Spring is a hot season for gardeners. One of the important things is the spring feeding of fruit trees. The soils of garden plots are very different in their mineral composition and structure. And different types of fruit trees put forward their own requirements for normal growth and fruiting, not every soil can provide them with everything you need. That is why it is very important to correctly and thoughtfully carry out feeding on garden plot... Fruit trees especially need them in springwhen they get ready for flowering and fruiting.
Why you shouldn't miss this event
To begin with, feeding fruit trees in spring is not the most time consuming part of caring for a home garden, but experienced gardeners know that this is the most important agricultural technique. Without this event, it is impossible to achieve the decorative properties of trees and not wait for a good harvest of berries and fruits. Top dressing can be compared, as needed, with spraying the garden from pests. Feeding fruit trees on time will add the necessary elements to the soil, which in the future will result in excellent flowering and fruiting.
Fruit trees live for many years, so the soil needs additional nutrition. The tree consumes many elements from the soil, especially during the ripening period. The question is often asked about whether the autumn feeding will cover all the need for nutrients. Leading agricultural technicians believe no. Before the growing season, the concentration of nutrients decreases, which leads to a decrease in yield and a deterioration in the quality of fruits. Next, you will consider which elements you need to fill in the first place.
Nutrients Needed for Fruit Trees
Spring feeding of fruit trees implies the introduction of the entire set of nutrients needed by these plants. During the growing season, the need changes dramatically, nitrogen comes to the fore, which in the autumn-spring months is washed out by abundant precipitation and water supplied after the snow melts. Potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen are in second place. This sequence must be known and taken into account. First of all, the need for nitrogen increases in trees, and only later, during the formation of the ovary, for phosphorus. Top dressing of trees in spring is a guarantee of a good harvest in autumn. Highly important point - the presence of humus in the soil. There is usually a lot of it in heavy fertile soils, and in sandy loam and sandy soils there is practically no. Also, the potassium content strongly depends on the structure of the soil.
How to apply top dressing correctly
We are talking about the period when trees awaken from hibernation. Top dressing of trees in spring is done directly under the root of the tree. Moreover, it is brought into the snow when it melts. This is how, slowly penetrating into the soil together with melt water, mineral mixtures get to the awakening roots.
The mixture is introduced into which in the fall should have been well loosened. The perimeter should be marked by tracing the width of the crown on the ground. It is here that the largest number of young suction roots is located. A young tree will need 40 g of complex fertilizer; for adult plantings, a larger portion will be required.
The location of the landings also matters. If the garden grows on a slope, then fertilization should be delayed so that the mineral mixture is not washed away along with melt water.
Top dressing containing nitrogen is applied under the snow. But just do not buy universal mixtures called "spring", they often contain too much of this element, which can lead to the appearance of fungus. A little later, when the snow melts, you can apply superphosphate, ash and potassium sulfate to the soil.
May is the time for active ovary and fruit growth
Top dressing of trees in spring is not limited to this. Flowering is in full swing and the first ovary is already appearing, now the trees require not so much minerals as organic matter. Properly prepared manure and compost are perfect for feeding in May. The amount of fertilizer applied depends on the soil. Fertile black soil requires a minimum of additives, forest soils are larger, and podzolic soils need to be regularly and abundantly moistened. Manure is usually applied in the form of an aqueous solution, this method is familiar to every summer resident. Compost, however, must be prepared in the fall by filling the grass in a compost pit.
Processing and feeding fruit trees in spring will become easy and simple if you take care of such proven means in advance.
Types of fruit trees
There are many of them in our garden plots, and each responds in its own way to any type of fertilizer. That is why tree feeding in the spring should be carried out individually. Fertilizing fruit trees is a guarantee of a rich harvest, so you must not forget about it. Apple trees respond well to such events. They need colossal amounts of nutrients to grow fragrant fruits. It is no less useful to apply organic fertilizers to the soil where the pear and plum grow.
Still, what fertilizers for fruit trees should be used? Many summer residents will answer that it is enough to take manure - and they will be absolutely right. The only exceptions are decorative, coniferous trees. For them, it is better to choose a balanced top dressing with appropriate labeling.
Technical subtleties
How to apply fertilizer for fruit trees? There are two options. The first is dry mixes that gradually dissolve with water and penetrate into the soil. The second is much better suited for fruit trees and is an aqueous solution. Plants assimilate liquid feeding faster. Moreover, if you have a seedling, then you need to apply fertilizer on a cloudy day, preferably at night. Please note that the soil under the tree must be well watered so that the fertilizer solution added to it does not cause root burns.
Dry mineral mixtures are applied before watering so that the tree begins to receive as quickly as possible. The fruit tree is very responsive to the introduction of calcium, sodium, iron and potassium. Selenium, magnesium, copper and many other trace elements, which are usually lacking in the soil, are no less important. In this case, it is very important not to overdose. A large amount of nitrogen is detrimental to young plants. By the middle of summer, the bark will not have time to take shape, and the plant will freeze out in winter. Another point: an excess of nitrogen stimulates the formation of shoots and slows down fruiting.
