How & When to Fertilize Quince

Quince is a hardy deciduous shrub, valued for the spectacular flowers that appear in early spring. Although quince isn't difficult to grow and is considered to be nearly indestructible, the shrub will benefit from light feedings twice every year.

After Blooming

Quince is fertilized after the shrub is finished blooming in late spring. A high-nitrogen fertilizer with a ratio such as 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 will keep the shrub in good shape for months. Scatter the fertilizer around the base of the shrub, then water the shrub deeply. Don't allow fertilizer to land on the foliage or the trunk. Check the fertilizer container for specific amounts needed.

Autumn

Quince will benefit from a second feeding in early autumn to support the shrub as it develops fruit. Use a light application of a balanced, general purpose fertilizer applied according to the directions on the fertilizer package. Always water deeply immediately after applying fertilizer or fertilize the shrub just before a rain.

Suckers and Fire Blight

Too much fertilizer can cause suckers to develop at the base of the shrub. If this happens, remove the suckers and continue fertilizing. Rapid development of suckers can place the quince at risk of fire blight, a bacterial disease that often affects quince, pears, apples and other fruit trees.

References

• Alabama Cooperative Extension: Quince: Summer's Lost Fruit
• Learn2Grow: Flowering Quince: A Blooming Traffic-Stopper
• NC State University Extension: A Gardener's Guide to Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs
• Integrated Pest Management: Fire Blight