How to fertilize fruit trees with manure. Top dressing of fruit bushes in the spring. Calculation and feeding time on the example of an apple tree

In the spring, it is necessary to feed various crops, including fruit trees and shrubs. Every month there are certain events. It is important to choose the right fertilizer for different types of crops, use them in a certain way and in a specific dosage.

Why do we need spring top dressing of fruit crops?

In the process of growing various crops, gardeners resort to all sorts of agricultural practices. One of the most effective methods is plant nutrition. It provides decorative planting and a good harvest.

Timely application of fertilizers and the correct selection of compositions allows you to activate the growth of the crop, ensure good flowering and protection from diseases and pests. All this is necessary to obtain a high-quality and plentiful harvest.

Fruit trees and shrubs are perennial plantings. During their lives, they need various micro and macro elements, just like the human body. People get the necessary substances from food, and plants from the soil. Over time, the land begins to deplete, therefore, it is impossible to do without fertilizers.

Feeding stages by month

Each variety of fruit trees and shrubs requires an individual approach. This applies not only to the composition of the fertilizers used, but also to the stages of their application. There are some common points that are characteristic of each spring month.

March

This month, the very first feeding of the year is carried out. Fertilization is carried out at the beginning of the melting of the snow cover.

For this period, funds with nitrogen are needed. They stimulate the vegetative process. It is better to use soluble mineral compounds. They are poured directly on top of the snow, which, when melted, will dissolve the fertilizer and pull it into the soil. It is necessary to prepare for such top dressing in the fall, loosening the near-stem circles well.

The amount of nitrogen mixture for feeding depends on the age of the plant. For shrubs and young plantings, 40 g of fertilizer is enough, an adult tree needs about 100-120 g of the product.

If the plantings are located on a slope, then it is better to fertilize later, since the fertilizer may shift when the snow melts. It is also worth delaying if there is a lot of snow. In this case, the fertilizer will lie on the surface for a long time, therefore it can partially evaporate.

April

In this month, the deciduous part of the plantings is actively formed, flowering begins. At this stage, plants need potassium and phosphorus. These elements strengthen cultures, provide them with normal growth.

Phosphorus is necessary for strengthening the roots, their growth and fixing in the soil. Potassium activates the appearance of side shoots.

Phosphorus can be used in its pure form, and potassium is preferable as part of combined mixtures.

If the end of flowering occurs in April, then the plants should be fed with organic matter. Such top dressing is especially important for apple and pear trees.

May

When the plant is actively blooming, you can use both organic and mineral fertilizers. Minerals can be applied foliarly.

This month is characterized by the formation of ovaries and the beginning of fruit growth. At this stage, fruit trees and shrubs need organic matter. As a fertilizer, it is better to resort to compost, rotted manure, biohumus.

In May, fertilizers can be applied in various ways:

digging with earth;
mixing with loosened soil in the near-stem area;
mixing with mulch (rotten leaves, straw are also used in this capacity);
embedding in recesses in the ground;
root method.

Such a feeding scheme is generalized. It can be changed in accordance with the region of residence and weather conditions in a particular year.

Fertilizing options for fruit trees and shrubs in spring

When choosing fertilizers, one must rely on the type of crop, season, and soil characteristics. There are many ways to fertilize plants, and it is important to correctly calculate the amount of the product used.

chicken manure

Apple tree;
pear;
plum;
cherries;
cherry;
quince;
persimmon;
peach;
apricot.

Fertilizer should be applied in spring to tree trunks. Dry raw materials should be used for top dressing, since ammonia is formed if raw materials are stored improperly.

Concentrated fresh manure negatively affects the condition of the roots of fruit crops. Raw materials for top dressing must be diluted.

To get the right solution for top dressing, you need to dilute 1.5 kg of bird droppings in a 10-liter bucket of water. First, dry raw materials are poured with a third of the liquid volume and left for a couple of days. Then the fermented composition is adjusted with water to the desired volume.