It is very important at what time of the year the fruit trees were planted. Top dressing is most effective in the summer months, while the plantings before winter will prepare for wintering, which means they do not need fertilizers.
Mulching
There is another way to make the most of your backyard garden. Fertilizing fruit trees can be done with organic mulch. These are peat, manure, organic residues, rotted leaves and straw. All this organic matter is located on a well-loosened layer under the fruit tree. The thickness of the mulch should not be too small, the optimal layer is about 15 cm around the entire perimeter of the crown. If such a procedure is performed in the spring, then it will be very good to add to the mulch and mineral fertilizers... Mulching is a very useful technique, it helps to retain moisture in the soil, inhibits weed growth and maintains optimal temperature regime soils of the trunk circle.
Foliar dressing
As you know, a plant is able to absorb nutrients not only through the roots, but also through its green crown. Agricultural technicians have long ago adopted this knowledge and began to actively use it. Today, scientific advances allow every gardener to have huge selection preparations for working in the garden. Among them, you also get the opportunity to spray fruit crops with a solution of mineral fertilizers and growth regulators. Such preparations can significantly improve fruiting. They are often based on a 0.2% urea solution.
During flowering, it is important to attract as many insects as possible, which will produce pollination. Summer residents go to the trick, making a sweet solution from honey, sugar and water. Such a bait works flawlessly in the spring. Since the flowering of the main honey plants has not yet begun, no bee will miss such a feast.
Saplings, care and feeding
The first task of these plants is to take root and start growing as quickly as possible. Fruiting is not yet a priority. Usually, in the first few years, a young apple or pear gives only a few fruits, which means that it does not expend its resources too much. Later, the question will probably arise - what fertilizers should be applied for fruit trees? The best option for feeding at the time of planting and subsequent fertilization of the seedling is the AgroPrirost complex fertilizer. It provides all the vital elements: phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, as well as trace elements: calcium, zinc, boron and magnesium. This is especially necessary in clay or sandy areas where the soil is poor.
The first feeding is done by introducing a dry product directly into the prepared hole. Subsequent ones are performed annually, superficially in the near-trunk circle. They usually repeat in spring and fall. A mature tree can be completely converted to home-grown organic fertilizers.
Mature fruit trees
Starting from the fifth year of life, plants enter a period of active fruiting, and therefore, the requirements for fertilizing change. Now the trees are fed with full mineral fertilizer. For one square meter the area consumes 15 g of nitrogen, 8 g of phosphorus and 12 g of potassium. These substances are brought under the snow. A little later, the turn of organic fertilizers comes, once every 2 years, about 6 kg of manure is applied per one square meter of the trunk circle. After the end of flowering, when the stage of growing the ovary begins, dry crushed bird droppings are excellent. About 0.3 kg of such powder is dispersed on 1 m 2 of the trunk circle. Falling asleep with manure can be replaced by adding slurry. To do this, you need to take one liter of solution per square meter of soil surface. Minerals are required annually.
Let's sum up
In spring, as you know, the day feeds the year, so the gardener should not waste time. Spring feeding of fruit trees, both adult and young seedlings, is guaranteed to provide them good growth, flowering and fruiting. Despite the abundance of work in the garden, it is imperative to devote time to this. Then autumn will greet you with ruddy apples, juicy pears and delicious plums.
Trees continuously consume from the soil nutrientstherefore, over time, the soil under them is depleted. Because of this, the yield of the garden decreases, and young plants develop worse. Even if the soil was fertilized in the fall, this does not mean that it does not need to be fed in the spring. After all, melted snow leaves many useful elements, including nitrogen. It is in the spring, during the resumption of active plant growth, that the soil especially needs additional feeding.
Spring feeding of fruit trees is the most important condition for their rich fruiting. Therefore, gardeners, with the onset of warmth, should take maximum care of fertilizing their garden, otherwise the prospect of a good harvest for them will be very hazy.
In spring, fruit trees need to be fed with mineral and organic means.
Organic fertilizers
The advantage of organic fertilizers in availability and also ecological cleanliness... With regular use of organic fertilizers, the soil becomes looser and absorbs water better.
Compost is rotted plant waste. Its introduction contributes to the better absorption of minerals. Poorly rotted compost is undesirable to use; weed seeds can be preserved in it.
Manure fresh mullein or horse manure is used. It should be used with caution due to its high ammonia content, which can harm the plant's rhizome. To prepare liquid composition, 1 kg of manure will need 10 liters of liquid. When applying manure during digging, it will need 10 kg per 1 sq.m.
Bird droppings contains large amounts of nitrogen, which stimulates rapid and balanced plant growth. It must be applied carefully, strictly observing the proportion, so as not to burn the rhizome.
