Feed fruiting trees

In order for a tree to produce fruits it needs to be fertilised well. But well does mean a lot!

Young fruiting trees do not require fertilisation except in poor soil.

Young or old, different needs
The age of a tree determines the type of fertilisation required. So, young fruiting trees which are still growing do not require any particular kind of care. Treat them as shrubs, mixing a fertiliser with compost or potting compost if the soil is poor and spread it on the ground’s surface. The important for them is to establish well their roots and form a strong trunk.

At maturity
When a tree starts producing fruits, fertilising will help it to take the maximum fruits to the final stage. Plan for dividing the supply, always a little bit underneath the dose indicated on the packaging rather than a copious supply which could burn the roots and could lead to the fruits falling. Two to three supplies with a fast acting fertiliser during the season are more than sufficient except if your soil is particularly bad (ballast or very sandy). In that case, a layer of compost 5 to 10cm deep at the base, on 1 to 2 metres around the tree’s trunk will be useful to encourage the soil’s microbial life.

Slow release fertilisers like bone meal do not produce any result before several weeks, even several months. Supply them early enough in order for the nutritional ingredients to benefit the tree during its fructification’s period that is to say between January and March.

Sober fruit trees
All the fruiting trees do not require a little help in order to produce fruits. Cherry trees, apple and pear trees like this little help, whereas Apricot, Plum and Peach trees must only be fed if the soil is poor. Small fruits do not necessarily mean that the tree is hungry: it might be the sign of a hidden drought during the season

In practice
Hoe the soil at the trees’ bases before giving any supply. There is no need to bury the fertiliser deeply and you can spread it on the surface and then hoe again. You can also bury it at the bottom of holes made using an asparagus gouge, at the vertical of the branches. A little watering afterwards is always useful.

Spread organic fertiliser preferably during the resting season.

Spread organic fertiliser preferably during the resting season.

Hoe the soil after the supply.

Good to know
Do not give any fertiliser in the following cases:
- Important drought during the season: trees require most importantly water and any fertiliser’s supply would burn their roots;
- A diseased tree or a tree plagued by stinging insects: fertilisers only encourage the presence of insects and you must sort out this problem first, before envisaging any fertilization.