Manure

For fruit crops, this fertilizer ranks second in popularity. Apple trees, pears, cherries, plums, apricots and other stone fruits like this top dressing more.

Fresh manure is not used. Regardless of the proportions of dilution, it is converted to ammonia.

To feed fruit crops, manure must lie for at least 2 years.

Humus

Up to 30 kg of humus must be applied under apple trees. If the plant is more than 9 years old, then this amount must be increased at least 1.5 times.

To feed pears, humus is mixed with soil in the spring. On average, one tree needs 20 kg of this fertilizer.

Humus is applied under cherries or cherries for the first 4-5 years. It is necessary to scatter fertilizer around the trunks by about half a meter.

Green tea

This fertilizer is harvested independently and is organic. It can be used for any fruit crops.

To prepare the composition, it is necessary to place the green part of the grass in a suitable container and fill it with water. Close the container with polyethylene, making several holes in it. After 3 weeks, the fertilizer will be ready. Such top dressing is best done after flowering, diluting the resulting liquid in 10 parts of water.

Ash

This fertilizer attracts natural origin. It combines phosphorus and potassium, which are especially needed by fruit crops in the spring.

Ash can be used for different fruit trees. Especially love her cherry and plum.

Top dressing must be applied to the near-trunk circles. To do this, make a groove 10-15 cm deep and pour ash into it, immediately covering it with earth. Fertilizer can also be applied in liquid form. To prepare it, a half-liter jar of ash is added to a bucket of water.

Ash can be mixed with urea. For a 10-liter bucket of water, you need 3 tbsp. l. urea and half a glass of ash. Of the shrubs, this composition is effectively used for raspberries, blackberries, mountain ash, gooseberries and currants.

This fertilizer belongs to the mineral group and is based mostly on phosphorus. It can be used for any fruit trees and shrubs.

When planting crops, fertilizer is applied at 0.4 kg in each pit. As a top dressing, 40-70 grams are used, introducing the composition into the trunk circle. Fruit crops should be fed in this way after flowering.

Superphosphate can be combined with potassium and some nitrogen fertilizers. You should not combine such top dressing with the introduction of urea, ammonium nitrate or chalk. Between the application of such fertilizers, it is necessary to withstand at least a week.

Potassium chloride

This fertilizer is high in potassium. It perfectly compensates for the lack of nutrients and normalizes the development of crops. This top dressing can be used for various fruit trees, but it is especially effective for apple trees.

For one fruit tree, about 0.15 kg of potassium chloride is needed. The optimal amount of fertilizer should be oriented to the characteristics of the soil. If it is black earth, then the concentration of the agent is reduced, and for light soil it must be increased.

Potassium chloride is well combined with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, but it is also successfully used on its own.

Fertilizers must be applied correctly. Liquid formulations are administered only after watering the soil. Foliar feeding should be carried out on cloudy days or in the evening. After applying dry fertilizer, watering is necessary.

Urea

This fertilizer is nitrogenous and belongs to the amide group. It can be used for various fruit crops.

As a spray, urea is good to combine with copper sulphate. For 10 liters of water you need 0.7 kg of urea and 50 g of vitriol. This treatment can be repeated during flowering, and then when the ovaries are formed.

Fruit plants are also fed during fruiting. In this case, resort to root top dressing. For apple trees, 0.25 kg of urea is dissolved in 10 liters of water; for cherries and plums, the amount of the product should be reduced to 0.15 kg. If organic matter was previously introduced, then the concentration of the composition is halved.

It is advisable to use this fertilizer when the soil is ideally fertile. The tool is complex and consists of nitrogen, potassium, sulfur and phosphorus.

Spring feeding of fruit trees and shrubs is considered a very important and responsible event. During the season, they constantly consume nutrients, depleting the soil. Despite the fact that in winter all processes in trees and shrubs slow down, the consumption of useful elements does not stop. If the crops are not provided with sufficient nutrition in the spring, it will not work to get a good harvest. The second action of the feeding elements is protection from pests.