In the form of a liquid fertilizer for apple trees in the spring, manure is used in the following proportion: 100 g of manure / 15 l of liquid. Moreover, the solution is insisted for 5-10 days. Dry litter is used for digging.
Wood ash valuable for the high content of various chemical elements and is an excellent substitute for potash fertilizers. It is used as a soil protection against insects, rot and fungal diseases.
Bone flour it has a high content of nitrogen and calcium, it is used for soil deoxidation. Bone meal is currently available in specialized stores.
Mineral fertilizers
It is widely believed among gardeners that such fertilizers can harm both human health and the plant. But with rational use mineral fertilizers and strict adherence to dosages, this risk is reduced to zero, and the benefits are enormous. The use of mineral fertilizers is most desirable for poor in microelements and depleted soils.
Nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium sulfate, carbamide, ammonium nitrate). Promotes rapid growth and positively affects the quality and volume of the crop. Sandy soils are more in need of such feeding.
Phosphate fertilizers (superphosphate, phosphate rock). They contribute to the strengthening and growth of the root system. They are introduced into the soil and buried closer to the roots. Such fertilizers are not washed out of the soil, they stay in it for a long time.
Potash fertilizers (potassium sulfate). They increase cold resistance and drought tolerance of plants, help fruit crops to produce sugar. Potassium has a positive effect on the formation and growth of side shoots. In spring it is especially necessary for young trees. But it is not recommended to use it in its pure form. It is better when it is included in mixtures, for example, potassium salt or potassium magnesium. Contains a lot of potassium wood ash... In peaty or sandy soils, potassium accumulates worse than in chernozems.
Microfertilizers contain the microelements most necessary for plants: boron, zinc, iron, manganese, sulfur, copper, manganese).
It is best to feed fruit trees in the third year of cultivation. By this time, the crown has grown enough, shades the near-trunk circle, and the green manure cannot cope with the task. Fruiting trees are fertilized several times a season. This raises the yield well, replenishes the supply of nutrients in the soil.
The first feeding of fruit trees
Experts advise feeding fruit trees for the first time at the very beginning of spring. Do not wait until all the snow has melted, but the ground should thaw a little.
For feeding during this period, use nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea).
Spread them around each trunk in the snow, which, during thawing, will deliver nitrogen and other important chemical elements to the root system of fruit trees with shrubs. Moreover, it is necessary to apply fertilizers at a distance of about 50-60 cm from the trunk with the obligatory loosening of the soil.
During such feeding, it is important not to overdo it, as excess nitrogen will harm the culture. Having received an extra portion of this element, the tree will begin to develop its crown and root system so actively that it is necessary to tie and good development fruits will leave very little strength. How to calculate the amount of feeding? Very simple - for one young tree use about 40 g, for an adult about 100 g.
If you are a fan of organic feeding, wait until the ground is completely thawed. Prepare a nutrient solution by adding 300 g of urea, 1.5 L of droppings, or 4 L of manure to a bucket of water. As a guide: spend 3-4 liters of top dressing per tree.
Second feeding of fruit trees
During flowering and leaf formation, fruit trees especially need potassium and phosphorus. Potassium is necessary for the formation of new shoots, an increase in the sugar level in fruits, as well as for the resistance of crops to diseases and unfavorable external factors... Phosphorus helps to strengthen the root system of trees.
Experienced gardeners they say that it is better not to purchase mineral fertilizers containing both substances at once, but rather to add them to the soil separately. First, phosphoric, called "superphosphate" - 60 g per mature tree... A little later, potassium (potassium salt, potassium magnesium, potassium sulfate, ash) - 20 g per tree.
A special mixture is popular with Ural gardeners, which is prepared in a large barrel. The proposed fertilizer volume is designed for 3 trees:
... 400 g potassium sulfate
... 0.5 kg superphosphate
... 2.5 liters of poultry droppings (can be replaced with 250 g of urea or 2 bottles of Effekton)
... 100 l of water
All components must be diluted in water and allowed to brew for a week. Then fertilize the trees with the present mixture in the root zone (50-60 cm from the trunk). One fruiting apple tree takes about 5 buckets of top dressing.
Third and fourth feeding
It is very important to feed the fruit trees in the spring after flowering for full fruit development. During this period, organics are best suited. From organic fertilizers, compost is especially fond of gardeners. They water the root zone of flowering garden plantsafter diluting with water.
During the development of the set fruits, it is advisable to once again feed the garden crops with organic matter (mullein, compost, biohumus). If this is not possible, then purchase a special mineral mixture with a slight predominance of nitrogen in the composition. Either embed the fertilizer in the ground, or mix with mulch.
Foliar dressing of fruit trees
In the spring, you can fertilize the garden not only by enriching the soil, but also by foliar method. A weak solution is prepared from the mixture for feeding and the green crown is sprayed with it.
The leaves absorb substances well, the tree gets the necessary elements faster. This method is considered an emergency help to plants. It is often used to stimulate shoot growth or if the root system or trunk is damaged and cannot fully utilize the soil supply.
