How to feed an apple tree during and after flowering?

Every year, apple trees on summer cottages delight their caring gardeners with a tasty and nutritious harvest.Thanks to proper care, you can provide yourself with apple blanks for the whole winter. The quantity and quality of apples depends on the correctly selected variety, weather conditions, the place of planting of the tree and proper care of them. The last factor implies timely cutting, watering and application of various fertilizers into the soil.

Feed the apple tree need systematically.

Bringing in the land on which the culture grows, feeding, a person achieves the following goals:

• improves the quality of the soil;
• promotes the formation of ovaries;
• supports high yield of apples;
• helps to improve the quality of fruits;
• boosts culture immunity.

The gardener interested in the harvest feeds his offspring 4 times, and each of these top dressing has its own mission and purpose.

• The first fertilization is carried out in the spring from the third week of March to the third week of April. During this period, leaves form at the tree. The tree is awakened from a winter sleep, and it needs nutrients to return to working form. At this time, it is important not to overburden the soil with nitrogen, which is more for the growth of branches, and not for the formation of ovaries. In cold regions, this dressing is done in May.
• The second feeding occurs in June. Here, more than ever, the apple tree needs potassium, phosphorus, as well as trace elements necessary for the formation of flower buds.
• From August to September the tree is waiting for the first autumn dressing. Not all gardeners fertilize the soil under an apple tree in August. But timely feeding is certainly necessary at this time so that the tree has time to take all the nutrients before the onset of cold weather.
• The last fertilizer application is from September to October. Again, in the autumn, many people do not pay attention to their wards, but experienced gardeners still recommend feeding apples in the fall. Fertilizers will help trees to better transfer frosts, and by the spring they will still have a supply of necessary substances that apple trees will need.

There are 2 types of fertilization.

• Root fertilization occurs after watering the apple tree. Having saturated the tree with water in a volume of 15 liters per a five-year tree and 30 liters per a decade, fertilizers are distributed at the trunk of the tree and then mulch the soil with peat.
• The foliar method of fertilizer application differs from the first one in that the mineral substances are applied directly to the leaves of the apple tree with the help of a sprayer. Thus, they penetrate the plant faster and enrich it. But this type of fertilizer should be carried out a month before harvest.

Spraying apple trees is most often used as an additional fertilizer, as well as protection against many diseases and parasites. It is necessary that the liquid falls not only on the crown, but also on the skeletal branches. Spraying is performed 3 times - before the appearance of flowers, during flowering, and then a month after it. And also use solutions with manganese, zinc, potassium and boron. If you buy a means for feeding apples in specialized stores, then you need to carefully examine the composition (it should not contain chlorine compounds).

Ash, in which there is potassium and phosphorus, is also used for foliar feeding of fruit crops. First, a glass of ash diluted in 2 liters of hot water, and then this mother liquor is mixed in a ten-liter bucket of water. Apple trees are sprayed with organic matter. To do this, mix 500 g of slurry and 1 bucket of water. Often a teaspoon of urea is added to this solution, and the solution is sprayed with wood in the spring.

At different times, apple trees need different substances. During the flowering period, they need phosphorus and nitrogen. Closer to the appearance of ovaries need potassium. A young seedling of 2-3 years does not need fertilizers. Apple tree is picky to formulations. She will appreciate organic dressing, and she will also like mineral.

You can choose any option, for example:

• ammonium nitrate;
• urea;
• manure;
• nitroammofosk.

All fertilizers are divided by composition into organic and mineral. If you fertilize apples exclusively with organic matter, the choice is quite wide. This feeding is useful during the formation of ovaries.

Mostly experienced gardeners choose from several options for dressings.

