”, vol. 1, Kyiv, 1961, and other publications.

In our country, among similar American varieties, the most common variety is Dolgo (a descendant of the Siberian apple tree). The tree is medium-sized, the crown is rounded, densely leafy. The variety is winter-hardy and resistant to scab. It begins to bloom and bear fruit in the 3-4th year.

Not only is it very decorative with pale pink flowers and bright red fruits (photo 7); but it also produces huge yields of magnificently beautiful small, weighing 12-25 g, very beautiful, oval-shaped bright red apples (photo 8). Their pulp is juicy, sweet and sour, aromatic. They can be used fresh, but are much tastier in processed products. They are especially suitable (entirely, together with the stalks) for making original and wonderful-tasting jam, in which they become bright orange-red, translucent, so that the seeds are visible through their pulp.

But those apple trees in which one half of the crown blooms with ordinary white flowers, and the other with bright pink, look especially unusual and beautiful on the site. This effect is achieved by regrafting part of the crown with a variety that has the same flower color. For the most part, it will again be a descendant of the Niedzwiecki apple tree. And it would be even more original if such vaccinations were performed one by one on all the main skeletal branches. Then it’s white, then it’s bright pink spots flowers strewn across the crown, changing places in a checkerboard pattern and gradually decreasing in size, will climb up the crown in steps. Even when flowering ends, the effect of such vaccinations will not disappear, but will simply change its shape, because on the trees there will be a contrast between the blooming light green and reddish-dark green leaves of both varieties. It is highly desirable that their fruits also be, respectively, golden (bright yellow) and red, preferably scarlet in color. To the contrast of color, you can also add the contrast between the shape and size of the fruit. Then the trees will look very attractive and original not only in spring, but also in late summer - early autumn. In addition, even later, during leaf fall, the bright colors of yellow and purple leaves will again appear. And even after its completion, when such apple trees are already bare, dark red or cherry shoots of the red-leaved variety will enliven the crown, and to some extent contrast with the brown-brown shoots and branches of the apple tree-rootstock. It is best to use trees with similar contrasts for single plantings as tapeworms. Then a person’s gaze, not distracted by other objects, will involuntarily be fixed longer on these original trees. And one more thing - if a lot of similar apple trees are planted, this will create some unnecessary diversity on the site, and taste quality the harvest will suffer noticeably from this. In extreme cases, there can be a maximum of two such trees, for example on both sides of the gate, or at both wings of the house. Moreover, in this case it will be necessary to strive for the apple trees to be, as it were, a mirror image of each other. This is especially true for trees in which half of the crown has been regrafted, i.e. with their pink parts they should be facing one another - this will create an additional illusion of depth of perspective. Bringing the white sides together will be somewhat less effective, although creating such a composition is also possible. But the sequential alternation of colors - white - pink - white - pink, or vice versa - will create an unpleasant variegated effect. Finding contrasting flowering varieties suitable for grafting is not so difficult. All that remains is to learn how to plant, or find someone who would create a similar original garden decoration for you. When using purely red-leaved varieties, in addition to tapeworms, you can additionally create small curtains and alleys along paths.

But not only specially bred ornamental varieties are beautiful and decorative. The domestic apple tree during flowering (photo 9) and fruiting (photo 10) is also very attractive, and is only slightly inferior to them in beauty. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully place its trees on the garden plot so as not only to obtain high yields of apples, but also to make the most of their beauty and decorativeness.

Almost all gardeners have their own suburban areas apple trees are grown. Delicious fruits and a rich harvest become a worthy reward for your work. But among the fragrant beauties there are species whose purpose is not to harvest, but to decorate the landscape. Decorative apple trees are a very bright and beautiful plant, with graceful decorative leaves and delicate flowers. They also bear fruit, but as a rule they are not suitable for food. But the beautiful appearance completely compensates for the lack of harvest.

