When planning a country or garden site many gardeners are faced with a difficult choice on what to focus, what to prefer – the fruit garden, berry plantings or vegetable beds?
The problem is that the effectiveness of the use of each square meter of garden plot depends on what crops will be grown on it. Take, for example, fruit trees. They — depending on the strength of growth and rootstock — must be planted at a distance of 1.5 to 4 m from each other. If you make a simple calculation, it becomes obvious that for planting even one seedling of each fruit crop will require more than one hundred square meters of land. But I want to have some diversity of varieties, differing in time of ripening, their color, taste, etc., a reasonable question Arises: how in this situation to do? How to use the available area of the garden area in the most rational way?
An excellent solution to this problem can be the cultivation of fruit trees, which are grafted on several varieties of one fruit crop. Such trees are often called “multi-grade” or “family”. And there is a wonderful term “tree-garden”, which very accurately emphasizes the main feature of such plants.
Imagine an Apple tree, which simultaneously ripen red, yellow and bright green fruits of different shapes, sizes and terms of maturation. This tree looks really fascinating.
In the case of stone cultures, the situation is even more interesting. The fact that all stone belong to the same biological genus, and therefore are well compatible with each other when vaccinated. So do not be surprised that the same tree can please its owners with fruits and plums, and cherry plums, and even apricots. From a practical point of view, “Multisort” trees have a number of undoubted advantages:
- Significantly save space when planting a fruit garden. Ideal for creating small gardens, as allow a small area to harvest different varieties of fruit crops. One “multi-grade” tree is enough to get the fruits of summer, autumn or winter ripening.
- Allow you to get a stable harvest. For example, if some of the varieties grafted on a “multi-grade” tree, due to the frequency of its fruiting, “rest”, all the food goes to other varieties, thereby significantly increasing the size and quality of their fruits.
- Show higher yields due to the formation of the best conditions for cross-pollination.
- Have a very high decorative during fruit ripening.
When creating “multi-grade” trees, it is necessary to take into account the strength of growth, winter hardiness and other important characteristics of each variety, as well as the compatibility of varieties with each other. Grafted on one tree varieties should be not only well compatible with the stock, but also have similar biological parameters that will contribute to the uniform and full development of plants, their friendly flowering and abundant fruiting.
Another great solution to optimize the use of the garden area is the cultivation of berry bushes on the trunk. This method of cultivation was known in Russia in the XIX century and every year it becomes more and more popular. Raised above the ground branches trunk shrubs release in the garden area is quite a significant space where you can grow some vegetables.
It is important to note that trunk shrubs can be both root and grafted. In the latter case, you can safely experiment, creating a unique “Multisort” plants.
The main advantages of trunk shrubs are as follows:
- Thanks to trunk shrubs do not take up much space and are very easy to care for and harvest.
- Due to the fact that the crown is raised above the soil surface, trunk shrubs are less damaged by pests and diseases, which significantly reduces the need for chemical treatment of plants and determines their high environmental friendliness.
- The percentage of damage to the harvest trunk forms of berry bushes is minimal, since there is no contact with the ground berries.
- Trunk shrubs have a very high decorative.
Live in harmony with nature, enjoying your beautiful garden. And always remember that you can grow a real miracle in the garden!