Fertilizing fruit trees and shrubs in spring

In order to create normal conditions for plants to grow and develop during the growing season, it is necessary to apply fertilizer in the spring. Care begins in March-April, when a comfortable temperature is established.

When snow melts, nitrogen is especially strongly washed out of the soil. Therefore, the main component for feeding fruit trees in the spring before flowering is nitrogen. The need of a tree is determined by its condition and by the degree of growth of young shoots. Assign top dressing 2-3 weeks before the flowering period of the variety. Substances are introduced into the soil during digging or loosening - this is root dressing.

The most optimal fertilizers for spring top dressing are:

ammonium nitrate;
urea;
bird droppings;
slurry.

Naturally, each substance must be diluted with water.

Important! Bird droppings require a strong dilution in a ratio of 1:20 with water.

Fertilizer application rates for fruit trees in spring depend on the type of top dressing. For root nutrition, 150 - 200 g of solution per 1 sq. m of the circumferential area. The slurry is diluted with water (proportion 1:4) and 500-600 g of working solution per 1 sq. m.

Foliar top dressing is carried out by spraying plants with a fast-acting urea solution. It is diluted with water to obtain the composition:

stone fruits - 0.6%;
pear - 0.2%;
apple tree - 0.3%.

Each culture requires an appropriate approach for top dressing, while it is important not to overdo it. An excess of nitrogen and other elements is just as harmful as a deficiency.

Top dressing of an apple tree

The first time they feed apple trees from mid-March to mid-April. When planting fruit trees in the spring, fertilizers must be applied. Usually this amount is enough for a young tree for 3-4 years. Then the root system needs additional nutrition. This is especially true for poor soils. On such land, not only is it difficult for a young seedling to develop, but an adult tree cannot produce a decent harvest. Apples are small, the tree is often affected by diseases and pests.

The first dressing of young fruit trees can be root or foliar. With root nutrition, organic or mineral fertilizer is applied to the soil, trying not to come close to the trunk. It is optimal to form a furrow at a distance of 60 cm from the trunk and pour a solution or scatter granules into this circle. If organic matter (humus) is used, then dry fertilizer is applied before rain. If there is no rain, be sure to dilute with water and pour into the soil at the time of digging.

For an apple tree, it is very useful to carry out a second spring dressing before flowering. During this period, the tree needs a complex of substances:

800 g of potassium sulfate;
1 kg of superphosphate;
5 liters of bird droppings or 10 liters of slurry or 500 g of urea;
200 liters of water.

The components are mixed, infused for a week, then the near-stem zone is watered. Composition consumption - 40 liters per apple tree.

Important! Before applying mineral fertilizers, be sure to moisten with water so as not to burn the roots.

Top dressing cherries

Cherries are fed 3 times in the spring. If the tree is young, and when planting a sufficient amount of the necessary elements was introduced, then the first 3 years of nutrition are enough for it. The same applies to fertile soils. In other cases, the cherry is required to carry out:

First feeding before flowering. Nitrogen fertilizers are needed - urea, saltpeter. Root top dressing is effective, foliar spraying is not practiced due to the small amount of foliage on the tree.
The second time nutrition is applied during flowering, and also by the root method. This time, in addition to nitrogen, it is allowed to feed with bird droppings or green fertilizer - an infusion of grass. In this case, you need to carefully monitor the concentration of the composition.
The third time, compost, manure or ready-made organic mixture is applied in dry form. Cherries need this top dressing after flowering. Fertilizer is prepared in liquid form and poured into the soil, followed by digging.

Three times a day feeding of young fruit trees in the spring is carried out only if there are signs of nutrient deficiency.