The blossoming of the ornamental apple tree is an incredible sight: it is so abundant that the branches are literally showered with bright flowers, while the leaves are practically invisible. The color of the inflorescences can be white, pink, dark red. Even a very young tree can decorate a garden with its spectacular blooms. IN landscape design this species can easily replace the famous sakura in Japanese gardens. The garden planting retains its decorative value until frost. After flowering the yard is decorated beautiful leaves and then small fruits. The size of the fruits is no more than 4 cm, they hang on the tree for a very long time, attracting birds to the garden. Birds, as you know, are the first fighters against insect pests.

Application in landscape design

Japanese style as popular in Lately, it’s hard to imagine without the symbol of this country - sakura. But the sophisticated plant does not grow in harsh climates; designers replace it with an equally luxurious decorative apple tree. Their lush flowering and pleasant aroma are very similar. Apple bushes, buried in white foam or a scarlet blaze of flowering, harmoniously combine with Sakhalin cherries, Ussuri plums and Manzhurian apricots. Entire clearings are allotted to them, where garden plantings fulfill their important mission - decorate the garden.

The stunning blooming of the ornamental apple tree creates a special microclimate in the landscape design, embodying luxury and chic. Due to its unpretentiousness, garden plantings are often used as bright accent among evergreen needles. One plant or a small group will undoubtedly be able to attract attention and become a bright spot that can dilute the calm coniferous greenery.

Wide color characteristics used in many compositions. Standard form A decorative apple tree beautifully decorates the entrance to the yard or the path leading to the house.

Stunningly beautiful during flowering and perfectly maintaining its decorative value throughout the warm season, the apple tree occupies a special place among trees and shrubs. Easily molded and modeled, gardeners create all kinds of shapes.

In the natural style, the garden planting fits well into the overall “pristine” appearance with its naturalness. It is not always noticeable that the existing shape of the crown is the work of man. In winter, the plant also decorates the garden. Small fruits hang in clusters and do not fall off even when high temperature. Covered with frost, they create a real rustic flavor and attract flocks of chirping birds.

Plays an important role correct layout location fruit trees. All agrotechnical requirements must be met in order to achieve decorative effect. Decorative apple trees are planted in sunny meadows, hills and near water. The last option is often used in design Japanese kindergarten. The incredibly beautiful blossoms reflected in the water create a picturesque landscape, like paintings by Flemish painters.

A decorative representative is also planted surrounded by shrubs, against the backdrop of a well-groomed lawn. These can be tree peonies, park rose bushes and chokeberry. Their varied flowering and fruiting visually shade and highlight each other. Having such a composition in your garden is a tempting prospect. By choosing unpretentious representatives, you can enjoy incredible beauty with a minimum of effort.

Compatibility with other plants

Meadows with decorative apple trees planted in a small group look beautiful. Free space filled with strawberries, raspberries or other berry bushes. Also used as background plants are iris, peony, sweet tobacco and daisies. Mixborders are planted along the paths decorative varieties apple trees, strawberries, cherry blossoms, tenacious ones. Low-growing plants decorate the group planting in the first level.

The garden planting is used as a hedge along with Japanese quince, blackberries, hops and virgin grapes. IN Japanese garden the combination of ornamental apple tree, lemongrass, damson, chaenomelis and other plants has already become a classic. It can be supplemented with several varieties of spirea, weigela or Japanese kerria.

The original combination of a bizarre crown and interesting leaf color combines decorative apple trees, catalpas with yellow and red pods, fieldfare, barberry and lilac. By planting a composition according to height, duration of flowering and shade of inflorescences, you can create a flowerbed that will change and refresh the landscape over several seasons.

In the company of fruit bushes (raspberries, currants, serviceberry) the decorative apple tree looks wonderful. This group of plants is also suitable for a low hedge or border. Beautiful flowering followed by the appearance of fruits makes any garden rich and symbolic.

Species and varietal diversity

The following varieties are famous for their special decorative properties:

Weeping

Long flexible branches adorn the twelve-meter trunk. The variety has remained virtually unchanged. An unpretentious, frost-resistant plant.

