Many different fruit trees have similar requirements. You can find out when, how and with what the best way to fertilize fruit trees here.
Fruit trees need good soil with a balanced nutrient ratio in order to be able to produce new shoots and enough fruit every year. To keep your fruit tree he althy and strong, you can support its development with regular fertilizer applications. After all, the fruit tree will thank you for good care with lush growth and a rich harvest.
But do you really have to fertilize your fruit trees? Which fertilizer is best to use and how to apply it? We got to the bottom of these questions and have summarized the most important information for you.
Why fertilize fruit trees?
This question arises above all if you are not aiming for mass yields from the fruit trees in your own garden anyway. The fact is, however, that a nutrient cycle is constantly taking place, even in wild-growing plants. Once a leaf falls to the ground, it decomposes and enters the soil as a nutrient. A living soil in turn forms the basis for a he althy plant. The fruit trees in your garden need nutrients in order to be able to develop strong shoots and lots of fruit. As with us humans, a balanced diet promotes he alth. Ultimately, however, it is not just the amount that matters, but also the composition of the nutrients supplied. With optimal care, you can protect your plant from fungal diseases, frost and aphid infestation, for example.
When to fertilize fruit trees?
It is best to plant fruit trees in autumn (October/November) when the plant is dormant. Some compost can already be worked into the soil at this point in order to upgrade lean soil and to offer the fruit tree optimal starting conditions in spring. Every year in spring (March/April) you can fertilize your fruit trees with a dose of compost, as this promotes flowering and ensures a crumbly, loose soil structure with numerous useful microorganisms. whoIf you don't have space for your own compost heap in the garden, you can also work fertilizer from the specialist trade into the tree disc - that's what the circular area (about one meter in diameter) around the tree is called. Below this are the roots, which you want to supply with the nutrients. It is best to use organic long-term fertilizers in organic quality for fertilization, such as our Plantura organic tomato fertiliser, which is particularly gentle on plants, soil and animals in the garden. Small fruit trees with weak roots can be fertilized again at the end of June to promote fruit formation. After a last compost application in autumn, it is advisable to cover the tree pit with leaves. To do this, simply sweep the fallen leaves towards the trunk.
Pro Tip: Don't plant a new apple tree (Malus domestica) in the place of an old one. In rose plants (Rosaceae), which also include pears (Pyrus communis) and quinces (Cydonia oblonga) belong, a so-called soil fatigue occurs. However, the apparently complex causes of this phenomenon have not yet been clearly identified.
Summary: When to Fertilize Fruit Trees?
- Improve poor soil with compost before planting
- Basic fertilization in spring (March/April) with organic long-term fertilizer
- Second fertilization for fruit formation (end of June)
- Last application of compost in autumn and mulch layer of leaves
The right fertilizer for fruit trees
In addition to organic and mineral fertilizers from specialist shops, there are also various options for natural fertilization of your fruit trees. We try to give you a brief overview of them below.
Fertilize fruit trees organically: Instructions and application recommendations
In addition to the long-term supply of nutrients through the slow decomposition of the microorganisms in the soil, there are many other reasons for using an organic long-term fertilizer, such as:
- Promotion of active soil life and sustainable improvement of soil structure
- Easy dosing reduces the risk of over-fertilization
- Particularly gentle on humans and animals because no chemicals are used
Our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer consists mainly of organic, vegetable raw materials and is due to itsNutrient composition also ideal for fertilizing your fruit trees. The sufficiently contained nitrogen promotes the growth and leaf formation of your plants. A high proportion of potassium and phosphorus also supports flowering and fruit formation. Scatter the fertilizer in granular form, preferably in the size of the crown, on the tree disc or pierce about 30 to 50 cm deep holes in the crown area every 40 cm in the lawn in order to introduce the organic fertilizer there.
In order to provide your fruit trees with the right amount of nutrients, we have prepared detailed instructions for you below.
Organic long-term fertilization: instructions and dosage amounts for fruit trees
- Before planting: Work 30 - 60 g per tree (2 to 5 heaped tablespoons) of our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer into the soil
- Water the freshly planted tree well so that the granulate can loosen
- Each spring (March/April), depending on the size of the tree, fertilize around 50 - 150 g per tree (4 to 12 heaped tablespoons) in the area of the tree disc
- A little fertilization for fruit formation (end of June) supports your fruit tree again optimally
Tip from the professional: If the tree discs are covered with grass, you can also dissolve the granular fertilizer in water and use it to water the tree.
Fertilize fruit trees with minerals: Blaukorn and Co.
Blue grain, liquid fertilizer and Co. are still very popular as universal fertilizers in the garden. The main advantage of these mineral fertilizers is the solubility of the nutrients. These can be taken up directly by the plant from the soil solution. At the same time, however, this property increases the risk of over-fertilization. The high s alt concentrations in artificial fertilizers can damage the sensitive roots if used improperly. In addition, these fertilizers can easily leach into deeper soil layers and contribute to groundwater contamination there. In contrast, organic fertilizers are much gentler on the environment and, when used correctly (see above), support the development of your fruit trees more sustainably.
Fertilize fruit trees with lime
In some regions, fruit trees are coated with lime in the fall. For this purpose, you can buy powdered lime that comes withmixed with water and then applied to the trunk with a brush. This coating is intended to keep pests away and protect the tree from moss growth. In addition, the white color reflects the sunlight and protects the tree from excessive solar radiation and frost cracks. The lime coating is gradually washed away by the rain over time, seeping away and fertilizing the soil with lime. However, lime can also be applied directly to the soil in powder form for fertilization in order to counteract soil acidification. Most lime fertilizers consist of calcium carbonate, which also occurs naturally in rocks. This improves the soil structure and promotes the biological activity of the microorganisms there. In order to be able to carry out optimal lime fertilization, you should definitely carry out a soil analysis in advance. After all, most garden soil already contains enough lime.
Fertilize fruit trees with home remedies
If you want to do without organic commercial fertilizers and chemical mineral fertilizers, you can also use natural fertilizers. Mature compost or rotted manure (horse manure) is great for fertilizing fruit trees. Older, large fruit trees can be fertilized with compost once or twice a year. But even small fruit tree forms can tolerate a layer of compost on the tree grate in the fall before hibernation. To fertilize and strengthen the immune system, you can also water your plants every two to three weeks with plant manure. Nettle manure, for example, contains plenty of nitrogen, potassium and trace elements. Simply prepare the manure yourself and dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:10 before watering so that the plant does not "burn". So that there is no competition for nutrients between herbs and the shallow-rooted tree, it is particularly advisable to mulch the young fruit trees with grass clippings or leaves. In addition, the soil is protected from drying out and the plant is supplied with nutrients through the ongoing decomposition of the organic material.
Tip from the professional: Herbs that require little nutrients and water can also be grown under young trees without hesitation. For example, nasturtium cultivated under fruit trees repels pests and can be used as a spice.