How to feed a pear in spring

Proper spring feeding guarantees regular fruiting of the pear. At the same time, you should not neglect additional nutrition, even if there is fertile soil in the garden. In order not to overdose the amount of fertilizer in the spring, it is necessary to apply no more than 2/3 of the norm. There will be enough for the tree to wake up and start the new growing season in good condition. The rest (1/3) is brought in in the summer.

In the spring, you need to watch the weather. It is good to feed the pear when it is time for heavy rainfall. Fertilizers are applied in solid or liquid form and the soil is dug up. If there is no precipitation, then it is necessary to pour plenty of water on the pear before feeding, then pour a fertilizer solution into the near-stem circles. In the spring, for the first feeding of pears, the following proportions are observed:

urea - from 80 to 120 g of the substance per 5 liters of water under one tree;
saltpeter - 30 g per 1 sq. m of area in a ratio of 1:50 with water.

The second time a green fertilizer is applied under the pear after the end of flowering.

If there are no organic substances, then in May the pear is once again additionally watered with a solution of nitroammophoska. The ratio with water is 1:200, for one tree you will need 3 buckets of the composition.

Features of feeding apricot

Apricot also needs nitrogen-containing compounds in spring. They are applied by the root method at least twice - before flowering and after. However, the first dressing can be safely applied foliarly, just spray the apricot until the buds swell with a solution of urea (50 g per bucket of water). And before flowering, water the tree with ammonium nitrate (5 g per 10 liters of water). Gardeners often use foliar feeding of fruit trees in the spring for any fruit crops.

In May, organic fertilizers are introduced - humus, mullein or compost. Urea, saltpeter or slurry is applied immediately after the snow melts. Complex mineral fertilizers are most conveniently used in the form of granules.

Features of feeding plums and cherry plums

Cherry plum and plum must be fed. For young seedlings of fruit trees, early foliar top dressing with carbamide with the addition of copper sulfate is carried out in the spring.

Before flowering, mature trees are buried in a near-stem circle per 1 sq. m area of 90 g of ammonium nitrate. The second option is to prepare a nutrient mixture of 30 g of urea and 15 g of potassium sulfate, dissolve in 10 liters of water, pour 20 liters of working solution under one plant.

In order to correctly carry out plant nutrition, consider a more detailed scheme of top dressing in the spring.

Feeding shrubs in spring

Berry shrubs are fed with nitrogen fertilizers in spring, especially if autumn nutrition was not applied. Ammonium nitrate (20 g) or ammonium sulfate (50 g) is suitable for feeding fruit bushes in spring. The dosage is indicated for 1 sq. m area. In the spring, fertilizers are embedded in the soil when loosening or digging.

At the end of spring, for gooseberries, foliar spraying is carried out with potassium sulfate and superphosphate (2%), additionally with boric acid (0.01%).

Important! The preparations are separately diluted in a small amount of water, then mixed.

It is very convenient to use modern liquid fertilizers, which are equally suitable for foliar and root dressings. They can be selected for any culture and are easy to use thanks to the detailed instructions.

How to feed fruit trees in spring

The fruit tree feeding calendar is very easy to remember.

You need to start after the snow melts and apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers. This will give the trees strength to grow and develop. Fruit is best suited for ammonium nitrate or urea. Absorption of elements occurs gradually, while the presence of moisture is mandatory. Moisten the soil before fertilizing. The ideal solution would be to combine the procedure with natural precipitation.

The second time fruit trees in the garden are fed before flowering or even during it. Again, you need urea in a ratio of 1:35 with water. The solution is introduced into the trunk circle.

After the end of flowering comes the turn of organics. For bushes and trees in spring use:

Slurry in the ratio of 0.5 liters per bucket of water.
Green fertilizer diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.
Chicken manure in the amount of 300 g per bucket of water.

Important! Do not change the dosage! An increase in the concentration of the active substance leads to a burn of the root system.

