How to Fertilize Fruit Trees
When the spring season is in full bloom many people wonder how to fertilize fruit trees. This is so they may have delicious fruit in bloom the rest of the season. Growing fruit is not as simple as letting mother nature do her thing, fertilizing a fruit tree will help it grow better, stronger and possible past the picking season.
Many homeowners who are lucky enough to have a fruit tree or two in their yard wonder how to fertilize fruit trees to maximize their harvest at the end of the season. There are a few steps to fertilizing a fruit tree and with all chemicals, it is advised that the one doing the fertilizing wear protective gloves and eye protection.
- Choose a fertilizer that is fruit tree specific. A homeowner could also use one that is rated "15-30-15" or "0-10-10". These types of fertilizer promote blooms and the numbers correspond with the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium mixed in the fertilizer.
- Sprinkle dry fertilizer around the fruit tree in the soil. A fertilizer for trees works best on the drip line. A drip line is the make-believe line in the soil that matches up with the edges of the leaves pointing outward.
- Mix the fertilizer using a small hand shovel, hoe or trowel.
- Lay a layer of compost and mulch on top of the fertilizer to keep the weeds from growing and the soil from drying. This mulch should extend all the way to the trunk of the tree; however, the compost should be kept six to eight inches away from the tree trunk. Keeping the compost back from the tree trunk will help air circulation and keep the fungus down on the tree trunk.
- Move the fertilizer deep into the soil by watering the drip line. This is where the roots can pick it up.
- Enjoy the fruits of your labor come harvest time.