• Bird droppings contain nitrogen. It is used in dry form along with sand to protect the root system of the tree. It lay 40 cm deep into the ground in a circle at a distance of 50 cm from the tree trunk.
• Mullein. The feeding of the mullein is rich in humus, which fills the roots of the tree with the most necessary. The best result for the apple gives a liquid version of this fertilizer. But it is not suitable for young stock, as it can spoil young roots.
• Horse dung bring to the soil in liquid form in the autumn.
• Compost is rich in potassium and phosphorus. There is a large concentration of various kinds of vegetation (leaves, grass, weeds, etc.) and vegetable garbage.

Mineral fertilizers as a top dressing also bring a lot of benefits for apple trees. True, they have both supporters and opponents. Some gardeners believe that mineral dressings are unsafe for both apple and humans. You can not refute this fact. Since, without respecting the dosages, it is possible and, however, cause irreparable harm to the culture. But if you follow all the instructions, the negative consequences can be minimized.

You can determine which mineral is missing for a tree by the following criteria:

• small leaves with a weak pigment speaks of a lack of nitrogen;
• reddish spots on dull leaves indicate phosphorus deficiency;
• the edges of the leaves twisted down and the bluish-green color indicate that the tree lacks potash compounds.

It is worth considering the properties of each mineral in more detail.

• Nitrogen has a positive effect on the growth of new branches and strengthens the roots of the tree, but it cannot be used to feed seedlings, because it can burn the entire root system of a young apple tree. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, urea.
• Yields can be increased by applying phosphorus-based fertilizers. These include phosphoric flour and superphosphate.
• Potassium compounds in the dressings form the resistance of fruit-bearing trees to various diseases. Such supplements as potash salt and potassium sulphate increase immunity.

There are also complex balanced fertilizers, which include several mineral products.

• Nitrophos - This is a complex of mineral compounds, which include phosphorus and nitrogen. It is used as the main fertilizer in the autumn and spring periods.
• Nitrofoska - It is a fertilizer that, in addition to nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, contains iron, boron and magnesium. It is used in spring and autumn as the main food, and in the summer - as a top dressing.
• Crystalline - It is a composite of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus compounds. It is used as a top dressing, which instantly penetrates the ground (only for top dressing of apple trees in spring).
• Ammophos - It is a top dressing, which consists of a large number of phosphorus compounds. Ammophos is fed to the culture as the main food in spring and autumn.
• Nitroammofosk - it is a mineral fertilizer that improves the quality of the soil in the fall or is used as the main feed in a liquid form in the spring. In the fall, fertilizer goes to feed trees.

Peat compost is another complex fertilizer that combines both mineral and organic components.

It is prepared according to the following scheme:

• in a box with garden soil lay out a layer of peat up to 50 cm thick and cover it with a ten-centimeter layer of waste vegetables and vegetation without seeds;
• having compacted the top layer, this “cake” is left to be composted for 1–2 years;
• peat in combination with nitrogen-phosphorus compounds enriches and restores the soil thanks to useful substances.

Ash is also used as a fertilizer for soil under fruit trees. It reduces the acidity of the soil and enriches it with potassium and calcium. This fertilizer is safe due to the absence of harmful nitrates, which are contained in some mineral fertilizers, because they can accumulate in the soil, and then in the fruit. For the preparation of such top dressing you will need ash (2 kg) and a bucket of water. Mixing, you need to insist the solution for about 24 hours, then spend watering in dry weather at the rate of 2 liters per 1 tree. The ideal period for applying such fertilizers is spring. With the help of this food you can increase the yield, improve the quality and taste of apples.

To improve the fruiting, strengthening the roots and the general immunity of the tree, fertilizers should be injected according to a schedule that shows at what time of year fertilizing is necessary, with what fertilizer, and in what amount. For different regions, the timing of fertilization in the soil is different. For example, in the fall in the suburbs of apple trees are fertilized later than in the Urals or in Siberia. In this regard, it is necessary to take into account all factors, including weather factors, which undoubtedly affect the processes of apple assimilation of nutrients obtained by feeding.