If you feed young seedlings, a stronger breeding is required. This applies to fruit-bearers older than 2 years. Before this age, it is recommended to feed the trees only if there are clear signs of a deficiency of certain elements.

First fertilization of the garden with nitrogen

The first dressing should not be skipped. To build up green mass and accumulate strength, plants need additional nitrogen nutrition. Most often, gardeners use urea (urea) or ammonium nitrate. Mineral fertilizers for fruit trees are applied in the spring to tree trunks, combined with watering or natural precipitation. Together with moisture, they are absorbed by the roots and then come to all parts of the tree. Substances are suitable for feeding apple trees, pears, plums and cherries.

You can also use nitroammophoska. Fertilizer is more suitable for berry bushes and trees. The substance is scattered in near-stem circles with a diameter of 1.5 m in small handfuls (1-2) for young trees and 3-5 for adults. Then, with a shovel or pitchfork, they are buried in the ground to a depth of 10 cm.

Important! The fertilizer application zone changes depending on the age of the tree.

The diameter of the near-stem circle is sufficient in the first 5 years of the plant's life, then the zone is expanded to the size of the crown projection. Fertilizers should not be placed close to the trunk. Suction roots are located on the periphery of the root system.

Fertilization in April

If the garden could not be fertilized in the fall, then complex mineral fertilizers are used in April. This is due to the fact that plants will need to add phosphorus and potassium in addition to nitrogen. Phosphorus will strengthen the roots, and potassium promotes the development of flowers and fruits. Substances are used in turn. The first half of the month is phosphorus, then potassium.

Important! In April, plants are fed with water-soluble or liquid fertilizers, which are absorbed by the roots faster.

Young garden for 1 sq. m of area must be entered:

30 g of superphosphate in granules;
20 g of urea;
15 g of potassium chloride.

For supporters of organic farming, fertilization of fruit plants in spring should be carried out with bird droppings, slurry, compost. It is important to properly dilute the substance so as not to harm. The benefits of this method are enormous, but it is only suitable if there is organic matter on the site. Otherwise, fertilizers will have to be bought, which is not always economically justified.

May fertilizers

This is the time of the last spring feeding of the garden. The branches are already forming ovaries, so the best fertilizer is organic. Gardeners use biohumus, compost, humus. You can replace them with mineral complexes. In May, foliar spraying with microelements is carried out for berry bushes. For 10 liters of water you will need 30 g of copper sulfate, 2 g of boric acid, 5 g of potassium permanganate. Root nutrition is performed with liquid manure or urea with the addition of wood ash.

Foliar top dressing of fruit trees

In May, trees and shrubs already have enough foliage, so foliar nutrition is considered the most effective. The only caveat is the decrease in the concentration of nutrients. The ingredients are taken the same as described earlier, but the dilution is increased. Spraying is carried out in the evening or early in the morning when there is no direct sunlight. During the day, it is permissible to process plants only in cloudy weather.

The method is very convenient for gardeners who do not have the opportunity to constantly monitor the plants. Watering is not required, so fertilizing is carried out quickly and with minimal effort.

Often beginner gardeners make many mistakes when feeding plants in the spring. To prevent this from happening, you must:

Use the table for feeding fruit trees and shrubs. It is not necessary to draw up a schedule yourself, you can take ready-made recommendations from specialists. At the same time, it is imperative to adjust the timing according to weather and climatic conditions, plant varieties, soil and tree conditions.
Prepare for spring events in advance - calculate the right amount, purchase fertilizers.
It is imperative to take into account the size and age of plants, the condition of the soil, so as not to overdose and technically correctly apply top dressing.
Do not combine top dressing with spring pruning of the garden.
Take into account autumn activities to fertilize the soil.

Conclusion

Spring feeding of fruit trees and shrubs should become a regular event for the gardener. Regardless of the number of plants and the variety of varieties, it is necessary to learn how to properly and timely feed crops at the beginning of the growing season.