For foliar dressing, you can use both organic matter and mineral mixtures. Spraying trees with microfertilizers gives a good effect. For example, boron contributes to more abundant flowering, zinc serves as the prevention of diseases, manganese increases the sugar content in fruits and increases yields.
So that the fruits have enough calcium, in early spring fruit trees need to be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture (4%), at the same time it will serve as protection against diseases and insect attacks.
For foliar fertilization, very weak concentrations of solutions are used so as not to cause burns to leaves and wood.
To spray the crown of pears or apple trees, you can use a solution of manganese sulfate or zinc sulfate at the rate of 0.2 g per liter of water. If two trace elements are used at once, then their dosage is halved.
Stone fruits (cherry, plum, apricot, cherry plum) will grow and bear fruit better if in spring they are treated with urea, diluted at the rate of 50 g per 10 liters of water. Spraying is repeated a couple of times at weekly intervals.
The result will be better if this method is used alternating with the classic root dressing. It is the soil that is able to retain the substances necessary for fruit crops for a longer time.
You should not make top dressing for young one-year-old seedlings. It is better to start fertilizing them from the second year after planting.
Feeding of young fruit trees is carried out in the spring with both organic matter and mineral preparations.
Organic fertilizers (urea, manure) are diluted with water in the proportion: for 10 liters of water, 300 g of urea or 4 liters of liquid manure. One young tree should receive about 5 liters of liquid fertilizing. For a tree that grows for less than 5 years, it is enough to add about 20 kg of humus to the root zone.
Any liquid fertilizer is applied to moist soil, otherwise it can burn the roots of the plant.
In the first few years, the effect of fertilizing under the trees is subtle. It manifests itself more strongly as fruiting approaches.
For full growth and fruiting, adult fruiting apple trees must be fertilized at least three times in the spring.
Features of feeding an apple tree
In the spring, a fruiting apple tree needs organic and mineral feeding.
An apple tree aged from 5 to 9 years old - you need to add about 30 kg of humus, an apple tree older than 9 years old needs at least 50 kg of fertilizer.
The slurry is diluted in a 1: 5 ratio. A tree that has not reached 8 years old suffices 30 liters of such feeding, over 8 years old - about 50 liters.
The introduction of mineral fertilizers has a positive effect on the apple tree: ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate, superphosphate, magnesium sulfate. Their rate is calculated according to the instructions in accordance with the age of the tree.
Read more about feeding apple trees in THIS article.
Features of pear feeding
Spring feeding of pears is similar to apple feeding, but it has some differences.
Humus is necessary for a pear in a large number... It is mixed with soil in the spring while digging. A three-year-old tree needs about 20 kg of humus, and every year its amount is increased by 10 kg. After 11 years, the trees are fed every 2 years, applying 100 kg of fertilizers.
In the spring, the fruiting pear is sprayed with a weak urea solution. The first time at the end of the flowering period, the second time is repeated after 10-15 days.
The pear reacts well to spring feeding with mineral solutions: superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium chloride.
Features of feeding apricot
Throughout the spring, apricots are fed several times. First, nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Then, after flowering with organic matter. Most often, urea, saltpeter, slurry, chicken droppings are used for this.
Features of feeding plums and cherry plums
Humus for plum and cherry plum is applied at 10 kg if the tree is up to 6 years old and 20 kg if the tree is older than 6 years.
Plum prefers alkaline soil, so fluff lime or wood ash is often added to the fertilizer for it.
Features of feeding cherries and cherries
Under trees up to 4-5 years old, humus is added every spring. Scatter it around the trunk, with a radius of about 0.5 m, with a layer of about 4 cm. For trees older than 5 years, one feeding with humus is enough for 3 years.
Urea, ammonium nitrate should be fed to trees in early spring and at the end of May.
In the spring feeding of garden plants there are some features that every gardener must know:
... Carrier chemical substances water comes out of the top dressing to the roots of a tree or bush, therefore, after applying dry fertilizer, careful watering is needed.
... Liquid top dressing should not be applied to dry ground so that burns do not remain on the roots.
... Horticultural crops do not need to be fertilized for the first year after planting.
... Fertilizer is best done in the evening.
... When feeding, it is important to take into account that the root system of an adult tree extends beyond the boundaries of its crown by about 50 cm.
Important! An excess of nutrients is just as dangerous as a lack of them. Therefore, observe the measure in everything, and your fruit trees will thank you for their care with a generous harvest.
When feeding trees, two important aspects: soil growing conditions and their age. In the first 3-4 years, feeding is not necessary if a sufficient amount of substrate was introduced when planting the tree. Too zealous with feeding is undesirable, since oversaturation of nutrients entails a decrease in fertility.
Based on the type of soil, it is determined which fertilizers for fruit trees, and in what quantity, will be most effective. For example, chernozem contains a sufficient amount of nitrogen, therefore, treatment with nitrogen fertilizers is not recommended. But with sandy and clay soils the situation is reversed.
