Table of Contents
Apple trees require nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium — the three numbers on fertilizer bags — as well as various trace minerals. For home growers, fertilizers should have a higher nitrogen ratio to fuel healthy growth. Common granular 20-10-10 fertilizer is suitable for apples.
When should I fertilize my apple tree?
The best time to fertilize an apple tree is in the fall once the leaves have dropped. If you are fertilizing apple trees with a 10-10-10, spread at the rate of one pound per inch (5 cm.) of trunk diameter measured one foot (30 cm.) from the ground up.
What kind of fertilizer do apples need?
Nitrogen is generally the only fertilizer required for nonfruiting apple trees, so it is often present in higher amounts than other nutrients in complete fertilizers. However, in apple and other fruit trees, excess nitrogen will cause new vegetation to out-compete the fruit for available calcium.
Is Miracle Grow good for apple trees?
Answer: Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food is not labeled for fruit trees. We would recommend using a fertilizer that is intened for fruit trees such as, Ferti-Lome Fruit, Citrus and Pecan Tree Food 19-10-5.
Should I feed my apple tree?
FEEDING APPLE TREES Apple trees will survive with no feeding, especially those on more vigorous rootstocks but they will do better when fed twice a year. Feeding them will result in a far better crop of apples and also reduce their susceptibility to pest damage and diseases.
What’s the best fertilizer for fruit trees?
Fruit trees prefer an organic, high nitrogen fertilizer. Blood meal, soybean meal, composted chicken manure, cottonseed meal, and feather meal are all good, organic nitrogen sources.
How do you grow a healthy apple tree?
Find a sunny location Have your soil tested to determine pH. pH of the soil should be between 6 and 7. Apple trees can grow in most soils as long as there is no standing water. Avoid planting in areas where water stands for several hours after a rain.
How do I get my apple tree to produce fruit?
Apples and pears must be cross pollinated. Therefore, you must plant two different varieties if you want to produce fruit. There are also varieties that produce sterile pollen and need to be planted with at least two other varieties.
Is Epsom salt good for apple trees?
If you have some fruit trees, a boost in magnesium will do them a world of good. Epsom Salt is used on fruit trees or vegetables to help them yield larger, sweeter, and more fruits. It works great also for nut trees and fruit shrubs.
Are coffee grounds good for apple trees?
Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers.
Why do apple tree leaves turn yellow?
Apple chlorosis occurs as a result of a lack of iron in soil. It causes yellowing and possible die off of leaves. Young apple leaves are discolored first and develop the condition worse than older growth. Sometimes just one side of a plant is affected or it may be the whole tree.
Should apple trees be mulched?
Plants should be mulched yearly to maintain a 4 foot wide strip at least 6 inches deep. Apples, pears, peaches, plums and cherries. Tree fruit should be mulched to the drip line with 6 to 8 inches of straw or hay in May. If they are mulched to control weeds, they should be treated like tree fruit.
How can I make my apple tree grow faster?
Increase the fertilizer application as the tree ages to continuously boost growth. In the fruit tree’s second year, use one pound of 21-0-0 fertilizer. In the third year, use 1.5 pounds of the same fertilizer. Every year thereafter, increase the amount of fertilizer you use by a pound.
How do you fertilize a mature apple tree?
Apply fertilizer evenly to the root zone of the tree; specifically the drip line. The drip line is the circular area on the ground beneath the branch tips – the area where water “drips” after a good rain. Feeder roots best absorb moisture and nutrients in this area.
How often should you water apple trees?
Apple tree water requirements depend on rainfall. In general, for an established tree, you won’t need to water it unless you are not getting much rain or there is a particularly dry spell or even drought. About an inch (2.5 cm.) or so of rainfall every week to ten days is adequate for most apple trees.
Where can I use 10-10-10 fertilizer?
If your plants are well established and you want to make sure that they have what they need to put out new growth in the spring, a balanced fertilizer such as a 10-10-10 is a common choice. Raspberries, strawberries, asparagus and even roses can benefit from an early spring feeding with 10-10-10.
What month do you fertilize fruit trees?
The late winter or early spring is a good time to start fertilizing fruit trees.
Should you fertilize fruit trees?
Fertilizing Young Fruit Trees When fruit trees are first planted, the priority is to encourage them to grow roots by maintaining even soil moisture in good-quality soil. Once young trees find their feet – usually one to two years after planting – you can start fertilizing them to promote strong, steady growth.