How to feed fruit trees in spring

Spring feeding of fruit trees and shrubs is carried out with organic fertilizers:

Peat;
Peat feces;
Compost;
Manure;
Humus.

These fertilizers enrich the soil with nutritious vitamins and substances, and also have a beneficial effect on the condition of the soil.

The application of fertilizers is included in the mandatory list of works for spring care for apple trees. Approximately in mid-April, the first spring top dressing of pears and apple trees is performed. Already when the first leaves are visible on the trees, you can apply a fertilizer. Only root top dressing of an apple-tree is carried out. To do this, mixtures with nitrogen are introduced into the trunk circles. It could be:

urea,
humus
or ammonium nitrate.

Such mixtures activate vegetative processes in trees.

Fertilizers are applied to the soil when it is loosened or when digging. It is important to consider that fertilizers must be applied along the perimeter of the crown, where the ends of the main roots with suction roots are located.

Spring feeding of apple trees during flowering performed with nitrogen-containing mixtures. In the trunk circle for digging, under one tree, along the perimeter of the crown, and not the trunk, one of the following options is introduced:

urea - 500-600 gr;
ammonium nitrate and nitroammofska - 30-40 gr each;
humus - about 5 buckets.

After flowering, during the period of fruit ripening, apple trees are fed with one of the following options for liquid formulations from:

nitrophoska, sodium humate and water;
or 100 g of superphosphate and 60-70 g of potassium sulfate;
or 1.5-2 liters of liquid chicken manure;
or 0.5 buckets of slurry;
250-300 gr of urea.

In addition, each apple tree should receive more than three buckets of this composition. You can partially replace root top dressing with foliar top dressing. To do this, it will be enough to spray the trees with urea. This method can be applied after all the leaves have already appeared and grown on the apple tree. The tree absorbs useful substances through them and transfers them to the root system.

Cherry top dressing in spring

Even before flowering, the first top dressing is performed. cherries with urea or ammonium nitrate. Since there is still little foliage on the trees, it is better to apply liquid fertilizers to the soil.

During flowering, top dressing of trees in spring is carried out by the root method with the introduction of mixtures with nitrogen and organic matter.
During the flowering period of the tree, you can use chicken manure or green manure.

If you use litter, it is important to monitor its proportion and condition. An excess of this fertilizer can damage the roots of the tree.

After flowering, you can apply compost, manure and dry organic mixtures as top dressing. Without this, your tree will not bring the expected harvest. Fertilizer should be applied in liquid form to the trunk circles or for digging. Pay attention to the amount of precipitation. If there was little rain, then it is best to periodically pour liquid fertilizers into the soil.

How to feed a pear in spring

Pears, like other trees, need spring top dressing. It is fertilized with saltpeter or urea, sometimes chicken manure is used (this must be done carefully so as not to burn the tree). Saltpeter is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:50. The scheme of complementary foods for pears is very similar to complementary foods for cherries. Almost all top dressing of fruit trees in spring is the same. It is also very important to feed pear in May with the help of nitroammophoska, as well as during spring planting pears.

In order to properly apply the right amount of fertilizer, you need to understand that over the years, the area of \u200b\u200bthe pear trunk circle increases, therefore, more fertilizers need to be applied. Usually, the calculation is carried out per 1 square meter and multiplied by the area of the fertilized surface:

in a tree up to 4 years old, the area of \u200b\u200bthe free circle is 5 square meters. meters;
up to 8 years = 10 sq. m;
up to 12 years = 20 sq. m.

Approximate norms (in grams) for applying basic mineral fertilizers per 1 sq.m. fertilized area:

ammonium nitrate - 15-25,
urea - 10-20,
superphosphate - 40-60,
phosphate rock - 30-40,
potassium sulfate - 20-25,
potassium chloride - 15-20,
wood ash - 700,
complex fertilizers: ammophos - 70-80, nitroammophoska -70-80.

