Fertilizing Fruit Trees
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Measure fruit trees to see if they need fertilizing
Not all fruit trees need fertilizer every year and they don’t need it in the same amounts. Too much fertilizer means lots of leaves and shoots, and not a lot of fruit. If the tree was pruned more than it typically is pruned in one year, don’t fertilize.
Begin your assessment of a tree by locating last year’s growth rings. The growth ring is the point on the branch where the tree started growing the previous year. Measure from the growth ring all the way out to the end of the branch. Repeat these measurements at several spots around the tree, and average them as the previous year’s “annual growth” of the tree.
If you added fertilizer when planting a new (1-2 year old) tree, you can usually withhold additional fertilizing for a couple more years, or until your tree starts bearing fruit, as long as there is adequate tree-growth each year. At this point in the young tree’s life, providing and maintaining adequate moisture, in the form of watering and mulching, and good weed control are the most important things to consider. Additionally, fruit tree roots will absorb nutrients, especially if there is lawn in the vicinity that is fertilized on a regular basis.
Trees with less than 10 to 12 inches of (previous) season’s growth on lateral branches may need fertilizer. On the other hand, trees with greater than 18 inches of growth may not need fertilizer for several years
Begin your assessment of a tree by locating last year’s growth rings. The growth ring is the point on the branch where the tree started growing the previous year. Measure from the growth ring all the way out to the end of the branch. Repeat these measurements at several spots around the tree, and average them as the previous year’s “annual growth” of the tree.
If you added fertilizer when planting a new (1-2 year old) tree, you can usually withhold additional fertilizing for a couple more years, or until your tree starts bearing fruit, as long as there is adequate tree-growth each year. At this point in the young tree’s life, providing and maintaining adequate moisture, in the form of watering and mulching, and good weed control are the most important things to consider. Additionally, fruit tree roots will absorb nutrients, especially if there is lawn in the vicinity that is fertilized on a regular basis.
Trees with less than 10 to 12 inches of (previous) season’s growth on lateral branches may need fertilizer. On the other hand, trees with greater than 18 inches of growth may not need fertilizer for several years
When to fertilize
Right before bud break is the perfect time to fertilize your fruit trees. If you miss the moment and the trees have begun to bloom, you can still fertilize until June.
Don’t fertilize in late summer or fall, though, because the new growth put on by the tree can be damaged by frost. The earliest time to fertilize is one month prior to spring growth.
If the tree’s number is at the low end of growth, then you should fertilize the tree this year.
Don’t fertilize in late summer or fall, though, because the new growth put on by the tree can be damaged by frost. The earliest time to fertilize is one month prior to spring growth.
If the tree’s number is at the low end of growth, then you should fertilize the tree this year.
- Non-bearing peaches and nectarines should grow 18”-24”.
- Bearing peaches and nectarines should grow 12”-18”.
- Non-bearing apples and pears should grow 18”-30”.
- Bearing pears and bearing non-spur type apples should grow 12”-18”.
- Bearing spur apples should grow 6”-10”.
- Non-bearing plums and sweet cherries should grow 22”-36”.
- Bearing plums and sweet cherries should grow 8”.
- Non-bearing, tart cherries should grow 12”-24”.
- Bearing tart cherries should grow 8”.
How to choose fertilizer
Use an organic, high nitrogen fertilizer. Blood meal, soybean meal, composted chicken manure, cottonseed meal, and feather meal are good, organic nitrogen sources.
There are also specially formulated organic fruit tree fertilizers. Adding compost will also provide micronutrients for your trees.
There are also specially formulated organic fruit tree fertilizers. Adding compost will also provide micronutrients for your trees.
How much to fertilize
Rule of thumb: The amount of fertilizer is based on the age or size of the tree.
Trees need 1/10th of a pound of actual nitrogen per year of age, or per inch of trunk diameter (measured 1 foot above the ground). The maximum you should give a fruit tree in a year is 1 lb. of actual nitrogen.
Trees need 1/10th of a pound of actual nitrogen per year of age, or per inch of trunk diameter (measured 1 foot above the ground). The maximum you should give a fruit tree in a year is 1 lb. of actual nitrogen.
How to apply fertilizer
There are two ways to apply fertilizer to your trees:
1. To apply, uniformly broadcast the recommended amount of fertilizer in a circular band from about 1-2 feet from the trunk and extend out slightly beyond the drip-line of the tree. The drip line is at the perimeter of the tree’s furthest reaching branches. If possible, rake the fertilizer into the top couple of inches of soil. Water and mulch well.
2. Digging a series of small holes is another method of applying fertilizer. It is a bit more work, but it ensures the fertilizer is getting to the tree roots. Dig the holes six inches down and 12”-18” apart. Start drilling the holes a foot outward from the trunk and continue on to the drip line.
Take the fertilizer you’ve measured out and sprinkle a little in each hole until it is used up. This is great for making sure less water soluble nutrients like phosphorus or beneficial mychorhizae in the fertilizer make it to the tree roots. Once you have finished fertilizing, spread an inch of compost over the top and water well.
1. To apply, uniformly broadcast the recommended amount of fertilizer in a circular band from about 1-2 feet from the trunk and extend out slightly beyond the drip-line of the tree. The drip line is at the perimeter of the tree’s furthest reaching branches. If possible, rake the fertilizer into the top couple of inches of soil. Water and mulch well.
2. Digging a series of small holes is another method of applying fertilizer. It is a bit more work, but it ensures the fertilizer is getting to the tree roots. Dig the holes six inches down and 12”-18” apart. Start drilling the holes a foot outward from the trunk and continue on to the drip line.
Take the fertilizer you’ve measured out and sprinkle a little in each hole until it is used up. This is great for making sure less water soluble nutrients like phosphorus or beneficial mychorhizae in the fertilizer make it to the tree roots. Once you have finished fertilizing, spread an inch of compost over the top and water well.
Click here to learn when and how to prune trees
Click here to learn when and how to harvest fruit
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