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Everyone, even an inexperienced gardener, knows that orchard needs feeding. Fruit trees grow well and develop only on fertile soils. Over time, the amount of nutrients in the earth decreases significantly. In this situation, periodic feeding can increase fertility, as well as improve the vegetation processes in garden trees.
When to fertilize your garden
Sometimes from some gardeners you can hear that feeding is carried out only in the spring. But for the plants to evenly receive useful and necessary components, this should be done throughout the year, excluding only the winter period.
- Spring feeding
When the heat comes in, the plants begin to wake up. It was at this time that spring feeding plays an important role for the growth and productivity of trees. These actions are carried out with the aim of active growth of plantings. Correctly selected fertilizing composition allows plants to actively grow and produce new shoots. Accordingly, the future harvest directly depends on the quantity as well as the quality of the branches on the tree. - Summer feeding
In the summer, such care is no less important than in early spring. The maximum amount of time for fruit trees should be given at the end of June. Here top dressing is important in terms of the fact that it is in the summer that the fruits begin to actively ripen and pour. The main thing is not to be late, because doing this after the middle of the second summer month is almost useless. - Autumn feeding
In the fall, top dressing is done to improve the properties of the soil. Root nutrition of trees saturates them with the necessary trace elements and minerals. Mineral and complex mixtures are suitable for such feeding. But it is important to remember that they should be applied before the soil freezes.
Top dressing for the garden: fertilizers
To feed the garden, use mineral and organic compounds.
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Mineral compositions
Minerals include:
- phosphoric;
- potash;
- nitrogen.
Phosphoric
Most gardeners prefer the proven superphosphate. It is a granular product containing 48% phosphorus. This composition is introduced into the soil in the fall during the digging of the soil, since phosphorus helps well the formation of the root system.
When spring feeding phosphorus helps to increase the number of flower buds. It acts as a stimulant for fruit formation.
For quick assimilation of phosphorus substances, they are best used in liquid form. You just need to first soak in water for three days.
Potash
Potassium helps trees fight pests and resist such adverse weather factors like frost, drought. It can also be noted that potash fertilization helps trees to effectively resist fungal diseases.
These formulations should be used in small doses, but regularly. After all, when the weather is rainy, they quickly wash out. Potassium substances are best applied in combination with phosphorus ones.
Nitrogen
Vegetation is activated with the help of nitrogen components. This contributes to the active growth of plantings. They are used mainly in the spring. After feeding, leaves and young shoots grow well.
The most common nitrogenous substances are:
- saltpeter;
- azophoska;
- urea.
Organic compounds
Feeding with organic compounds is the simplest and most affordable. These include:
- manure;
- ash;
- bird droppings.
How to fertilize your garden
If you do not adhere to the rules of use, then this can have a bad effect on the growth and fruiting of plants. And large doses can completely destroy the plant.
There are several ways to feed:
- solid mixtures are sprinkled on trunk circles, and then loosen the earth;
- a solution of liquid fertilizer is poured over the trunk circle;
- outside root feeding - this is spraying trees with compounds diluted in water.
Top dressing of trees in the spring is carried out with nitrogen, organic matter and combined mixtures.
IN summer period it is necessary to use nitrogen-containing compounds that contribute to the rapid saturation of trees with the necessary trace elements. 
For autumn feeding, mineral and complex mixtures are used. Organic fertilizers can be used in small doses. Nitrogen is not recommended during this period of the year.
Every gardener should understand that in order to get good harvest, the garden needs to be given a lot of care and attention. Fertilizing the garden in this situation is an important component. But you always need to observe the measure, choose substances depending on the type of soil, adhere to the instructions for use. Only then will a good result await the gardener.
What top dressing to choose for garden trees
And a little about the secrets of the Author
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When applying fertilizers, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the soil of the site: the degree of its fertility and the supply of nutrients, as well as the reaction of the environment (whether it is favorable or not entirely for the growth of fruit and berry plants), the mechanical composition of the soil (it is heavy, clayey or light, with an admixture of sand) , plant age, etc.
Fertilizer use
In the first years of life, plants are especially demanding on phosphorus, since it stimulates root growth and ensures the growth of aboveground mass.
Phosphorus and potash fertilizers, as noted above, are characterized by low mobility and are fixed mainly in the zone of application to the soil. Therefore, it is very important to apply them deeply, even before planting trees and shrubs, in increased doses, calculated for a long period of action.
Due to their good solubility and mobility in the soil, the use of nitrogen fertilizers in the care of the garden is not difficult. The main task in their application is to prevent nitrogen losses, since its ammonia form is volatile, and its nitrate form is mobile, especially on light soils and during irrigation.
Therefore, all nitrogen fertilizers applied in dry form must be immediately embedded in the ground.