When preparing top dressing, adhere to the following ratio between the nutrients of fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). It is desirable that it be 3:1:4.

That is, the best pear dressing in the spring will turn out if you take 3 parts ammonium nitrate(it contains 35% nitrogen) + 1 part superphosphate(it contains 14% digestible phosphoric acid) + 4 parts potassium sulfate(it contains 48% potassium oxide).

Feeding shrubs in spring

In the spring, it is very important not to forget that top dressing is also important for fruit and berry bushes. For top dressing raspberries, currants, blackberries, gooseberries, mountain ash in the spring will do:

potassium nitrate, nitrophoska or azofoska;
an excellent option for fertilizer would be ecofoska or "Kemira - station wagon" (3 tablespoons per 10 liters of water);
you can also use urea with ash (3 tablespoons of urea and 0.5 cups of ash are put into 10 liters of water);
you can mix fertilizers, here is one of the recipes: add a handful of saltpeter to 1 large bucket of manure humus and apply this mixture throughout the season at 5-10 kg per hundred square meters

When to feed currants, raspberries and other fruit bushes:

At the time of active flowering, this is mid-May;
During the active growth of new shoots, in early June;
At the time when the berries are tied and poured, this is the second half of June - July;
The last time it is better to feed the shrubs after picking berries.

Any root top dressing is applied under shrubs after heavy watering or rain.

When overfeeding, young shoots do not ripen well and are more damaged by frost; pests and diseases gather on such bushes “with pleasure”. Everyone is able to determine a sufficient amount of complementary foods on their own, by growth. If the growth of raspberry shoots over the summer exceeds 1.8-2 m, then the dose should be reduced.

Top dressing of spruces in spring and other coniferous ornamental trees in spring

After planting spruce and other conifers, during the first five to seven years they need to be fed with organic or complex mineral fertilizers twice per season.

First dressing organic applied in early spring (as soon as the snow melts, fertilizers are applied to moist soil). The second in late June - early July.
Top dressing with mineral slow-acting fertilizer for the roots of coniferous trees is applied once, in the spring. If they are introduced later, the tree will slowly wood (nitrogen leads to the formation of new young branches) and will not prepare for winter, and as a result it may freeze.

The best top dressing for coniferous plants is considered to be ripe compost, which is placed under the roots of trees 3 cm thick and lightly dropped with a shovel, mixing with the existing top layer so that top dressing enters the soil faster. If there is no compost or humus available, then it will be replaced by fertilizers based on biohumus, which are sold in liquid form. They are diluted in water, then complex mineral fertilizers can be added to the solution.

Fertilizing trees and shrubs in spring is one of the components of a high yield. It should be produced taking into account the age of the plantations, the quality of the soil and the availability of irrigation. Three whales of fertilizers for fruit bushes and trees are potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Types of fertilizers

Top dressing of trees and shrubs in early spring is carried out either with mineral or organic substances.

They 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 potassium.

The basis of organic fertilizers is rotted organic matter - manure, manure, compost and green manures.

Top dressing with nitrogen fertilizers

Top dressing and shrubs in early spring with mineral fertilizers requires a careful 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:

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, you can add 1.5 kg of lime to 1 kg of ammonium sulfate.
Ammonium nitrate (ammonium nitrate) is an instant substance. The action is fast and effective on non-acidic soils. Plants absorb it well and react to it. If the soil itself is acidified, then it is better to dilute ammonium nitrate with limestone flour in a 1: 1 ratio. This will neutralize the acidity. This type of fertilizer can be applied both in spring and autumn at the rate of 150-200 kg per hectare, if this is the main component, and 100-150 kg per hectare in the form of top dressing.
Another effective top dressing of trees and shrubs in the spring is urea (urea). This fertilizer is highly concentrated and very effective in 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 using the liquid form of the concentrate.

The main requirement that should be observed when using nitrogen fertilizers is compliance with the instructions for use, proper dosing and safety precautions during storage and application to the soil.