Bred in a hybrid way. Reaches 5-6 meters in height and the width of the crown reaches the same amount. The petals have a deep purple hue, which gives the bloom an unforgettable look.

A hybrid variety resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions. The height of the bush can be 3-4 meters, the width of the crown ranges from 2 to 3 meters. During the growing season, the leaves decorate the garden with their purple hue; closer to the formation of fruits, they change their color to green.

A distinctive feature is slow growth. The culture is unpretentious, frost-resistant, an adult plant reaches 5 meters in height and 3 meters in crown diameter. The wait for the unusual purple leaves of a mature garden planting takes up to 9 years.

The blooming buds have a rich raspberry hue and a berry-like aroma. The bush is low - 3-3.5 meters, the crown is spreading and spherical.

The difference between this variety is its edible fruits, from which you can make compote and jam. The tree grows wild and tolerates even harsh climatic conditions. Mature plant reaches 11 meters. The appearance is classic - white flowers framed by green leaves.

A frequent guest in landscape design. It has a weeping form with drooping branches and grows quickly. When the foliage blooms in spring, it has a purple tint; as autumn approaches, it changes to emerald green.

Reproduction, planting and care

When planting, the hole should be larger than the root system; the roots are carefully straightened and covered with a loose, fertile mixture. Active growth root system is the key good growth and the development of the tree itself. After planting, provide abundant watering and mulching. Sawdust, compost, peat can be used. This will help moisture evaporate less, stop the appearance of weeds and improve the survival of the seedling. Under no circumstances should the root collar be buried.

Caring for an ornamental apple tree differs little from maintaining a regular one. The decorative variety is less whimsical; if planted incorrectly or with minor mistakes, this will not affect the condition of the tree itself. Still, gardeners recommend adhering to certain rules. The right place for planting is important. It is better to plant decorative varieties of apple trees in places where there is enough light and there is no stagnation of moisture in the soil. The root system must be provided with good drainage; constantly wet roots can rot. Saplings with an open root system need sufficient moisture; overdrying will destroy them.

Video - Decorative apple trees

Ornamental apple trees have many advantages over other varieties:

Decorative varieties are undemanding to the soil on which they grow. Trees growing on fertile and fresh soil produce abundant flowering and fruiting. However, even when grown on depleted soil, trees can be attractive but slower growing. Ornamental apple trees love good lighting. Even a slight shade can affect the number of flowers and their brightness, as well as the abundance of fruits.

Popular varieties

Even novice gardeners can grow an ornamental tree, just like one, since such plants do not require special growing conditions or care knowledge. The most popular varieties of ornamental apple trees are distinguished by a variety of shades, flowers and fruits. Apple trees are more reminiscent of an ornamental plant than a common fruit tree. Therefore, most gardeners grow them for appearance, and not for the purpose of yield. In addition to the bright visual effect, during flowering such trees fill the surrounding area with a sweet fragrance. Thanks to this, the plant is well pollinated and produces a good harvest of small fruits.

Weeping

The variety is represented by a small decorative tree with a weeping crown shape and red leaves. Plant height is 1.5-2.5 meters. The apple tree grows well on ordinary garden soils, loves abundant watering, but can tolerate short-term drought. The tree grows equally well either alone or in a group planting. Peak flowering occurs in May. At this time the plant is completely covered pink flowers, and then small red fruits.

Small apples ripen in September. The fruits make delicious and beautiful jam or jelly.

The weeping apple tree is resistant to brown spot, but requires additional protection against apple scab and powdery mildew - it affects buds, leaves and stems.

Makovetsky

The variety is one of the hybrids of the purple Niedzwiecki apple tree. Due to its unpretentiousness to growing conditions, the apple tree can be grown in southern regions And middle lane Russia. The tree can grow up to 4-6 m. The diameter of the spherical crown reaches 4-5 m. Flowering begins in May-June and lasts about 2 weeks. The flowers have a rich dark pink hue. The variety has high pollen fertility rates, which is why it is often used as a pollinator for industrial gardens. After flowering ends, small bright red fruits gradually appear. Due to their taste characteristics, apples can only be used in processed form - jam, jam, dessert. The species is frost-resistant, drought-resistant, and has average resistance to scab.