Fertilizers are applied according to the following schedule:

1. the first feeding is before opening the kidneys;
2. the second feeding - with increasing ovaries up to 2 cm in diameter;
3. the third feeding - a month after the appearance of flowers;
4. fourth feeding - after picking apples.

When planting seedlings will need components such as:

• 1 kg of ash per 1 sapling;
• 1 bucket of humus per 10 liters;
• 3 buckets of 5 liters of compost;
• 3 buckets of peat.

All ingredients are mixed and laid out on the pits, in which seedlings are seated. Under no circumstances should you feed seedlings with mineral fertilizer.

After the snow of the apple tree fertilize with the help of sprayers with the following compositions:

• for one-year-old trees, ammonium nitrate 20 g per 10 l of water is used;
• for an adult apple - ammonium nitrate 40 g per 10 liters of water;
• potassium sulfate 5 g per 5 l of water (for a tree of any age).

Peat, bird droppings, and manure are the best options for feeding for the fruit-bearing tree in the spring. Raw materials in proportions 1: 3 need to be mixed with water and then insist 2 weeks, occasionally shaking. This solution will need to be diluted with a bucket of water and feed the apple tree. Mineral fertilizers help the grower to cope with many fungal diseases of trees. So, for the prevention of fungus in the spring, as well as before the appearance of flowers use 3% ammonium nitrate in the amount of 30 g per bucket of water. During the growing season, ammonium sulfate 3% in a volume of 20 g per bucket of water can help with this ailment.

During the flowering period, usually use root feeding. Feed most often complex mineral compounds.

To do this, take the following ingredients:

• 400 g of potassium sulfate;
• 500 g of superphosphate;
• 250 g of urea;
• 100 liters of water.

This mixture is infused for about a week. When using it for 1 apple tree, 4 mix buckets are needed. And if possible, add 5 kg of mullein or 2.5 kg of bird droppings here.

And also often use the following compounds:

• 1 l of water and 1 g of superphosphate;
• 1 liter of water and 6 g of potassium sulfate;
• 1 l of water and 50 g of urea;
• 1 bucket of water and 5 kg of mullein;
• 1 bucket of water and 2 kg of chicken litter.

Urea as a fertilizer is used both in irrigation and spraying. Mix 20 g of dry urea with 10 l of water, then spray the branches with this solution.For this method of feeding, Kemira agrochemical 20 g per 1 bucket of water is also used.

For feeding fruit tree after flowering use the following compounds:

• 1 g of sodium humate and 50 g of nitrophoska per 10 liters of water at the rate of 3 mixture buckets per 1 apple tree;
• top dressing from infusion of a grass on water in proportions 1: 10; they insist on it for 20 days and use 20 liters of infusion under 1 tree.

If foliar application is used, the following products are best for spraying:

• urea 50g per bucket of water;
• Infused with warm water for at least a day; ash 200g per bucket of water.

This feeding is carried out in the morning or evening, when the sun is still low, so the risk of leaf burn is minimal. It is possible to process with this solution not only a crown, but also branches with a tree trunk. Before the procedure, it is necessary to check the concentration of the solution on 1 branch.

Top dressing of apple trees in autumn is carried out in late August or early September. In the autumn, nitrogen fertilizers are not applied, provoking the growth of new branches. Phosphorus and potassium are minerals that are necessary for the tree before the winter cold. In the presence of leaves on the tree, foliar feeding is carried out by spraying them with a solution of superphosphate at the rate of 150 g per bucket of water. If the root method is used, fertilizers, more often manure, are scattered on the circle around the tree and dug up the soil to a depth of 20 cm. It is recommended to use only used manure and in no case be fresh. Two buckets of manure will be enough for 1 apple tree. After digging, it is necessary to water the soil so that useful substances get to the root system of the tree faster.

In early October, additional supplements are injected, for example, a slurry solution. For its preparation, the barrel is filled with one-third manure and filled with water, stirring occasionally for 3 days. After diluting the slush in proportions 1: 5 with water, this solution pours the soil under the tree.

