Do I need to feed the apple tree in the fall?

The most common tree in our gardens is undoubtedly the apple tree. But in order for it to give a good harvest, it is necessary to periodically feed it with various fertilizers at different times of the vegetative period. Usually, feeding is carried out in spring and summer, but autumn for many remains a controversial period. This article will answer the question "Do you need to feed apple trees in the fall?"

Why do you need autumn feeding

Many gardeners consider the introduction of fertilizers in the fall for apple trees not an obligatory procedure, since the harvest has already been removed by this period, and growth processes by winter slow down significantly. Naturally, the question arises about the advisability of feeding in such a situation.

Many experienced gardeners believe that fertilizing the tree should still be done in the fall. This is done in order to further strengthen the apple trees, as well as to better prepare them for the winter period. But here you need to be extremely careful not to cause irreparable damage to trees with improperly applied fertilizers.

When feeding, you should be especially careful with young and newly planted seedlings, since the use of certain types of fertilizers in the autumn period can damage the fragile root system (this applies mostly to organic substances).

The first fertilization should be started at the end of August. This is done so that the apple trees can assimilate them in the time remaining before the first frost.... After all, frosts can happen as early as October. Cold and frozen soil interferes with the normal functioning of the roots, namely the faster absorption of essential nutrients. It will take the trees more than three weeks to absorb and absorb all the nutrients.

It is the end of summer and the beginning of autumn that are characterized by a sufficiently warm soil and fertilization during this period will make it possible for the garden to properly prepare for the upcoming wintering.

How and how to fertilize?

To carry out the correct fertilization of apple trees, you need to use only certain types of solutions and mixtures. To do this, first of all, you need to at least roughly assess the condition of the soil. In case of high acidity, liming should be used. In such a situation, the following is suitable:

• fluff lime;
• dolomite flour;
• furnace ash;
• old plaster;
• marl;
• a piece of chalk.

These substances neutralize the acid and will contribute to the improvement of the mechanical composition in the root zone.

If the soil is calcareous, in order to make it acidic, it is recommended to use the following substances: sawdust, peat and other similar fillers.

Also, in the autumn period, it is necessary to fertilize with potash and phosphorus fertilizers. Bone meal or mineral fertilizers (superphosphate, potassium monophosphate) can act as a source of phosphorus. But with the latter, you need to be very careful, since the need for apple trees in nitrogen decreases sharply in autumn. In this regard, experts recommend that it is in the fall to introduce perfectly rotted compost or manure, since they contain nitrogen in moderation.

Remember that too much mineral fertilizers can contribute to untimely shoot growth, which will make it difficult to prepare apple trees for winter. In addition, an excess of mineral fertilizers will lead to poor maturation of wood, as well as to its freezing during severe frosts. As a result, a young tree may not survive the winter.

To properly fertilize trees, it is not enough to decide on the type of feeding. It is also necessary to correctly carry out the procedure itself. Fertilize the apple orchard as follows:

1. before fertilization, apple trees should be sprayed with a 2% solution of copper sulfate. This procedure will eliminate the possibility of the appearance of certain diseases in the spring (fruit rot, scab, etc.);
2. substances / solutions should be applied only to the trunk circles with their simultaneous digging. This is done because most of the thinnest root processes are located within the trunk circle, which absorb the necessary nutrients best of all;
3. the organic matter used must be well decomposed in order to avoid burning the root system;
4. mature and old trees should be fertilized through holes, which are made around the entire circumference of the trunk circle. Instead of holes, you can dig grooves, the width of which will be 30 cm, and the depth - 40 cm. Thus, you can feed the apple tree with a mixture of various components (humus, potassium chloride, superphosphate). After adding the substances, the grooves and holes are leveled;
5. at the end of top dressing, the soil in the near-trunk circles should be mulched with any loose material of organic nature.

Mineral fertilization scheme

There are some nuances to consider when fertilizing newly planted seedlings and young apple trees. For example, in this case, nitrogen-containing feeding options are bred in a large amount of water, in contrast to adult and old plants.

In addition, such trees have a greater need for minerals (especially in winter) than adult plants. These substances significantly increase the winter hardiness of plants. Mineral compounds, when introduced into the soil of young animals, will have a positive effect on its further growth. Also, some gardeners advise planting special green manure plants near the seedlings. The presence of such plants will facilitate the fixation of free nitrogen from the soil at the ends of the roots.

If there are columnar apple trees in your garden, then, due to the peculiarities of their anatomy, the method of holes and grooves cannot be used, since the root system of such plants is located very close to the surface. As a result, during the formation of grooves and holes, roots that are close to the soil surface can be significantly injured. For such varieties, the best feeding method is to sprinkle a dry mixture of fertilizers under a tree, followed by watering the fertilized trunk circle.

Since autumn is very rich in long rains, foliar feeding will be less effective. With abundant rains, you can not bother looking for a more effective method and just add dry substances to the soil. They will penetrate into the ground with a stream of rainwater and be absorbed by the root system of the plant.

Correctly conducted autumn feeding will allow you to adequately prepare your apple orchard for the winter period and will contribute to obtaining an excellent harvest (both in terms of taste and volume) next year. Remember, getting a good harvest is the result of the gardener's painstaking and everyday work.

Video "Autumn feeding of fruit trees"

The video tells how to properly feed trees with a self-prepared organic solution.