The fruits can be used in folk medicine in the treatment of anemia, for general strengthening of the body, as a bactericidal or laxative.

Helena

An adult tree does not grow higher than 4 m. The lush spreading crown also does not exceed 4 m in diameter. The tree grows quite slowly and reaches its maximum by 10 years. Spring begins abundant flowering, which after a while is replaced by clusters of bright red fruits that do not fall until late autumn. IN winter time The reddish bark of the branches also gives the plant a decorative appearance. Thus the tree pleases appearance almost all year round. Due to its small size, the variety can be used as a hedge. Helena is highly resistant to low temperatures and diseases. However, we should not forget about preventive measures.

The variety is a purely ornamental plant, since its fruits are not eaten even in processed form.

Red obelisk

The height of an adult tree can reach 6 m. The columnar crown can grow to a diameter of 3 m. During flowering, the plant first becomes covered pink flowers which turn white after a while. Large red fruits gradually ripen on the tree, which can be stored throughout the winter until spring. Apples can be picked and used to make preserves, jam or cider.

The plant is widely used for decorative purposes in landscaping urban landscapes and personal plots.

The apple tree may bloom again in the fall, but not as profusely as in the spring.

Scarlet

The tree quickly grows up to 4 meters in height. Flowering occurs in May, when the plant is covered with a large number of dark pink flowers. By autumn, the tree becomes overgrown with small purple fruits that can remain on it for a long time. The plant prefers a sunny place protected from the wind. The apple tree has weak resistance to diseases and pests, but it can be strengthened preventive treatments. The variety has high winter hardiness, due to which it is widely cultivated in the Moscow region. The plant is used as hedge, can be planted separately or in group planting.

Royal Beauty

The plant is hybrid variety, created on the basis of the Niedzwiecki apple tree. The tree grows to a small size - 2.5-3 m. The diameter of the crown is 1-4 m. As it grows, it has a weeping shape, and in mature trees it has an umbrella-shaped shape. Lush flowering begins in early May and lasts 2 weeks. In hot, dry weather, this period can be shortened to 6-7 days. The flowers have a rich dark pink hue.

Over time, small dark red fruits appear on the tree, which can decorate it for a long time. Apples ripen in the first ten days of September, but have a bitter taste, which is why they are inedible. The variety is characterized by high frost resistance (up to -34°C) and tolerance of polluted air. Thanks to this, trees can be grown in the central and northwestern regions of Russia. The only drawback is the average resistance to scab.

Robin

The robin is characterized by a medium size and a dense, rounded crown. On average it grows to 4-6 meters. During the flowering period, the branches are covered with dense pink-red flowers. Outwardly it resembles sakura. By autumn, the plant is covered with small, bright burgundy fruits. Despite their small size, apples are edible and are used in making compotes. The collected fruits tolerate long-term storage in wooden containers. The variety is quite winter-hardy and can be grown in central Russia. The plant is susceptible to diseases and therefore requires preventive treatment measures. Find out about the Malinovka apple tree variety.

Royalty

An ornamental variety, which is one of the hybrid forms of the purple apple tree. Royalty is characterized by slow growth; by the tenth year of life it can grow to 3-4 m. Crohn's has oval shape with a diameter of 4-5 m. In young trees it is compact, but gradually becomes wide and spreading. The flowering period occurs in early May and lasts 2 weeks. At this time, the tree is abundantly covered with ruby ​​or crimson-red flowers. By the beginning of autumn, small dark red fruits appear on the apple tree. Royalty will tell you about the characteristics of the apple tree variety.

The variety is frost-resistant, resistant to wind and drought. Trees are not very resistant to scab, so they need regular preventive treatments.

