Can I plant seedlings in winter?

Trees planted before winter will look ugly, and they will sprout and grow slowly in spring. This is a long-standing agricultural proverb that reflects the farming rules and precautions of planting trees in winter. It has certain reference value for guiding agricultural production and greening the environment. So, can seedlings be planted in winter? Let’s take a look below.

1. Can saplings be planted in winter?

Seedlings can be planted in winter. Winter is the dormant period for trees and their growth activities slow down. Transplanting will cause minimal damage to the trees and will not affect their normal growth cycle. The temperature is lower in winter and the soil has more moisture. Transplanted trees are less likely to lose moisture and are less likely to be affected by high temperatures and drought, which is conducive to the survival and growth of trees. The soil in winter is looser, making it easier to dig and fill in during transplanting. It is also beneficial to the development of tree roots and water and fertilizer retention in the soil. The price of trees is lower in winter, and the cost of transplanting is lower, which is also conducive to saving resources and improving efficiency. However, trees planted in winter are susceptible to frost damage, which affects the survival rate of the trees.

2. How to improve the survival rate of trees planted in winter?

1. Winter-planted trees grow well

The growth of trees is always related to their birth environment. If the birth environment is bad, the tree's own resistance will be enhanced. If the birth environment is good, although it grows faster, its resistance to abnormal environment is relatively weak. Transplanting in winter will help the trees adapt to the harsh winter environment. When they grow in spring, they will be more resistant, have stronger vitality, and grow better than other trees planted in spring.

2. Protect the root system

Transplanting trees in winter is relatively harsh in the environment. The root system is the main channel for trees to absorb nutrients. If the root system is poor and the nutrient supply is insufficient, the trees will inevitably grow poorly. The source of protecting the root system is to protect it well when digging up the seedlings, and try to keep the root system intact. The more complete the root system is, the higher the survival rate will be.

3. Appropriate burial depth

Winter cold is the main factor affecting tree survival rate. The impact is particularly greater for newly transplanted trees and seedlings whose root systems have not recovered. Usually there are corresponding measures to keep warm and prevent frost. The most common ones include laying ground film and watering to prevent freezing. You can also plant deeply and remove the surface soil in spring.

4. Adequate base fertilizer

Nutrition is the basis of plant growth, and the growth of trees is often related to soil fertility. It can adapt to the environment and grow fast. It can grow slowly if the soil is poor and unsuitable. By adding base fertilizer in winter, although the trees enter a dormant stage and stop absorbing nutrients, they will need to consume nutrients when they sprout in the spring. Timely nutrition can be supplemented to improve their condition in advance. The tree roots recover faster and the survival rate is correspondingly higher.

5. Bag the buds to protect them

After a cold winter, many trees did not sprout in spring. What is the reason? A closer look revealed that all the tender branches and buds were frozen. How to protect the young shoots? Usually, seedlings are wrapped with plastic film to prevent water loss and protect them from frost damage. Even if conditions do not permit, it is still necessary to bandage the main branches that need to be retained.

That’s it