In home gardens, in a separate orchard section, it is often necessary to plant another tree in a place where other fruit trees have previously grown for many years.Sometimes planting trees one after another in the same part of the garden is due to the necessity and lack of any other free space.
Quite a long time ago it was noticed that the growth of trees planted one after another is sometimes worse, and the fruiting is weaker. The differences are especially visible when we compare the growth of trees planted in a completely new position.The phenomenon of weaker development of trees growing in the place where other trees previously grew, is referred to as replantation disease, and is popularly called soil fatigue. There can be many factors causing replantation disease.
The most common are the excessive accumulation of harmful soil nematodes damaging the roots of newly planted trees. In addition, nematodes feeding on the roots often produce toxic substances, which inhibit the growth of the roots, and as a result, the entire tree is inhibited.Another factor influencing the growth of trees may be the increase in the occurrence of harmful fungi, actinomycetes or bacteria.
Also the substrate in a given place of the garden becomes more and more poor in nutrients over the years, because plants use up macro- and microelements, sterilizing the soil. However, there are ways to counteract the effects of soil fatigue. In order to provide new plants with favorable conditions for growth, it is worth recultivating the soil before planting them, restoring its fertility.
Counteracting the replantation disease
• After removing the tree, dig out all the roots remaining in the soil if possible.
• Take a break of one to three before planting new trees.In the meantime, we sow the catch crops (mustard, rye).
• We dig the soil deeply, which will improve its aeration and loosen the compacted substrate.
• Lime the substrate if it is too acidic.
• We replenish the deficiencies of elements by sowing phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (e.g. polyphoska) or digging manure.
• When planting, we cover the dug holes with fresh leaf soil or well-decomposed compost.
• After planting the trees, sow Tagetes, which destroys the soil nematodes.
Only unrelated species
The replantation disease is especially dangerous for stone species.This means that we should not plant cherries after cherries or peaches after peaches. However, we can plant another, unrelated species, for example apple or pear trees after cherries.