Apples have a bitter taste and are considered inedible. If consumed directly, they can lead to acute food poisoning.

Fusion

The tree rarely grows over 5 m in height. It has a lush spreading crown. During flowering (May), the branches are covered with pink-red flowers. The tree resembles a cherry blossom. By autumn the flowers are replaced by small ones decorative fruits red in color, which can remain on the tree until winter. The plant is perfect for decorating a site, gardening area or as a hedge. Read how to form the crown of an apple tree.

Nedzvetsky

An apple tree can grow as a bush or tree, depending on the initial formation of the crown. An adult tree reaches 5-6 m in height and can live up to 60 years. During spring bloom the branches are almost completely covered with large pink flowers. The flowering period depends on the location where the tree grows. It ranges from early to mid-May. In autumn, small purple-red fruits ripen. The pulp of apples has an unusual pink color. They can remain on the tree throughout the winter.

Read about apple tree diseases.

The Nedzvetsky variety is resistant to frost, pests and most diseases.

Which varieties are preferable for the Moscow region?

Features of planting and growing

Growing ornamental varieties of apples has some differences compared to ordinary apple trees.

1. The soil. For the most part, ornamental apple trees do not have special soil requirements and are able to grow even on poor soils, but the quantity and quality of flowers will suffer from this. It is advisable to avoid waterlogged, swampy, extremely dry sandy and rocky soils.
2. Landing. The process of decorative varieties is almost no different from ordinary apple trees. Spring is the best time for this.
3. Distance. Ornamental apple trees need a lot of space, so the distance between trees should be on average 2-3 m. Thus, each plant receives an area of ​​approximately 5-6 m.
4. Landing place. It is advisable to prepare the planting hole a month before planting, and better in autumn previous year. The diameter of the pit should be about 80 cm and the depth about 1 m.
5. Pruning in spring. Ornamental apple trees tolerate formative pruning well, quickly adapt and recover. In general, trees do not require pruning, and mandatory pruning consists only of removing damaged or dead branches.

   He will tell you about pruning an apple tree in the spring.

   Video

   Video about decorative apple trees.

   conclusions

   1. Apple trees can not only produce healthy fruits, but also be a worthy decoration of the garden.
   2. Thanks to the variety of decorative varieties, you can choose trees by color and size.
   3. Most ornamental apple trees have unusual colors of flowers and fruits. It is also common for tree leaves and bark to become stained.
   4. The fruits of most ornamental varieties are inedible, but can decorate a tree even in winter.
   5. Decorative apples can be consumed in processed form. However, the fruits of some species can cause food poisoning.
   6. Ornamental apple trees are unpretentious to planting conditions, but for sufficient flowering they need abundant lighting.

Ornamental fruit trees are becoming increasingly common in Russia. Beautiful flowering plants decorate summer cottages and garden plots and add originality to front gardens and house facades.

Decorative apple trees occupy a special place in the design of parks, alleys, gardens, and administrative territories. Unpretentiousness in care, luxury of flowering, picturesque appearance of fruits and delicate fragrance explain the growing popularity of these trees in landscape design.

Description of the red-leaved apple tree

The apple tree is a popular garden tree that is grown not only for its healthy and tasty fruits. As a result of breeding work, decorative species have been developed that perfectly decorate gardens and personal plots. The varieties of red-leafed ornamental apple trees are especially chic, bringing life to the landscape of parks and gardens.

An apple tree with red leaves will look spectacular on a bright green lawn or against a wall. And also fits harmoniously into the composition with others ornamental plants garden with both trees and shrubs.

The fruits of the decorative apple tree are suitable for creating bouquets, floral and plant arrangements. The nutritional quality of the fruit is low, so ornamental apples have not found wide use in cooking. Although they can be used to decorate dishes and prepare confitures, jams, and compotes.

