Fertilizer for Fruit Trees
Every fruit tree has its own needs. Stone fruits like cherries or peaches generally perform better in warmer regions, while apples and pears can grow in a wide variety of temperatures. Managing the soil and location of your fruit tree is essential to its successful growth. Test the soil your trees will live in before planting, and amend it accordingly, if necessary. Compost and other organic matter can create a rich environment for your trees to grow in, eliminating the need for consistent fertilizing all together. Does this Spark an idea?
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Growth Check
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Fruit trees don't always need to be fertilized. If a tree is growing well and producing fruit, then fertilizer is not necessary. According to Iowa State University, a non-bearing fruit tree grows between 15 and 30 inches in a year. A tree that bears fruit will grow between 8 and 15 inches since most of the nutrients will be applied toward the fruit. If the fruit trees are located on or near a lawn that is fertilized regularly, then there should not be a need to fertilize the fruit trees.
Types
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A good mixture of compost will promote healthy growth of a fruit tree. The compost can be placed in the hole during planting or around the base of the tree. Commercial all-purpose fertilizers are also used for fruit trees. A 10-10-10 NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) mixture is the most common. Lime shouldn't be applied to fruit trees at any time, according to Ken Slingerland of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, unless the soil is overly acidic and lime is recommended. "Excessive levels or an improper balance of nutrients can lead to poor-quality fruit and serious winter injury or disease problems," Slingerland advises.
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Timing
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Fertilize fruit trees immediately before bloom or leaf sprouting occurs, suggests Texas A&M University. Fruit trees should not be fertilized in the summer or fall since this can lead to excessive growth or stimulation that leaves the tree susceptible to winter damage.
Amount
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Test the tree's soil before determining what type of fertilizer and how much you should use. The recommended rate of fertilization is 1/10 lb. of nitrogen per year of tree age, according to Iowa State University Cooperative Extension. A 5-year-old tree, for example, should receive 5/10, or 1/2, lb. of nitrogen. The fertilizer should be broadcast "in a circular band about 2 to 3 feet from the trunk and extend out slightly beyond the dripline of the tree," according to ISU. Any tree over 10 years old should not receive more than 1 lb. of fertilizer in one application.
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References
- Photo Credit fruit tree image by ab from Fotolia.com