Top dressing with phosphorus and potash fertilizers

Phosphorus and potash fertilizers help plants adapt to the environment, make them frost-resistant and strong. They also affect the quantity and quality of the crop.

Phosphorus fertilizers should be applied deeper into the ground, as they are poorly absorbed, and it is recommended to do this in early spring when digging the soil for the first time. The most popular phosphorus additives are superphosphate (which is based on sulfur, gypsum) and phosphorus 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 enough to add from 400 to 600 g of superphosphate to each planting hole. For adults, 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 qualitative changes in the taste of berries and fruits and the amount of the crop.

It is better not to use potash fertilizers in their pure form, but dilute them with zinc, iron or nitrogen substances. The most popular type of potash fertilizer is potassium sulphate, which does not contain chlorine and sodium harmful to plants.

Feeding trees and shrubs in spring with potash fertilizers ensures a good harvest. The lack of potassium in the soil affects the size of the fruits and their taste. Potassium sulphate can be applied to any type of soil at a dosage for top dressing of 20-25 g per 1 m 2. The best effect is given by a mixture of phosphate fertilizers with potash fertilizers.

Top dressing of 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 mandatory.

The presence of phosphorus in the soil is especially important for seedlings, since it is he who affects their growth and rapid adaptation. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers should be laid 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 laid in large quantities, with the expectation of several years. Fertilizing trees and shrubs with phosphorus in spring is important only for young trees, as it stimulates their rapid growth.

Other fertilizers for trees younger than two years old can be omitted only if the soil has not previously been completely depleted. Otherwise, it should first be carefully fertilized and restored, and only then lay the garden.

Feeding with organic matter

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 harm to it.

Fertilizing trees and shrubs in spring with manure is the most common procedure for summer residents. This is the most affordable and cheapest type of top dressing with a full range 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 the most complete with essential trace elements for plant growth and high yields. Most often, a liquid form of fertilizing fruit and berry crops is used.

To obtain a solution, any container is half filled with manure, and poured with 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 fertilizer composition is applied to moist soil.

If it is planned to fertilize fruit trees and shrubs in April, then, accordingly, a solution should be laid in March.

Top dressing with compost

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 waste - food or fallen leaves and tops. These are fermented plant residues, which were artificially prepared during the year. To do this, you need to choose a place that does not flood with water, and put all the components mixed with the ground there.

As the compost heap grows, it should be moistened so that rotting takes place 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 the heat of the sun. For better decay, plant waste and manure can be sprinkled with layers of slaked lime, and in order to have access to oxygen, layers of branches and straw are used, which allow the compost to “breathe”.

The finished composition can be used after 1-2 years. This is the purest and most useful fertilizer, which has a great effect on both the plants themselves and the ground.

Feeding stone fruit trees

For the quality development and growth of stone fruit trees, good nutrition is extremely important. Fertilizing fruit trees and shrubs in March is the key to a good harvest, as this helps plants to 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, nutrients will enter the soil and feed the roots. If the stone tree is young, then it is better to start top dressing in the 2nd year of its growth. To do this, it is enough to use urea at the rate of 20 g / 1 m 2. It should only be applied in the spring. In autumn, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers can be added.

When stone fruit trees - 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 applied.

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 weak harvest, then it is additionally recommended to add urea in the ratio of 5 g / 1 m 2 of the near-stem circle. For adult trees, top dressing is carried out around the perimeter of the entire crown.

It is very useful to use the aisles in the garden for sowing cultivated grasses such as 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.

Fertilizing berry bushes

In order for the berry plant to give good yields, the land should be prepared and fertilized in advance. For example, black currants need moist places, while raspberries, red currants and gooseberries need well-lit, warm areas of the garden.

Bookmarking the soil fertilizers should be done plentifully. Manure, humus or compost is applied 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, you can significantly reduce the top dressing of the soil.