The following products are also used for feeding trees in autumn:

• ash;
• phosphoric flour;
• potassium sulfate;
• bone flour.

Bonemeal contains calcium, which gives the fruit flavor. It begins its work after 8 months, so it is necessary to inject bone meal after harvesting apples, and just in the spring, calcium will begin to work on the formation of the taste of future apples. Bone meal is used once every three years. Infrequently, but it is also possible to meet the use of fish meal as a nutritional raw material. This flour works on the damaged root system and deoxidizes the soil. It also contains a lot of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. Ash enriches the soil with potassium, but it cannot be added along with nitrogen and compost, because it neutralizes their action.

Feeding up an apple tree, it is necessary to understand that feeding of a young and adult plant is different. The roots of young trees can be easily traumatized by improper dosage of the drugs used in the top dressing. Its incorrect use leads to their damage and further death of the plant.

Fertilizer, which is invested in the landing hole, can last for 3 years, as the apple tree finds its food in different layers of the earth. However, this only works on fertile soils. If the soil is watered, fertilizing will have to be entered every year. The first fertilizer for young trees is introduced 2 years after planting. Before this, it is necessary to water the soil well, put the fertilizer on the tree trunk at a distance of 25 cm and loosen the soil. In no case can not scatter dressing at the trunk of a tree - you can just burn the roots of the seedling.

After 3 years, when the root system has formed, they begin to feed the top dressing into the tree trunk to a depth of 40 cm. To do this, dig circular grooves at the trunk of the tree or arrange for 1 square meter. m 2 or 3 wells up to 40 cm deep, which are filled with nutrient solution. Mature trees are fertilized with both organic and mineral raw materials. Combining these two options gives the best result. If you add peat and phosphorus to manure, then such feeding will bear fruit. If a mixture of superphosphate with manure is used as a fertilizer, then the yield will be higher than after fertilizing with the same fertilizers separately. Therefore, for adult trees, composite fertilizers from organic matter and minerals are the best feeding, since it increases the yield several times.

To eliminate problems in time, you need to closely monitor such changes as:

• if the leaves turn pale or turn yellow, this is due to a lack of nitrogen;
• dark brown stripes indicate a lack of potassium;
• leaf darkening indicates phosphorus deficiency;
• iron deficiency can lead to chlorosis;
• leaf rolling in the rosettes indicates a lack of zinc;
• yellow leaves with red veins - an indicator of a lack of boron.

Any visible changes can lead to lower yields, the number of apples decreases, they become small and tasteless. If there was no time for root dressing in the spring, you should try to implement it in the summer with the help of a sprayer in order to instantly nourish the tree with useful minerals. This type of fertilizer application is assimilated within 2–3 days.

In order not to ruin your trees, and every year to get excellent harvest of apples, you must observe the following rules:

• the first top dressing is done before the tree blossoms;
• during the growing season it is quite enough to fertilize 3 or 4 times in the soil or by the foliar method;
• between feedings should be a period of at least 10-14 days;
• radical feeding is introduced only in the tree trunk at a distance of 60 cm from the trunk of an adult tree, so as not to burn the roots of the apple tree; outer diameter must not be larger than the crown projection onto the ground;
• one month before harvesting, complete all the manipulations on fertilizing with both the root and foliar method;
• you should always take into account the age of the tree before the decision to apply fertilizer;
• the high efficiency of the fertilizer is determined by its proper placement in the stem.

There are many options for how to increase the yield of apple trees, but fertilization is one of the most successful. If a gardener wants his apple tree to bear fruit every year, in his hands, pick the correct feeding schedule and select all the ingredients for good nutrition of the plant. The result of such care will be a beautiful fruit-bearing tree, which will delight you with delicious apples and beautiful color.

How and how to fertilize an apple tree, see the following video.