On light soils and during irrigation, high single doses of nitrogen fertilizers are not used, but they are applied fractionally and more often than on heavy ones and without irrigation. The gardener should remember that in the first half of summer, plants need all three main nutrients - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. An excess of nitrogen in the second half of summer can cause their prolonged growth and therefore reduce winter hardiness, especially of stone fruit crops.
Fertilization
Fertilizers for apple trees, pears, cherries, plums are introduced into the planting pits, and in the areas designated for berry fields - for digging. At the same time, rotted manure and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used. It is better to add superphosphate as an organo-mineral mixture. 300 g of simple superphosphate or 150 g is taken on a bucket of manure-poured. - double. Superphosphate is mixed with wet organic matter 2 weeks prior to application. 2-3 buckets of such a mixture are introduced into the pit under the apple tree; in total, this is 15-25 kg of manure, 450-900 g of superphosphate. Potash fertilizers are applied at 200-300 g. For stone fruit, the dose of fertilizers is halved. It is not recommended to introduce unripe manure and nitrogen fertilizers into the pits. With a good pre-planting soil filling, trees in the first 4-5 years or more usually do not need additional application of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. In the first year after planting, manure is introduced in the form of mulch and sealed during digging. In the future, organic fertilizers are recommended to be applied for 4-5 years, before the garden begins to bear fruit.
Nitrogen fertilization should be started from 2-3 years after planting, when the plants will take root and get stronger. When introduced in the year of planting, they can cause a burn of young roots and worsen the survival rate of plants. In a young garden on fertile soil, the need for nitrogen in fruit plants usually occurs in early spring, when the natural microbiological formation of nitrates is suppressed. In this regard, nitrogen fertilizers containing nitrogen in the nitrate form (ammonium nitrate) are applied in a dose of 15-20 g per 1 m 2. This work is carried out when the bulk of the snow has melted, but in the morning the soil is still freezing. If for some reason it was not possible to apply fertilizer at this time, then it is applied before the first spring loosening of the soil (harrowing).
In the early years, fertilizers have a weak effect on tree growth, but as they approach fruiting, their effect increases more and more. With introduction tree species in fruiting, the fertilizer application system consists of autumn (main) application, spring and top dressing. The main thing is the main thing, when in the fall, for digging, organic fertilizers (manure, compost) and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (30-45 g of superphosphate and 20-25 g of potassium sulfate or chloride per 1 m 2) are applied. The autumn application of chlorine-containing potash fertilizers promotes the leaching of chlorine from the soil.
Deep application of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, as already noted, contributes to the development of a powerful root system. It is guided into grooves, annular grooves, etc. In the best way is focal. The foci are holes made along the periphery of the crown to a depth of 30-35 cm. running meter one hole is placed. The amount of fertilizer intended for application under one tree is distributed equally to all holes.
Combined application of mineral fertilizers with organic fertilizers is effective. At the same time, the rate of mineral fertilizers is halved.
Spring fertilization for fruit trees usually involves the use of ammonium nitrate, as discussed in detail above. But if organic and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers were not applied in the fall, they must be applied in the spring (preferably in the holes).
For fruiting trees great importance have additional feeding. In non-irrigated gardens, they are most often limited to the early spring application of ammonium nitrate, since in the absence of watering, fertilizing is ineffective. The application rate is 15-20 g per 1 m 2 during the period when the garden enters fruiting and 20-25 g at full fruiting.
In irrigated orchards, there is a risk of leaching of mobile nitrogen into the deeper layers, especially on light soils. At the same time, fruit-bearing orchards are especially in need of nitrogen fertilization. Therefore, in a fruiting irrigated garden, in addition to the early spring application of nitrogen fertilizers, one or two additional dressings are carried out during the growing season. The first - with nitrogen fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) after physiological shedding of the ovary - at a dose of 10 g per 1 m 2. With a high yield, a second feeding should be carried out after 20-25 days. It is carried out with full fertilization and promotes the normal formation of flower buds for next year's harvest. It is advisable to use complex fertilizers: nitrophoska (25-30 g per 1 m2) or nitroammofoska (20 g per 1 m 2) with the addition of potassium sulfate or chloride (10 g per 1 m 2).
In a lean year, they are limited only to the main fertilizer and the spring application of nitrogen, since in this case, the consumption of nutrients is only used to increase the vegetative mass and the laying of flower buds for the next year's harvest. It is necessary to restrain the budding so as not to overload the tree with the harvest in a year.
When feeding, mineral fertilizers can be applied both in liquid and dry form. In the first case, the fertilizer should be dissolved in water - 20-30 g per 10 l, in the second - subsequent watering is required.