Use in landscape design

Using red-leaved apple trees in garden design, it is easy to create a corner or a whole garden in Japanese style. The lush, delicate pink blossoms of red-leaved apple trees in the spring are not inferior in grace to the blossoms of the famous sakura. Japanese azaleas, rhododendrons, and decorative types of bamboo will complement the composition.

A combination of red-leaved apple and beech trees, planting lilies, geraniums, ground cover roses will complete the composition.

Special sophistication The landscape will be enhanced by tulips planted between herbaceous perennials and blooming at the same time as the apple tree.

Ornamental apple trees not only decorate the landscape, but are also effective pollinators. If fruit apple trees grow next to ornamental trees, the yield of fruit trees will be high as a result of good pollination.

Red-leaved varieties are mainly hybrids bred from the Niedzwiecki apple tree.

Niedzvetsky apple tree

Niedzvetsky apple tree- decorative apple tree with red leaves. In the wild, the original species is endangered and is found in Central Asia. Description of the variety:

• The height of the tree is 2−6 meters.
• A distinctive feature is the presence of red pigment (anthocyanin) in all plant cells: seeds, foliage, flowers, pulp and skin of fruits, bark and even wood, which also has a reddish tint.
• The trunks of young trees and the branches of mature plants are dark purple in color.
• The leaves are oval, 8 cm long and 4 cm wide. Young foliage has pubescence, which also covers the petioles. Subsequently, the edge is retained only on the petioles. The color of the leaves is dense green with a red tint, sometimes dark purple with a purple tint. The leaf petioles are crimson.
• The crown is spherical.
• Large flowers with a diameter of up to 5 cm grow on white stalks. Dark purple buds open to form flowers with bright pink, raspberry and purple petals.
• Flowering period - 2 weeks in the second half of May. Trees begin to bloom in the 5th year of life.
• The fruits are apples of paradise, they can be small or large, weighing up to 200 grams, the spherical shape tapers slightly towards the top. The skin of the apple is dark purple-red and covered with a waxy coating. The flesh of the fruit is sweet, pink with a purple tint, and very dense.

Tree undemanding to soil, but growth on soil saturated nutrients, will be more successful. Groundwater, located close to the surface, shorten the life of the plant. The method of reproduction is grafting. They are transplanted into the nursery in the third year after grafting. Grows well in the south and southwest of Russia.

In central Russia it is cold for the Nedzvetsky variety. But on its basis, hybrids have been bred that perfectly tolerate moderate frosts. climate zone and retained the decorative advantages of the original plant.

• Royalty.
• Royal Bewley.
• Rudolf.
• Makovetsky.

Variety "Royalty". The decorative apple tree “Royalty”, even among the red-leaved varieties, stands out for its original foliage. The leaf blades of the tree are shiny and of such a rich dark red color that they seem almost purple. Flowering is lush and abundant, begins in May and covers the first week of June. The flowers have pink-red petals that densely cover the crown.

"Royalty" reaches a height of 4-5 meters, has a short trunk with a crown with a diameter of about 4 meters. The tree will have the leaf color characteristic of the variety only if it grows in a sunny area with some shade. The soil should be fertile and moderately moist, although the plant can easily tolerate prolonged drought. Pruning is recommended to maintain the shape of the crown. The tree grows slowly, bears fruit with small red apples, and is frost-resistant.

The “weak points” of the variety include susceptibility to infection by diseases and pests: scab, powdery mildew and late blight.

The plant withstands industrial air pollution, so it is often used for landscaping city squares, parks, squares, and courtyards. The tree looks great alone or in a group with other ornamental plants.

Variety "Ola". Large flowers up to 4 cm in diameter have pink or pink-red petals. Lush flowering occurs in May. The height of the tree reaches 4-5 meters, the crown is round. Spring leaves have a light red color; in the summer season the foliage acquires a slight shine and green color. In winter and autumn, the decorative appearance of the plant is maintained thanks to the many red fruits that remain on the branches of the tree.

