Malus decorative

The genus Apple tree (Malus) includes more than 30 species of trees and shrubs. These deciduous plants are characterized by regular oval or elliptical leaves, sometimes with a jagged edge. White, pink and red flowers often appear before the leaves and have different color transitions and even patterns; collected in half-cones or corymbs. Five-petalled with 15-20 stamens, sometimes (in semi-double or double flowers) the latter degenerate into petals. The fruits have different sizes, shapes and colors, are juicy, and in most species are edible. The flowers of the berry apple tree (Malus baccata) are relatively small, white and fragrant, and in their place small red or yellow fruits are formed, very similar to berries. The Sargent apple tree (M. sargentii), if it is not grafted on an erect rootstock, is a very branchy shrubby plant with often tangled branches. Simple flowers in pink buds, opening, turn into white and fragrant, and this happens later than in other ornamental apple trees. Bright red fruits stay on the plant for a long time. Hybrid apple variety 'Golden Hornet' is characterized by countless white flowers, followed by bright yellow fruits. The Hartwig apple tree (Malus x hartwigii ) is a hybrid with distinctive dark chestnut shoots and pointed leaves. Variety 'Lizet' (or 'Lizetta') - medium-sized with dark green leaves with a lilac tint and pinkish-red flowers, in place of which red-chestnut fruits are formed. The hybrid decorative apple tree 'Abundance' gently fragrant wine-red flowers are collected on 6-7 in a brush. The glossy leaves of the Royal apple tree are chestnut-red in color, and the simple flowers are ruby-red; the small fruits are dark red.

The genus Apple tree (Malus) includes more than 30 species of trees and shrubs. These deciduous plants are characterized by regular oval or elliptical leaves, sometimes with a jagged edge. White, pink and red flowers often appear before the leaves and have different color transitions and even patterns; collected in half-cones or corymbs. Five-petalled with 15-20 stamens, sometimes (in semi-double or double flowers) the latter degenerate into petals. The fruits have different sizes, shapes and colors, are juicy, and in most species are edible.

The flowers of the berry apple tree (Malus baccata) are relatively small, white and fragrant, and in their place small red or yellow fruits are formed, very similar to berries.

The Sargent apple tree (M. sargentii), if it is not grafted on an erect rootstock, is a very branchy shrubby plant with often tangled branches. Simple flowers in pink buds, opening, turn into white and fragrant, and this happens later than in other ornamental apple trees. Bright red fruits stay on the plant for a long time. Hybrid apple variety 'Golden Hornet' is characterized by countless white flowers, followed by bright yellow fruits.

The Hartwig apple tree (Malus x hartwigii ) is a hybrid with distinctive dark chestnut shoots and pointed leaves. Variety 'Lizet' (or 'Lizetta') - medium-sized with dark green leaves with a lilac tint and pinkish-red flowers, in place of which red-chestnut fruits are formed.

The hybrid decorative apple tree 'Abundance' gently fragrant wine-red flowers are collected on 6-7 in a brush. The glossy leaves of the Royal apple tree are chestnut-red in color, and the simple flowers are ruby-red; the small fruits are dark red.

Cultivation

Ornamental apple trees are exclusively garden plants. They are planted in autumn or early spring in carefully prepared soil with the addition of organic fertilizers. Various types of soil are suitable, light loam is better. Top dressing is necessary, especially for young plants; once a year, well-rotted manure or other organic fertilizers are added to the soil.

Temperature

These are resistant plants that are only afraid of late frosts.

Watering

It is only necessary for young plants, especially immediately after planting or during a prolonged drought.

Care

Young plants should be pruned to encourage branching; in adult specimens, only dry or poorly growing branches are removed. Decorative species are allowed to develop naturally, which contributes to better flowering; only individual branches from the oldest are shortened so that they resume vegetation.

Reproduction

Seed propagation is very simple, but it does not allow you to preserve the properties of the mother plant - the seedling will differ from its parent. Therefore, hybrid forms should be propagated by grafting (the graft is obtained from the seed) on wild-growing species.

Diseases

Many diseases of ornamental apple trees are the same as those of fruit trees. Scab manifests itself in the form of olive-green spots on the leaves that then fall, dark ulcers appear on fruits and shoots, the bark cracks. They get rid of it by treating it with drugs based on dithiocarbamates. Oidium has a whitish moldy patina on its leaves and shoots. Treat with caratan, sulfur-containing or other fungicides. Honeydew (Armillaria mellea) causes rotting of the roots, which can lead to the death of the plant. Another dangerous disease - rust-is manifested, first of all, if juniper grows nearby. Selected plants that are resistant to one or more of the above diseases are available for sale. Among the pests, aphids affect shoots and leaves, causing both direct damage (sucking out juice) and indirect, because the rabble settles on the paddy. Very unpleasant is the blood apple aphid, which causes the appearance of drops on branches, as well as their cracking and swelling on the roots. They get rid of it with the help of appropriate insecticides. Carpocapsa pomonella and Hoplocampa testudinea are less dangerous for ornamental apple trees compared to fruit trees, but it is still better to get rid of them with appropriate insecticidal preparations. Mites provoke the formation of yellow specks and weave cobwebs on the back of the leaves. In this case, treatment with acaricides is required.

Many diseases of ornamental apple trees are the same as those of fruit trees. Scab manifests itself in the form of olive-green spots on the leaves that then fall, dark ulcers appear on fruits and shoots, the bark cracks. They get rid of it by treating it with drugs based on dithiocarbamates.

Oidium has a whitish moldy patina on its leaves and shoots. Treat with caratan, sulfur-containing or other fungicides.

Honeydew (Armillaria mellea) causes rotting of the roots, which can lead to the death of the plant. Another dangerous disease - rust-is manifested, first of all, if juniper grows nearby. Selected plants that are resistant to one or more of the above diseases are available for sale.

Among the pests, aphids affect shoots and leaves, causing both direct damage (sucking out juice) and indirect, because the rabble settles on the paddy. Very unpleasant is the blood apple aphid, which causes the appearance of drops on branches, as well as their cracking and swelling on the roots. They get rid of it with the help of appropriate insecticides.

Carpocapsa pomonella and Hoplocampa testudinea are less dangerous for ornamental apple trees compared to fruit trees, but it is still better to get rid of them with appropriate insecticidal preparations.

Mites provoke the formation of yellow specks and weave cobwebs on the back of the leaves. In this case, treatment with acaricides is required.