Good results are obtained by top dressing with local liquid organic fertilizers - slurry, bird droppings, which are applied at the rate of 1 bucket per 2-3 m of the furrow. They are cut along the periphery of the crown of a tree from two or four sides, one or two, depth: under apple and pear - 15-18 cm, for plums and cherries - 12-14 cm. Bird droppings are diluted with water in a ratio of 1:12, slurry — 1: 4. Top dressing is best timed to coincide with the rains. If the weather is dry, the furrows must be watered. Top dressing can be done simultaneously with watering. When applying top dressing, it is necessary, however, to remember that this method of fertilizing is auxiliary and cannot replace the main fertilizer. The use of nitrogen fertilizers, especially in young gardens, must be approached carefully, strictly observing the dose and timing of application. A constant excess of nitrogen, especially in the case of a lack of other elements, leads to the fact that young plants can develop a state of so-called "fattening", that is, violent growth in the absence of fruiting. It is far from immediately possible to induce fruiting in fattening trees. For this, first of all, it is necessary to weaken the nitrogen supply, and at the same time, to increase the phosphorus-potassium, to reduce the watering. In some cases, it is necessary to resort to the use of special techniques: constriction of branches, banding, etc.
Strawberry fertilization
When preparing a site for its August planting, it is necessary in advance, at the beginning of summer for digging, to apply organic fertilizers: half-matured manure, humus or compost - 4-5 kg \u200b\u200bper 1 m2, as well as mineral: double granular superphosphate - 20-25 g per 1 m 2 and potassium sulfate - 25-30 g. Early next spring and annually thereafter are given nitrogen fertilization ammonium nitrate at a dose of 20-25 g per 1 m 2. After harvesting, every year, under the digging of row spacings, complete mineral fertilizer is applied. For this purpose, complex fertilizers are used: nitrophoska or azofoska at a dose of 40-50 g per 1 m2.
Instead, you can add ammophos at a dose of 15-20 g per 1 m 2 and potassium sulfate - 20-25 g. This will help a good laying of fruit buds for the next year's harvest.
Instead of mineral feeding, you can use bird droppings in liquid form, diluted 12-15 times.
And shrubs is the most important agrotechnical measure, on which the further growth of crops, their decorative properties and fruiting. Fertilizers applied in spring saturate the soil with nutrients necessary for plants, thereby contributing to abundant flowering, the formation of an ovary, and an increase in yield. Fruit crops have been growing for many years in the same soil, from which they continuously consume nutrients. Fertilizers applied in autumn are not able to fully cover the plants' need for useful elements. Therefore, by the spring, when the intensive growth of trees resumes, the soil is especially in need of mineral and organic fertilizing. The lack of nutrients during the growing season can seriously weaken the plants, which will certainly affect the fruiting and quality of the fruits.
What fertilizers to use
With the onset of warmth, growth and vegetation are activated in plants, and these processes are best carried out with the participation of nitrogen. Therefore, nitrogen-containing agents are among the first to be used. Potassium and phosphorus are second in importance. They are introduced later, at the stage of intensive growth and flowering.
Substances such as hydrogen, carbon, magnesium, calcium, iron, sulfur are important for the development of fruit trees in spring. If trees consume hydrogen and carbon from the soil, then chemical elements must be delivered to them through the introduction of complex mineral mixtures. Ready-made industrial mixtures are more effective, as they also contain many trace elements: copper, manganese, cobalt, boron in a form available to plants. From organic materials, manure of various origins (bird, cow, pork), peat, compost can be used as fertilizer in spring. Green manure crops introduced in autumn give a good effect. By the spring, they completely rot and form an effective natural fertilizer. It is recommended to grow green manure on sandy and sandy loam soils, where the lack of humus is especially felt.
The first feeding with nitrogen is necessary for all fruit and berry crops without exception. For each type, you can choose the most the best option fertilizers, but for this you need to know which plants to feed with:
- apples and pears are good, with humus, droppings, after flowering, it is necessary to add superphosphate, potassium agent (potassium sulfate);
- for cherries, plums, the first top dressing in spring can consist of urea, or ammonium nitrate, during flowering - from bird droppings, at the end of flowering - from manure, compost, dry organic mixtures;
- berry bushes in the spring they fertilize with potash nitrate, nitrophos, you can also apply ash with urea at the root (3 tablespoons of urea, 0.5 cups of ash / 10 l of water), or rotted manure with the addition of nitrate (1 bucket of manure / handful of nitrate).
Video "Expert opinion on feeding"
Video review on the most popular fertilizing for fruit trees, as well as useful tips for fertilizer.
What to do in March
The first feeding of fruit crops is carried out in early spring, when the snow cover has just begun to melt. During this period, nitrogen-containing agents are used - industrial mineral mixtures that stimulate the vegetative process. It is recommended to sprinkle soluble mineral fertilizers on top of the snow in the near-stem circles, which should have been well loosened in the fall. Such surface fertilization of the soil is good because melt water, penetrating into the ground, will dissolve and pull nitrogen along with it. Nitrogen agents are evenly distributed around the trunks in a radius of about 50 cm - ideally, the radius of fertilization is outlined by the width of the crown. It is in this zone that the largest number of root endings are located, actively absorbing useful elements. An adult tree needs 2-4 handfuls of nitrogen mixture (100-120 g), a young tree needs one, about 40 g.
