Fertilize fruit trees: how, when and with what?

Many different fruit trees are characterized by 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 healthy 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 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 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, because this Promotes the flowering power and ensures a crumbly, loose soil structure with numerous, useful microorganisms. If you do not have space for your own compost heap in the garden, you can also use fertilizer from specialist shops Work in the tree disk - that's what the circular area (about one meter in diameter) around the tree is called Tree. Below this are the roots, which you want to supply with the nutrients. It is best to use organic long-term fertilizers of organic quality for fertilization, such as ours Plantura organic tomato fertilizer, 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.

Tip from the pro: Don't plant a new one apple tree (Malus domestica) in place of an old one. In rose plants (Rosaceae), to which also pears (Pyrus communis) and quinces (Cydonia oblonga) belong, 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)
• Apply last compost application in autumn and mulch layer of leaves

The right fertilizer for fruit trees

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

Fertilizing 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 speak, for example:

• Promotion of an active soil life and sustainable improvement of the soil structure
• Easy dosing reduces the risk of over-fertilization
• Particularly gentle on humans and animals as there are no chemicals

Our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer consists for the most part of organic, plant-based raw materials and is also ideal for fertilizing your fruit trees due to its nutrient composition. 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. It is best to sprinkle the fertilizer in granular form on the tree disc to the extent of the crown or pierce all of them 40 cm about 30 to 50 cm deep holes in the crown area in the lawn to get the organic fertilizer there bring in

To ensure that you 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 amounts for fruit trees

1. Before planting: 30 - 60 g per tree (2 to 5 heaped 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 around 50 - 150 g per tree (4 to 12 heaped tablespoons) in the area of ​​the tree disc
4. A little fertilization for fruit formation (end of June) supports your fruit tree again optimally

Tip from the pro: If the tree discs are covered with grass, you can also dissolve the granular fertilizer in water and water the tree with it.

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 benefit of this mineral fertilizers is mainly due to 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 salt 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. Organic Fertilizers In contrast, they 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 planted in autumn with a lime paint Mistake. Lime powder is available for this purpose, which is mixed 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 soils already contain 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 wonderful 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 contains, for example, 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 ongoing decomposition of the organic material.

Tip from the pro: Herbs that require little nutrients and water can also be grown under young trees without hesitation. Nasturtium, which is cultivated under fruit trees, for example, repels pests and can be used as a spice.