Q. Last week we planted several fruit trees and have
established trees as well. Would you recommend applying fertilizer around these
trees now? Spikes or granular type of fertilizer?
A. Fertilizers will benefit fruit trees the most if
applied to the soil just before spring growth. But if you haven’t applied any,
then do it now during spring growth.
applied to the soil just before spring growth. But if you haven’t applied any,
then do it now during spring growth.
The
least expensive way is using granular fertilizers in a single application in
the spring. Fertilizer stakes
or spikes are granular fertilizers compressed into a stake you can drive into
the ground. They are not messy, convenient, and no open bags that can spill but
more expensive per pound of fertilizer.
least expensive way is using granular fertilizers in a single application in
the spring. Fertilizer stakes
or spikes are granular fertilizers compressed into a stake you can drive into
the ground. They are not messy, convenient, and no open bags that can spill but
more expensive per pound of fertilizer.
 |
| Jobes does a good job with fertilizer stakes but a bit on the expensive side. |
Drive
them into the ground near drip emitters or in the irrigation basin; one for
each emitter. They release nutrients slowly. Apply them only once in the
spring.
them into the ground near drip emitters or in the irrigation basin; one for
each emitter. They release nutrients slowly. Apply them only once in the
spring.
compressed.jpg) |
| This is a cheaper version we were using at the orchard for trials. The soil should be wetted and the plastic cap put on top and the stake pounded into wet soil just under the emitter or in the irrigation basin. Small trees two will do. Larger trees would require four or more, one in each quadrant of the basin or under an emitter. |
For new
trees, if you mixed in good quality compost with the soil in the planting hole
you can skip a fertilizer application this season. If you put a smidgen in the
ground then apply a fertilizer now if you haven’t.
trees, if you mixed in good quality compost with the soil in the planting hole
you can skip a fertilizer application this season. If you put a smidgen in the
ground then apply a fertilizer now if you haven’t.
You can
split granular fertilizer applications in half if you want. Apply half now and
the other half after you harvest or in a couple of months if there is no fruit.
Fruit trees that are tender to winter cold should not be fertilized after
mid-summer so apply the second half earlier than this.
split granular fertilizer applications in half if you want. Apply half now and
the other half after you harvest or in a couple of months if there is no fruit.
Fruit trees that are tender to winter cold should not be fertilized after
mid-summer so apply the second half earlier than this.
If you
are using organic fertilizers that release nutrients slowly then apply it once
in the early spring.
are using organic fertilizers that release nutrients slowly then apply it once
in the early spring.
 |
| Young fruit tree fertilized with compost at the orchard. The tree is watered with an irrigation basin and a bubbler. The water from the bubbler moves the compost into the basin through the mulch. The compost acts like a “fertilizer tea”. |
Foliar
sprays of fertilizers are a great way to fertilize trees if they are in difficult
places. Foliar applications should be done more frequently because their results
are short-lived. Apply foliar sprays every 6 to 8 weeks until it gets hot.
sprays of fertilizers are a great way to fertilize trees if they are in difficult
places. Foliar applications should be done more frequently because their results
are short-lived. Apply foliar sprays every 6 to 8 weeks until it gets hot.
Keep fertilizers away from tree
trunks but in contact with water. Apply them no closer than a foot from the
trunk and just under the soil surface. Make sure they are watered in thoroughly
after application.
trunks but in contact with water. Apply them no closer than a foot from the
trunk and just under the soil surface. Make sure they are watered in thoroughly
after application.
 |
| Compost applied to the base of the fruit trees by volunteers at the Orchard. Two five gallon buckets are applied to each of the larger trees. One five gallon bucket for the smaller ones. |
I have
seen new trees killed by applications of fertilizers applied too close to the
trunk. Salt damage from fertilizers can kill newly planted trees.
seen new trees killed by applications of fertilizers applied too close to the
trunk. Salt damage from fertilizers can kill newly planted trees.
Don’t
forget iron. Newly planted trees normally don’t need it the first couple of
years but may develop iron shortages beginning in the third to the fifth years.
forget iron. Newly planted trees normally don’t need it the first couple of
years but may develop iron shortages beginning in the third to the fifth years.
 |
| This plum tree had iron chlorosis really severe after it leafed out in the spring. Four applications of iron sprays, spaced one week apart, turned it completely green again. Next year it received iron chelate applied to the soil in January to prevent this. |