Fertilizing trees and shrubs in the spring is one of the components of a high yield. It should be made taking into account the age of plantings, soil quality and accessibility of irrigation. Three whale fertilizers for fruit shrubs and trees are potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.
Types of fertilizers
In early spring, trees and shrubs are fed with either mineral or organic substances.
Mineral fertilizers are divided into simple and complex. The difference between them is how many components are included in their composition. If one, then these are simple mineral fertilizers, two or more are complex. They are also divided into groups according to the main component in the composition - nitrogen, phosphorus and potash.
The basis of organic fertilizers is rotten organic matter - manure, litter, compost and green fertilizers.
Fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers
Fertilizing fruit trees and shrubs with mineral fertilizers in early spring requires a cautious approach. The main thing in this type of fertilizer is the measure, otherwise you can harm not only the plant, but also the earth and people.
Nitrogen fertilizers include:
- Ammonium sulfate. This substance acidifies the soil and does not dissolve well in it, so it is better to apply it in the fall. To improve the properties, 1.5 kg of lime can be added to 1 kg of ammonium sulfate.
- Ammonium nitrate (ammonium nitrate) is an instant substance. The action of ammonium nitrate is quick and effective on non-acidic soils. Plants absorb it well and react to it. If the soil itself is acidified, it is better to dilute ammonium nitrate with limestone flour in a ratio of 1: 1. This neutralizes acidity. You can apply this type of fertilizer both in spring and in autumn at the rate of 150-200 kg per hectare, if it is the main component, and 100-150 kg per the same area as a top dressing.
- Another effective top dressing of trees and shrubs in the spring is urea (urea). This fertilizer is highly concentrated and very effective for increasing yields. It can be applied directly under the rhizomes of fruit bushes and trees at the time of loosening the soil or through irrigation, if you use a liquid form of concentrate.
The main requirement that should be observed when using nitrogen fertilizers is compliance with the instructions for use, proper dosing and safety precautions for storage and application to the soil.
Feeding with phosphorus and potash fertilizers
Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers help plants adapt to the external environment, make them frost-resistant and strong. They also affect the quantity and quality of the crop.
Phosphoric fertilizers should be applied deeper into the ground, as they are poorly absorbed, and it is recommended to do this in early spring during the first digging of the soil. The most popular phosphorus additives are superphosphate (based on sulfur, gypsum) and phosphoric flour, which is used on acidic soils.
Superphosphate is in greater demand because of its rapid absorption by the roots of trees and shrubs. When planting seedlings, it is sufficient to add from 400 to 600 g of superphosphate to each well. For adult perennials, the feeding rate is 40-60 g per 1 m 2 of the trunk circle.
The property of phosphate fertilizers is the rapid growth of the plant and the development of a powerful root system. You can also note the qualitative changes in the taste of berries and fruits and the number of crops.
In its pure form, potash fertilizers should not be used, but diluted with zinc, iron or nitrogen substances. The most popular type of potash fertilizer is potassium sulfate, which does not contain chlorine and sodium harmful to plants.
Fertilizing trees and shrubs in spring with potash fertilizers provides a good harvest. The lack of potassium in the soil affects the size of the fruit and their taste. You can make potassium sulfate in any type of soil at a dosage to feed 20-25 g per 1 m 2 . The best effect is given by a mixture of phosphorus fertilizers with potash.
Feeding seedlings
The quantity and quality of fertilizers depends solely on the composition of the soil, but top dressing of garden trees and shrubs in the spring, especially before planting seedlings, is required.
The presence of phosphorus in the soil is especially important for seedlings, since it is precisely it that affects their growth and rapid adaptation. The laying of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers should be done before the seedlings are planted.
It is best to do this in a layer deeper than the hole, under a tree or bush. It is also important that fertilizers are immediately planted in large quantities, with the expectation of several years. Fertilizing trees and shrubs in the spring with phosphorus is important only for young trees, as it stimulates their rapid growth.
Other fertilizers may not be given to trees under two years old only if the soil has not been completely depleted before. Otherwise, it should first be carefully fertilized and restored, and only then lay the garden.
Organic dressing
Organic fertilizers are natural and natural for trees and shrubs. They began to be used long before the chemical industry appeared. They enrich and improve the composition of the soil without harming it.
Fertilizing trees and shrubs in spring with manure is the most common procedure among summer residents. This is the most affordable and cheapest type of top dressing with a complete set of components necessary for plants - boron, manganese, cobalt, copper and molybdenum. Horse manure and bird droppings are considered the best for feeding trees and shrubs. They are most full of essential microelements for plant growth and high yield. Most often, a liquid form of top dressing fruit and berry crops is used.
To obtain a solution, any container is filled half with manure, and pour water on top, after which they should be thoroughly mixed. After a month, the resulting mixture can be used at the rate of 1 liter per 6-8 liters of water. If the soil is dry, then the solution should be made more liquid. A thicker composition of the fertilizer is added to moist soil.
If it is planned to fertilize fruit trees and shrubs in April, then, accordingly, the solution should be laid in March.
Composting
Peat and humus are types of organic fertilizers that can be used both independently and in the form of compost. Compost is made from manure, peat or various garbage - food or fallen leaves and tops. These are fermented plant residues that were artificially prepared during the year. To do this, you need to choose a place that does not fill with water, and put all the components there mixed with the ground.
As the compost heap grows, it should be moistened to rot more intensively. It is recommended to cover the compost with a black film, which does not allow moisture to evaporate and at the same time attracts solar heat. For better rotting, plant waste and manure can be sprinkled with slaked lime layers, and in order for oxygen to be available, layers of twigs and straw are used that allow the compost to “breathe”.
The finished composition can be used after 1-2 years. This is the cleanest and most useful fertilizer that works great both on the plants themselves and on the ground.
Fertilization of stone trees
Good nutrition is essential for the quality development and growth of stone fruits. Fertilizing fruit trees and shrubs in March is the key to a good harvest, as this helps plants quickly move away from hibernation.
It is very convenient to give the first portion of fertilizer when there is still snow under the trees. As it melts, beneficial substances will enter the soil and feed the roots. If the seed tree is young, then it is better to start top dressing in the 2nd year of its growth. For this, it is enough to use urea at the rate of 20 g / 1 m 2 . It should be introduced only in the spring. In autumn, you can add phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
When stone fruits - cherries, plums, apricots and others - enter the fruiting season, up to 10 kg of manure or compost, 20-25 g of urea, 60 g of simple or 30 g of double superphosphate and 200 g of wood ash per square meter should be introduced.
Feeding pome trees
For pome trees, the best fertilizer in April will be nitrogen substances that stimulate the growth of their shoots. If the tree gives a poor harvest, then it is additionally recommended to add urea in a ratio of 5 g / 1 m 2 of the trunk circle. For adult trees, top dressing is carried out along the perimeter of the entire crown.
It is very useful to use the aisles in the garden for sowing with cultivated herbs, such as white clover, meadow fescue and others. They should be mowed as they grow and left under the trees. In this case, you can not fertilize the garden with organic matter, but add only mineral fertilizers.
Feeding berry bushes
In order for the berry to produce good crops, the land should be prepared and fertilized in advance. For example, wet black spots are needed for blackcurrants, and well-lit warm areas of the garden are needed for raspberries, redcurrants and gooseberries.
The fertilizer must be laid abundantly in the soil. Manure, humus or compost contribute at the rate of 500 kg per 100 m 2 . Of the mineral fertilizers, phosphorus and potash are suitable for berry crops.
If the laying of the berry was carried out correctly, then the next couple of years can significantly reduce the fertilizing of the soil.