Fertilizing fruit trees: how, when & with what?

Many different fruit trees are characterized by similar demands. You can find out when, how and with what best 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 sufficient fruit every year. To keep your fruit tree healthy and strong, you can support it in its development with regular fertilizers. After all, if you take good care of it, the fruit tree will thank you with lush growth and a rich harvest.

But do you really have to fertilize your fruit trees? What is the best fertilizer to use and how do you 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 especially if you are not striving for mass yields from the fruit trees in your own garden anyway. The fact is, however, that there is a constant nutrient cycle, even in wild plants. As soon as a leaf falls to the ground, it is decomposed and enters the soil as a nutrient. A revitalized soil in turn forms the basis for a healthy 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 health. Ultimately, however, it is not just the amount that matters, but also the composition of the nutrients supplied. With an optimal supply you protect your plant against 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 in hibernation. A bit of compost can already be worked into the soil here in order to upgrade poor soil and provide the fruit tree with optimal starting conditions in spring. Every year in spring (March / April) you can fertilize your fruit trees with a dose of compost, because this is the case promotes flowering power and ensures a crumbly, loose soil structure with numerous, useful ones Microorganisms. If you don't have space for your own compost heap in the garden, you can also use fertilizer from specialist retailers Work in the tree slice - this is the name given to the circular area (about one meter in diameter) around the Tree. Under this are the roots that you want to supply with the nutrients. It is best to use organic long-term fertilizers of organic quality like ours for fertilization Plantura organic tomato fertilizerthat 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 encourage fruit formation. After a final dose of compost in autumn, it is advisable to cover the tree slice with leaves. To do this, simply turn the fallen leaves towards the trunk.

Tip from the professional: Do not plant a new one Apple tree (Malus domestica) in place of an old one. For rose plants (Rosaceae), which also include pears (Pyrus communis) and Quinces (Cydonia oblonga), 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?

• Upgrade poor soils with compost before planting
• Basic fertilization in spring (March / April) with organic slow-release fertilizer
• Second fertilization for fruit formation (end of June)
• Last compost in autumn and apply a layer of mulch from leaves

The right fertilizer for fruit trees

In addition to organic and mineral fertilizers from specialist retailers, you also have various options for natural fertilization of your fruit trees. We will try to give you a brief overview of these below.

Organically fertilize fruit trees: Instructions and application recommendation

In addition to the long-term supply of nutrients due to the slow decomposition of the microorganisms in the soil, there are many other reasons for using an organic Slow release fertilizer speak, for example:

• Promotion of an active soil life and sustainable improvement of the soil structure
• Simple dosing reduces the risk of over-fertilization
• Particularly gentle on humans and animals as it does not use chemicals

Our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer consists mainly of organic, plant-based raw materials and, due to its nutritional composition, is also ideal for fertilizing your fruit trees. The sufficient nitrogen content promotes the growth and leaf formation of your plants. A high proportion of potassium and phosphorus also supports the formation of flowers and fruits. It is best to sprinkle the fertilizer in granulate form on the tree disc to the extent of the crown or prick all of them 40 cm about 30 to 50 cm deep holes in the crown area in the lawn to put the organic fertilizer there bring in.

In order to provide your fruit trees with the right amount of nutrients, we have prepared detailed instructions for you below.

Long-term organic fertilization: Instructions and dosage quantities for fruit trees

1. Before planting: 30 - 60 g per tree (2 to 5 heaping tablespoons) of our Plantura Organic tomato fertilizer work into the ground
2. Water the freshly planted tree well so that the granules can loosen
3. Every spring (March / April), depending on the size of the tree, fertilize about 50 - 150 g per tree (4 to 12 heaped tablespoons) in the area of ​​the tree grate
4. A little fertilization for fruit formation (end of June) gives your fruit tree another optimal support

Tip from the professional: If the tree grates are covered with lawn, you can also dissolve the granular fertilizer in water and water the tree with it.

Fertilize fruit trees with mineral fertilizers: blue grain and Co.

Blue grain, Liquid fertilizer and Co. are still very popular as universal fertilizers in the garden. The advantage of this Mineral fertilizers lies mainly in the solubility of the nutrients. In this way, these can be absorbed directly by the plant from the soil solution. At the same time, however, this property increases the risk of over-fertilization. The high salt concentrations in artificial fertilizers can damage the sensitive roots if used improperly. In addition, these fertilizers can easily be leached into the deeper soil layers and contribute to the pollution of the groundwater there. Organic fertilizer In contrast, they are much more environmentally friendly and, when used correctly (see above), support the development of your fruit trees in a more sustainable manner.

Fertilize fruit trees with lime

In some regions, fruit trees become one in autumn Lime paint Mistake. For this purpose, you can buy lime in powder form, which is mixed with water and then applied to the trunk with a brush. This coating is supposed to keep pests away and protect the tree from moss. In addition, the white color reflects the sunlight and protects the tree from excessive sunlight and frost cracks. Over time, the lime paint is gradually washed off by the rain, seeps away and fertilizes the soil with lime. Lime can also be introduced directly into the soil in powder form for fertilization in order to counteract soil acidification. Most lime fertilizers consist of calcium carbonate, which 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 an optimal lime fertilization, you should definitely carry out a soil analysis beforehand. Most garden soils already contain enough lime anyway.

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. More mature compost or rotted manure (horse manure) is wonderfully suitable for fertilizing fruit trees. You can fertilize older, large fruit trees with compost once or twice a year. But even small fruit tree forms can withstand a layer of compost on the tree grate in the autumn before winter dormancy. To fertilize and strengthen the immune system, you can also water your plants with manure every two to three weeks. Nettle manure contains, for example, plenty of nitrogen, potassium and trace elements. Simply prepare the liquid manure yourself and dilute it in a ratio of 1:10 with water 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 constant 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. Nasturtiumscultivated under fruit trees, for example, drives away pests and can be used as a spice.