When feeding, you should pay attention to the location of the planting. If the site is located on a slope, it is better to postpone the application of top dressing, since the product can be washed away by melt water, which usually does not linger on the slopes. It is also undesirable to introduce the mixture into frozen ground with large quantity snow - in this case, the fertilizer will lie on the soil surface for a long time, due to which the nitrogen may partially evaporate.
When introducing nitrogen-containing preparations in spring, the dosage should be observed - the principle “the more, the better” is not suitable here. Excess nitrogen in the soil can provoke fungal diseasesas well as weaken the immunity of plants. Experienced gardeners do not recommend feeding trees with complex mixtures marked "spring". In such products, as a rule, the concentration of nitrogen is very high, moreover, they contain potassium and phosphorus, which should be added a little later.
For seedlings and young fruit trees, organic feeding with urea, liquid manure and droppings is more suitable. These fertilizers are diluted with water and applied directly to the soil under a tree or bush. When preparing an organic solution, it is recommended to adhere to the following ratio: 300 g of urea / 10 l of water, 1.5 l of liquid manure / 10 l of water, 4 l of liquid manure / 10 l of water. The approximate consumption of the solution per tree is 4-5 liters.
What to feed in April
April is the period of flowering and active formation of the deciduous part, so it's time to feed the garden trees with potassium and phosphorus. Both are essential for the strengthening and normal growth of trees. Phosphorus strengthens the roots, promotes their growth and consolidation in the soil. Potassium contributes to the formation of side shoots, so it is especially important for young trees and seedlings.
It is desirable to use these components separately, therefore complex complex mixtures containing both components will not work in this case. It is better to apply phosphorus fertilizer (superphosphate) in the first half of April, burying it in the soil of the root zone in the immediate vicinity of the roots. Each adult tree requires 60 g of the product, half a portion is enough for a young tree.
It is not advisable to add potassium in its pure form - it is better if it is included in the composition of simple mixtures: potassium sulfate, potassium magnesium, potassium salt, furnace ash. Potash fertilizer is applied in a dosage of 20-25 g / 1 tree.
At the end of flowering, garden trees can be pampered with organics. In April, be sure to pay attention to feeding pears and apple trees. Many people prefer to use the so-called green fertilizer for this purpose, which must be prepared in advance, since it takes 3 weeks to ripen. The cut grass must be placed in a barrel, filled with water, the barrel must be covered with polyethylene, in which to make small holes, and insist. Ready remedy diluted with water 1:10 and introduced into the root zone.
Fertilizers in May
In the last month of spring, the ovary forms and the fruit begins to grow, so the fruit crops must be additionally fed organic materials: rotted manure, compost, biohumus. In the absence of organic fertilizer, a complex mixture with a slight predominance of nitrogen can be purchased, which is most suitable for of this type soil. In May, fertilization can be applied in different ways:
- embed in depressions in the soil;
- dig up with the ground;
- mix with loose earth in the near-stem zone;
- mix with mulch, as well as straw, rotten leaves.
To fertilize apples and pears, you can use mineral and organic products at the same time. In mid-May, during the period of active flowering, it is necessary to feed the berry bushes - add liquid manure or urea with a small addition of saltpeter and ash under the root. May feeding with mineral mixtures can also be carried out by the foliar method. In this case, the solution for processing the crown should be slightly weaker than indicated in the instructions. It should be understood that the green part absorbs nutrients well and the trees are saturated faster, but nevertheless, root feeding is preferable, since trace elements with this method of application are stored in the soil longer.
What you need to know
When growing fruit and berry crops, you need to know what subtleties and features should be taken into account in the feeding process:
- the root system of any plant better assimilates the subcrust in a liquid form;
- young trees are not fertilized in the first year of life - seedlings should be fertilized only after complete rooting, which is achieved, as a rule, in the second year after planting;
- it is advisable to apply any product in the evening, in cloudy weather;
- dry fertilizers are best applied to wet soil, when applying dry compost, manure, the soil must be watered well - the exception is nitrogen mixtures scattered over the snow in spring;
- liquid solutions are applied only to wet soil - applying top dressing to dry soil can lead to root burns;
- in the first years of a tree's life, the effect of fertilization is less noticeable than during the period of maturation and active fruiting;
- the root system of an adult fruit tree significantly extends beyond the projection of the crown (on average by 0.5 meters);
- into fertile soil organic fertilizer can be applied not annually, but once every 2-3 years, poor soils need annual and repeated feeding;
- lime fertilizer can be applied to the soil no more often than once every 5-6 years.
Every gardener knows getting high harvest impossible without special dressing in the spring. Fertilizer, correctly and timely applied during the growing season, plays an essential role in further development plants - increases its chances of a healthy existence and successful fruiting.
Video "Caring for fruit trees and shrubs"
Informational video about tree care, fertilization to improve fertility and pest control.