- Soil analysis provides information about the need for fertilization
- Fertilize fruit trees properly - Here's how
Only fruit trees that receive sufficient nutrients bear a rich crop of fruit, set flowers for the coming year and develop strong new shoots. But be careful: fertilization is not always necessary. In many cases, garden soils are already over-fertilized with nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, which in turn encourages diseases. In nutrient-rich soils, fruit trees can survive for more or less time without fertilization.
Young fruit trees can be provided with some fertilizer
Soil analysis provides information about the need for fertilization
Before planting several fruit trees in particular, it makes sense to take a soil sample. These are sent to a state institute (which is often affiliated with the Chamber of Agriculture) or a private institute (laboratory for soil and fertilizer testing) for examination and analyzed there. Within two to four weeks you will receive an answer with the analysis results and a fertilizer recommendation based on them. The best time to take soil samples is after harvest in autumn or winter, provided the ground is not frozen. However, under no circumstances should you take the samples after fertilization has already taken place, not even after organic fertilization with compost.
Fertilize fruit trees properly - Here's how
When fertilizing, you should primarily follow the recommendations derived from the soil samples and the special needs of the planted fruit types and varieties. The following recommendations are more of a general guide.
Fertilize berry bushes and fruit trees
Strongly growing fruit trees usually do not need any additional fertilizer to grow and produce fruit, because their extensive, deep root system ensures an adequate supply of water and nutrients. Shallow-rooted fruit trees, on the other hand, can often use additional care, because these roots only open up a small part of the soil and do not reach deep. Cover the tree pit with matured compost or lightly work complete fertilizer into the soil. Dry soil must be watered so that the fertilizer gets to where it is needed: at the roots.
Support newly planted fruit trees with fertilizer
You can help young fruit trees on rather nutrient-poor soil to grow by fertilizing them. For this you should use a complete fertilizer that contains all trace elements. Both organic and mineral fertilizers are suitable. Rock flour (14.13€), which is also commercially available under the name Urgesteinsmehl, is an excellent plant-strengthening agent in the garden.
Properly fertilize fruit trees in the lawn
With fruit trees in the lawn, there is little point in simply spreading the fertilizer: most of it would benefit the grass and not the tree. In this case you fertilize liquidly, for example with 100 to 150 grams of blue grain, which you dissolve in 10 liters of water. This fertilizer solution is poured into crevices that you previously opened in the root area using a digging fork.
tips
Fruit trees cultivated in pots are either supplied with a long-term fertilizer in spring or fertilized with a liquid fruit tree fertilizer every two to three weeks during the main growing season (but no longer than the end of June).