The best fertilizers for autumn tree feeding

What to feed

In summer, garden trees give us their fruits, which means they deplete the reserves of organic and mineral elements that they need for later life. That is why the main fertilizers need to be applied in the fall, when the growth process is completed, the trees are preparing for winter. They need nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, iron, magnesium in order to calmly endure the winter and start spring growth with renewed vigor. In addition, they also need a certain amount of manganese, molybdenum, cobalt, boron and other trace elements. That is why it is advisable to apply complex mineral fertilizers in the fall. Which ones to choose?

It must be remembered that it is not advisable to apply nitrogen specially for the winter. In the fall, the trees are fed while they are still growing. A large dose of nitrogen will enhance the growth of additional shoots, which means it will weaken the tree for winter. Scientists believe that for additional root growth, which occurs in many fruit crops in August-September, the tree will redistribute nitrogen residues from leaves and branches, and additional feeding with this element will disrupt the preparation of the plant for winter rest. Thus, the main elements required by the tree in the fall are potassium and phosphorus.

Potassium helps trees survive winters, no matter how harsh they may be. Potassium sulfate (usually produced in powder) or potassium chloride can be applied to the soil in autumn. Both fertilizers contain approximately 50% of the basic substance. Apple, chlorine will not harm the pear, which means that they can be fed with cheaper potassium chloride. But for sensitive crops, potassium sulfate is more suitable. After its use, the soils are not considered acidified, although very little sulfuric acid remains.

A very popular and good fertilizer that can be used in the fall is potassium magnesium. It contains only 25% potassium, but there is another 11-18% magnesium, which is also very good. It must be added in case of magnesium deficiencies. In plants that lack this element, interveinal chlorosis is observed - the leaves acquire a spotty color: only the stripes of the veins remain green, and between them the color fades to yellow. Then it is imperative to add potassium magnesium or magnesium sulfate to the near-trunk circle, diluting no more than 2 g in 1 liter of water. If there is undissolved sediment left, it can be poured under the tree - until spring it will have time to dissolve and will not harm the roots with its concentration.

The main phosphorus fertilizer is superphosphate. It can be simple (approximately 20% phosphorus) and double (up to 49%). Powder or granules of dark gray color must be sealed at the level of the roots, because phosphorus practically does not move along the soil. To feed adult trees, 5-7 holes are pulled out (by the size of a shovel), after removing the sod, 1 handful of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are poured, mixed with the ground, watered. Then the sod is returned to its place.

Ammophos is a more concentrated fertilizer, but since it contains nitrogen, it is better to apply it in the spring.Apricots, cherries, and poorly winter-tolerant apple trees can be fed with expensive but very effective monopotassium phosphate. It does not contain any ballast substances, is completely absorbed by plants, and is available in the form of a powder. Like all phosphorus-containing preparations, it must be embedded in the soil at the root level.

Video "The better to feed trees"

Video review of the most popular and effective fertilizing for fruit trees, as well as useful tips for fertilizing them.

Fruit trees

Whatever top dressing you apply during the spring and summer, in the fall, garden trees need to be given organic and mineral fertilizers so that they can survive the winter and prepare for the next growth period. To this end, a month before the expected frost, grooves are made around each fruit tree, approximately 30 g of potassium salt, 50 g of superphosphate and 5 kg of humus are introduced for each 1 sq. m of root distribution area. Phosphorus will help strengthen the root system and will promote the accumulation of proteins and sugars in the cell sap. Potassium removes excess fluid from cells, makes the juice thicker, which helps to survive frost more easily. Organic fertilizing has the potential to increase fertility.

During autumn fertilization, you should think about improving the structure of the soil, which may have changed under the influence of many factors. To make heavy clay soils lighter, more breathable, sawdust is added (maybe not even rotted). If it is necessary to acidify the soil, wood ash can be very useful. It contains at least 17 microelements necessary for fruit trees. It is brought in no more than 250 g - per 1 sq. m area.

Experienced gardeners say that under fruit trees up to 8 years old, you need to add 30 kg of humus, and older trees will need all 50 kg. It is buried deeply, digging up the ground. Apples and pears require 300 g of superphosphate and 200 g of potassium sulfate. They can be repaired together with humus - the main thing is not to forget that phosphorus, scattered over the surface of the earth, will not reach the roots by itself. Plums and cherries are generously watered (at least 4 buckets for each tree), after dissolving 3 tablespoons of superphosphate and 2 tablespoons of potassium sulfate in 10 liters of water.

There are complex mineral fertilizers that have already been tested and have shown themselves well, for example, "Osennee", "Fruit Garden", "Universalnoe", Kemira "Osennee". They are easy to use, guided by the instructions, this will save you unnecessary worries and doubts.

Liquid dressing

Since you still need to give fruit trees a large supply of water in the fall, many gardeners use liquid top dressing. For this, mineral fertilizers are dissolved in the required amount of water, then the resulting solution is still diluted and poured into the grooves around the trunk. Usually they use ammophos, superphosphate, any potash fertilizers that dissolve easily. From organic fertilizers, it is best to make slurry, mullein, chicken droppings.

What else can you feed

What other top dressing can be used in the fall? Each owner of a summer cottage has his own preferences. Many people believe in the rule: if you carry surplus crops from garden to garden, and from garden to garden, it will only benefit. So, apples and pears that fell from trees, which did not suit the owner, may well find their place on the compost heap along with grass and waste after cutting garden trees. And overripe zucchini or cucumbers, which the hostess rejects, can be brought under fruit trees by digging them in with earth.

Some summer residents believe that food leftovers, coffee and tea can also be dug under trees, sprinkled with sawdust, spilled with diluted chicken droppings or mullein. They arrange in this way a compost heap under each tree separately.Probably, this is also good, but it makes sense to cover it all with a layer of soil and make sure that no fallen leaves get there. It is better to remove leaves from under trees - harmful microorganisms and rodents remain in them to winter.

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