Ornamental apple trees of the “Ola” variety grow well on medium-fertile soils, which is explained by their undemanding nature in terms of soil composition. The tree calmly tolerates the gas pollution of the urban atmosphere and is little susceptible to scab infection, so the variety is readily grown in the parks of megacities. When composing a landscape composition, designers usually place the red-leaved apple tree “Ola” in the center of the plant ensemble.

Variety "Royal Beauty". A tree 3-4 meters high has high decorative qualities:

The red-leaved apple tree "Royal Beauty" is a low weeping apple tree, so it is suitable for small cozy gardens. The variety has an advantage over other weeping trees due to its frost resistance.

It is recommended to choose a planting site in a sunny area with sandy soil rich in minerals. During the flowering period, the apple tree does not tolerate a lack of moisture; during the rest of the growing season, the tree is not sensitive to the degree of soil moisture.

Exceptional decorative qualities And small sizes allow you to plant a tree separately from other plants in the garden. The apple tree itself is beautiful even outside of compositions. However, a plant ensemble of an apple tree with other dwarf trees and shrubs will be no less impressive.

Variety "Rudolph". Bred by Canadian breeders. Young plants have a pyramid-shaped crown; with age, the tree crown becomes spreading. The height of the apple tree is about 6 meters. The leaves are brown with a red tint in spring, then turn brown-green. The buds are red, the blooming flowers have pink-red petals.

Fruiting is abundant, decorative apples ripen red-orange. The tree loves sunny places, fertile and well-drained soil. The "Rudolph" variety enriches the landscape design of parks, gardens, and personal plots.

Variety "Makovetsky". The height of the tree is about 5 meters. Semicircular, dense crown of almost spherical shape. Red leaves, pink lush flowers up to 5 cm in diameter. The tree has high frost resistance.

Red-leaved ornamental apple trees in landscape design are a great opportunity to enrich the palette of gardens and parks. Rich flowering, frost resistance, and bright foliage color explain the constant popularity of trees among gardeners.

Among the countless varieties and hybrids of sweet peppers, there are those, such as the Ramiro pepper, whose popularity is literally worldwide. And if most vegetables on supermarket shelves are nameless, and it is almost impossible to find out about their variety, then the name of this pepper “Ramiro” will certainly be on the packaging. And, as my experience has shown, this pepper is worth letting other gardeners know about it. In connection with which this article was written.

Autumn is the most mushroom time. It is no longer hot, and heavy dew falls in the mornings. Since the earth is still warm, and foliage has already attacked from above, creating a completely special microclimate in the ground layer, the mushrooms are very comfortable. Mushroom pickers are also comfortable at this time, especially in the mornings when it is cooler. It's time for both to meet. And, if you haven’t introduced yourself to each other, get to know each other. In this article I will introduce you to exotic, little-known and not always edible mushrooms that look like coral.

If you are a busy person, but at the same time not devoid of romance, if you have your own plot and are endowed with aesthetic taste, then explore the opportunity to purchase this wonderful ornamental shrub - karyopteris, or Nutwing. He is also “wing-hazel”, “blue fog” and “blue beard”. It truly fully combines unpretentiousness and beauty. Karyopteris reaches its peak of decorativeness in late summer and autumn. It is at this time that it blooms.

Pepper ajvar - vegetable caviar or thick vegetable sauce made from bell peppers with eggplants. The peppers for this recipe are baked for quite a long time, then they are also stewed. Onions, tomatoes, and eggplants are added to ajvar. To store eggs for the winter, they are sterilized. This Balkan recipe is not for those who like to make preparations quickly, undercooked and underbaked - not about ajvar. In general, we approach the matter in detail. For the sauce, we choose the ripest and meatiest vegetables on the market.

Despite simple names(“sticky” or “indoor maple”) and the status of a modern substitute for indoor hibiscus, abutilons are far from the simplest plants. They grow well, bloom profusely and provide a healthy look of greenery only in optimal conditions. On thin leaves, any deviations from comfortable lighting or temperatures and disturbances in care quickly appear. To reveal the beauty of abutilons in rooms, it is worth finding the ideal place for them.

