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Fruit Tree Fertilizer
Fruit Tree Fertilizer
To get the most out of fruit trees they need to be carefully looked after and regularly fed. The best way to feed a fruit tree is to use a specially designed fruit tree fertilizer that contains the precise nutrients needed by the trees in the right ratios.
Whichever fruit tree you are growing—be it apple, pear, peach, plum, cherry, or something else—feeding will need to happen at least once per year and perhaps much more often if you want to grow an abundant crop of delicious fruits.
Fruit trees are typically highly bred varieties, meaning they are biologically very different from the native varieties they originated from. Most plants that have been subjected to intensive breeding in pursuit of finer fruits require additional care and supplemental nutrients; better fruit requires more effort and inputs. This is true of fruit trees, which need plenty of nitrogen to grow and potassium to produce the high-quality, sweet fruits we’ve become accustomed to.
Fruit Tree Fertilizer Types
When choosing a fruit tree fertilizer the best option is something high in nitrogen. Organic sources of nitrogen include blood meal, animal manure, and feather meal, all of which can be spread around the base of the fruit tree to add nitrogen to the soil over time. It is best to add this sort of fertilizer during the late winter or early spring in preparation for the growing season. Once the season has started, using a fast-acting liquid fertilizer ensures the nutrients the fruit tree needs will arrive quickly and are instantly available for use by the tree.
In the spring, choose a liquid fruit tree fertilizer that features a high ratio of nitrogen. Our Organic Grow formula has an NPK ratio of 7-2-3, which means it is high in nitrogen and ideal for supporting fruit tree growth. Some varieties of fruit trees require even more nitrogen than others, particularly trees that produce stone fruits, pear trees, and cooking apple trees.
Once the tree has finished the growth phase and is preparing to bud, you will want to switch to a potassium fertilizer. Potassium is essential for producing fruits and flowers. Adding potassium may not be necessary if you have nutrient-rich soil, but if you notice buds are not forming at all this is probably due to a lack of potassium and it should be added immediately.
The Benefits of Mulching Fruit Trees
In addition to nitrogen-rich fruit tree fertilizer, fruit trees also benefit from mulching. This can be done with animal manure, as already mentioned, but can also be accomplished with ordinary garden compost, rotted leaves, and straw. The benefit of mulch, asides from adding essential nutrients to the soil, is that it increases the amount of organic matter in the soil, improving its overall quality. It can also help to prevent drying out during the hotter months and prevent weeds from growing.
Fruit Tree Fertilizer from BAC
At BAC we create several high-quality fertilizers suitable for growing healthy, bountiful fruit trees.
- Organic Grow - High in nitrogen for the growth phase. Nitrogen is essential for producing abundant foliage.
- Organic Bloom - A well-balanced fertilizer with a high ratio of potassium making it ideal for the blooming period.
