Perhaps you too, like many homeowners, have planted fruit trees in the garden to increase the value of the property in a useful and aesthetically pleasing way. While growing these trees may seem like a real challenge, with proper care and precautions you can ensure that every single plant reaches its growth potential. You should learn the correct fertilizing technique so that they reach the optimum level of development and maximum fruit production.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Defining the Basics
Step 1. Run the Soil Test
Before starting the fertilization process, make sure the tree actually needs it. If you fertilize it when it is not necessary you could compromise its growth; it is therefore important to perform the soil test to understand whether it is appropriate or not.
- To proceed, take a small sample of soil from the base of the tree and take it to a private, university, or local authority laboratory for analysis at a relatively low cost.
- You need to know the pH level and the types of nutrients present in the soil. Ideally, the pH should be within the range of 6 to 6.5; if not, it is necessary to fertilize.
Step 2. Consider the age of the tree
This factor greatly affects whether or not you need to fertilize it. If it's about a couple of years old, you can still wait for a few years, focusing instead on removing the weeds and providing an adequate amount of moisture.
- However, pay attention to how much it grows with each season; if a young tree does not develop fast enough, fertilizer must be added, regardless of age.
- Generally speaking, the branches should grow about 25-30cm each year, although it is important to check the correct pace for the specific type of tree. If you notice a slower development, it is advisable to proceed with fertilization; if it is much faster, you can wait a long time.
Step 3. Choose the type of fertilizer
If you have reached the conclusion that you need to enrich the soil, you need to find the right type of product; To fertilize fruit trees safely, you need to get what is called "balanced", a product consisting of equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, also known simply as an NPK fertilizer.
- The label must show the quantity of the three substances; you may see that it indicates 10-10-10 or 12-12-12, meaning that it is a balanced fertilizer and you can use it safely for your fruit trees.
- Alternatively, you can opt for an organic product, such as blood meal, cottonseed meal, composted chicken manure, or feather meal.
- To understand how much fertilizer you need, you need to evaluate the age of the tree or the diameter of the trunk; in general, you need to add half a kilo for every 2.5 cm diameter of the trunk.
Part 2 of 3: Fertilize the Trees
Step 1. Wear protective gloves during this procedure
The fertilizer can be harmful to the skin; if you decide to fertilize manually, you need to protect your hands with gloves all the time. You can buy thick, garden-specific ones, which are on sale at major hardware stores or home improvement stores.
Also consider wearing some protective cover for your eyes and mouth, especially if you work on a windy day
Step 2. Mix the fertilizer according to the instructions for use
Once you have the correct amount of fertilizer, you will need to dilute it according to the directions for the specific type you purchased. Many products must be diluted with a certain amount of water before being applied; to know the appropriate dilution ratio, read the instruction manual.
- Unless you are using an organic or homemade fertilizer, it is essential to follow the instructions for use, which you must strictly follow.
- If you have opted for a pellet-based fertilizer, you probably don't need to mix it, but you can simply collect the granules from the package and arrange them around the tree.
Step 3. Pour the fertilizer into the soil 30 cm from the trunk
If you put it too close, you can damage the tree; create a circle of fertilizer with a radius of 30 cm all around the base. The precise amount to use depends on the age of the plant and the instructions that accompany the product.
If you are using pellet fertilizer, always spread it in a circle around the circumference of the tree at a distance of about 30 cm
Step 4. Spread it just beyond the tip of the branches
The longer branches define the circumference of the canopy; even in this case, you have to start spreading the nutrients evenly starting from 30 cm from the trunk up to this outer line. The roots of the tree are distributed up to this distance and the fertilizer allows to stimulate their development, in order to strengthen the tree over time.
- You can fertilize using a rake or other similar tool.
- Before starting, it may be helpful to trace the perimeter of the canopy on the ground; in this way you can understand how far to spread the product.
Step 5. Observe the maximum nitrogen limit
You can add this substance to the soil of fruit trees in quantities not exceeding half a kilo. If you are using a 10-10-10 balanced product, the maximum dose you can apply is 5 kg; if you are using a 12-12-12 fertilizer, you should not exceed 4 kg, as an overdose can actually limit fruit growth.
Part 3 of 3: Fertilize Over Time
Step 1. Don't apply fertilizer too soon after planting
Most experts recommend not proceeding during the first year, as roots need to develop during this time. You should avoid fertilizing it even in the years immediately following, unless it is growing; if you overdo the doses early in the life of the plant, you can compromise fruit development and actually cause a slowdown in growth.
Step 2. Fertilize at the appropriate time of year
For best results you should apply fertilizer in early spring, before the buds show. If you don't fertilize at this stage, you can always proceed towards the end of June; however, you don't have to add it in late summer, as the new blooms would be damaged by the winter frost.
Step 3. Monitor the growth of the tree
To understand when to increase the nutrient level, you need to measure the growth of the plant. The trees develop what are called growth rings, which define where the branches began to develop the previous year.
To perform the evaluation, you must take the measurements from the growth ring of a branch to the end of the same and then calculate the average of all the readings; the result defines the annual growth of the tree
Step 4. Increase the amount of fertilizer as needed
Depending on the development of the plant, you have to decide how much product to use; make sure you know the normal characteristics for the specific type of tree you are treating.
- Younger apple trees should grow on average 30 cm per year; if you notice a slower pace, increase the dose of fertilizer by 50% between the second and third year of life.
- If you have planted pear trees, be sure to fertilize them when they grow less than 6 inches per year.
- If you have other types of fruit trees, avoid applying fertilizer until they start producing the first fruit; at this point you can start fertilizing them every year with a 10-10-10 product.
Step 5. Calculate the amount of fertilizer to use
This depends on the age and size of the tree. You can make a simple calculation to determine the exact dose of nutrients to apply. The tree needs 50g of nitrogen for each year of growth (this means 100g the second year, 150g the third and so on) or for each 2.5cm diameter of the trunk. To determine the appropriate dosage, divide the amount of nitrogen the tree actually needs by the amount in the fertilizer of your choice.