Zucchini fritters with Parmesan and mushrooms - a delicious recipe with photos of available products. Ordinary zucchini pancakes can be easily turned into a non-boring dish by adding a few savory ingredients to the dough. During the squash season, pamper your family with vegetable pancakes with wild mushrooms; it is not only very tasty, but also filling. Zucchini - versatile vegetable, it is suitable for stuffing, for preparations, for main courses, and even for sweets there are delicious recipes - compotes and jam are made from zucchini.

The idea of ​​growing vegetables on the grass, under the grass and in the grass is scary at first, until you become imbued with the naturalness of the process: in nature, this is exactly how everything happens. With the obligatory participation of all soil living creatures: from bacteria and fungi to moles and toads. Each of them contributes. Traditional tillage with digging, loosening, fertilizing, and fighting all those we consider pests destroys the biocenoses that have been created over centuries. In addition, it requires a lot of labor and resources.

What to do instead of a lawn? So that all this beauty does not turn yellow, does not get sick and at the same time looks like a lawn... I hope that the smart and quick-witted reader is already smiling. After all, the answer suggests itself - if you do nothing, nothing will happen. Of course, there are several solutions that can be used, and with their help, you can reduce the area of ​​​​the lawn, and therefore reduce the labor intensity of caring for it. I propose to consider alternative options and discuss their pros and cons.

Tomato sauce with onions and sweet peppers - thick, aromatic, with pieces of vegetables. The sauce cooks quickly and is thick because this recipe contains pectin. Make such preparations at the end of summer or autumn, when the vegetables have ripened in the sun in the garden beds. Bright, red tomatoes will produce just as bright homemade ketchup. This sauce is a ready-made dressing for spaghetti, and you can also simply spread it on bread - very tasty. For better preservation, you can add a little vinegar.

This year I often observed a picture: among the luxurious green crown of trees and shrubs, here and there, like candles, the bleached tops of shoots “burn.” This is chlorosis. Most of us know about chlorosis from school biology lessons. I remember that this is a lack of iron... But chlorosis is an ambiguous concept. And lightening of foliage does not always mean a lack of iron. What is chlorosis, what our plants lack during chlorosis and how to help them, we will tell you in the article.

Korean vegetables for the winter - delicious Korean salad with tomatoes and cucumbers. The salad is sweet and sour, spicy and slightly spicy because it is prepared with Korean carrot seasoning. Be sure to prepare several jars for the winter, cold winter This healthy and flavorful snack will come in handy. You can use overripe cucumbers for the recipe; it is better to prepare vegetables in late summer or early autumn when they are ripe in open ground under the sun.

Autumn for me means dahlias. Mine begin to bloom as early as June, and all summer the neighbors peek at me over the fence, reminding them that I promised them a few tubers or seeds by the fall. In September, a tart note appears in the aroma of these flowers, hinting at the approaching cold. This means it’s time to start preparing the plants for the long, cold winter. In this article I will share my secrets of autumn care for perennial dahlias and preparing them for winter storage.

To date, through the efforts of breeders, according to various sources, from seven to ten thousand (!) varieties of cultivated apple trees have been bred. But despite their enormous diversity, in private gardens, as a rule, only a couple of popular and beloved varieties grow. Apple trees are large trees with a spreading crown, and you cannot grow many of them in one area. What if you try to grow columnar varieties of this crop? In this article I will tell you exactly about these varieties of apple trees.

Pinjur - Balkan-style eggplant caviar with sweet peppers, onions and tomatoes. Distinctive feature dishes - eggplants and peppers are first baked, then peeled and simmered for a long time in a roasting pan or in a thick-bottomed pan, adding the rest of the vegetables specified in the recipe. The caviar turns out to be very thick, with a bright, rich taste. In my opinion, this cooking method is the best known. Although it is more troublesome, the result compensates for the labor costs.