The cherry trees require large amounts of nutrients every year to grow, flower and bear fruit. Few soils naturally have sufficient nutrient reserves. Most of the time, the gardener has to help out by fertilizing.
The nutrients that are removed from the soil by the cherry trees are only partially returned to the soil through natural decomposition processes. In order to promote lasting growth and yield performance of the cherry trees, the gardener must supply the nutrients again through fertilization. These are the four core nutrients: nitrogen, potash, phosphorus and lime. The lack of some of these nutrients leads to deficiency symptoms.
With a lack of nitrogen, growth in length decreases, the leaves remain small and take on a yellowish-green colour. A constant excess of nitrogen leads to a predominance of shoot growth and a decrease in flower bud formation. Potassium deficiency is mainly reflected in insufficient resistance to diseases and frost. A lack of phosphorus is noticeable in the delayed fruit formation. Lime loosens heavy soil, while light soil improves its water balance.
Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizer is understood to mean the rotted remains of plants and animal excretions. Plant waste of all kinds that is collected on a compost heap causes intensive soil life to decompose and the waste turns into humus. Cow or horse manure is used as animal excrement in the garden.
mineral fertilizers
Mineral fertilizers are naturally occurring or industrially produced salts that contain one or more plant nutrients. The so-called complete or mixed fertilizers, which contain several core nutrients and important trace elements in a ratio that is favorable for the plants, can be used well.
Time and implementation of fertilization
Organic fertilizer should not be worked in too deeply on the tree disc at the end of winter. Proceed as follows with the mineral fertilizers:
- nitrogenous fertilizer is given in March/April to promote shoot growth and around the beginning of June to promote flower bud formation,
- fertilizers containing potash and phosphorus are applied in winter (November to February),
- after a strong yield, the cherry tree should be supplied with complete fertilizer.
tips and tricks
The soil under the cherry trees can also be improved with green manure. At the end of the summer, certain annual plants are sown on the tree disc and the remains are worked into the soil the following spring.