All fruit trees that are in good condition have the highest requirements for macronutrients - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur. In order to maintain the vitality and health of the trees, these macronutrients should be supplied regularly. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are also required in significant quantities, and these elements can be obtained from air, water and organic matter, respectively. Find out here how, when and with what you should fertilize your fruit trees! Use these gardening tips to increase your harvest.
There are two types of fertilizers that differ in the sources of plant nutrients: organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers. An organic fertilizer can come from plant or animal sources and occurs naturally in the environment. The second type of fertilizer is called chemical or conventional fertilizer. These fertilizers consist of either processed minerals or salts obtained through chemical reactions. Regardless of whether you apply organic or conventional fertilizers to the soil, it is important to ensure that you only add the nutrients that the soil lacks and thatfrom the plantare needed.
When should you fertilize fruit trees?
Fertilizers should only be applied at times when the fruit tree can actually use them. Spring is the best time to fertilize fruit plants. The beginning of spring in particular is an excellent time to apply a balanced organic fertilizer. In late summer and early autumnyou should stop fertilizingavoid fruit plants.
How to fertilize fruit trees? Take organic fertilizers
The best organic fertilizers for fruit trees are those that are balanced and contain an appropriate amount of nitrogen. There are additional fertilizers specifically designed for fruit trees. When fertilizing, adding compost is a good way to add both organic matter and trace elements to the soil. You can determine whether you should add additional phosphorus, potassium or other nutrients by conducting a soil test. Even when using organic fertilizers, it is important to remember that it is always better to fertilize too little than too much.
- Horse manure
If you want to get the most out of your fruit trees, try fertilizing them with horse manure, but never use fresh manure. Due to the very high nitrogen content in fresh manure, fresh manure can harm your trees and even cause the death of young seedlings. It is also possible that it promotes soil microbial activity, which in turn reduces the amount of soil nutrients accessible to trees.
There are several ways to process horse manure, the simplest of which is to delay application for about a month to allow potentially harmful organisms to die off. You can use the manure tooin your compost pileincorporate to achieve the best results. However, you should wait a month before using the compost.
- Hornspane
Around 85 percent of horn fertilizers consist of animal proteins. Horn shavings are spread during the growing season until autumn. To achieve optimal results, precise preparation and dosage is required. This depends on various factors, including the climate and soil conditions. Normally 60 to 120 grams are enough for an area of 100 x 100 centimeters.
Fertilizing fruit trees – this is how it’s done
Before fertilizing a tree growing in grass, it is recommended to make a one-meter-wide ring around the base of the tree and carefully work the soil with a fork. The root area of the fruit tree, ie the area immediately below the branch crown, should be fertilized with the nutrient-rich product. If the trees are developing healthily, fertilization should be reduced.
Fertilization for different types of fruit trees
Fruit trees should be able to get all the nutrients they need from the soil themselves. This is certainly the case in orchards where the owner has ensured that the quality of the soil is improved by adding organic compost and incorporating it.
Measure your fruit tree's growth annually to find out if it meets your expectations for its size. In late winter, before the tree begins to green, look for a growth ring on the tree. A growth ring is the point at which the tree's growth began at the same time of year the previous year. In most cases, the new growth has a distinct color and is relatively easy to spot. Measure from the annual ring to the tip of the branch. Take the measurement at different points on the tree and then take the average. This is the progress on an annual basis.
Below is the range of annual growth that can be expected for the most common fruit tree varieties. If your tree's height is within this range, you should not feed it.
Peach, nectarine, apple and pear
- Young trees that do not yet bear fruit – 45 – 75 cm
- Trees that bear fruit – 30 – 45 cm
Plum, apricot and cherry
- Young trees that do not yet bear fruit – 55 – 90 cm
- Trees that bear fruit – 20 cm
