How to feed an apple tree in the fall to ensure a good winter and a good harvest

Apple

Apple trees are the most common fruit trees in Russian orchards. They are easy to grow, but produce good fruit only with proper care. To ensure a bountiful harvest next year, apple trees must be fertilized in the fall. This provides the root system with the minerals it needs for development, boosts immunity, and increases the chances of a successful winter.

The need for autumn feeding

An apple tree expends a great deal of energy during fruiting. The tree uses all the nutrients stored since spring to grow and form fruit. Therefore, in the fall, it is necessary to replenish the resulting deficiency by applying fertilizer to the soil. Timely fertilization reduces the risk of infection. The stored nutrients increase the fruit tree's frost resistance. If the soil is balanced in nutrients, the plant develops strong immunity to adverse factors.

Fertilizing apple trees in the fall ensures a bountiful harvest the following year. The plant produces large, sweet fruits. Fertilizing is especially necessary when planting apple trees in the fall. Proper fertilization increases their chances of successfully overwintering.

Timing of fertilizer application

The timing of autumn fertilization depends on the regional climate. It usually begins after the harvest. While green leaves remain on the fruit tree's branches, it continues to actively absorb nutrients from the soil. Fertilizers are applied 3-5 weeks before the first frost to allow the tree time to absorb them and prepare for the coming cold weather.

To increase frost resistance, experienced gardeners recommend stopping watering apple trees as early as September. Then, begin applying mineral and organic fertilizers to the still-warm soil. During this time, the plant's root system actively absorbs nutrients dissolved in the soil. When applying fertilizer, consider the end of fruiting.

Important!

Late-ripening varieties should be fertilized no later than 15 days before the first autumn frost. Otherwise, the plant will not have time to absorb the nutrients.

On average, autumn fertilization of apple trees is carried out from mid-August to the first ten days of October. Depending on the region, the timing of fertilization is as follows:

in the Urals and Siberia – in the second half of August;
in the Leningrad region – until mid-September;
in the Moscow region and other regions of the Central Belt - in the second half of September;
in the southern part of Russia – in early October.

Preparing for fertilization

Before fertilizing, several preparatory steps must be taken. This begins with cleaning the fruit tree. If lichen or moss is found on the trunk, it is carefully removed. Beforehand, the ground around the apple tree is covered with old newspapers or plastic sheeting. The same procedure is followed for any loose bark, which is often a nesting ground for insect pests. Therefore, any suspicious debris should be immediately burned.

Next, sanitary pruning for the winter begins. All dried branches, broken shoots, or those showing signs of infection are removed. The remaining exposed cuts are sealed with garden pitch. This prevents pathogens and dangerous insects from penetrating into the plant tissue. To protect against fungus and mold, the trunk and lower parts of the skeletal branches are coated with antiseptic solutions. After the solution dries, whitewash is applied. This protects the fruit tree from rodent damage and sunburn.

Types of fertilizers

To increase yield next year, apple trees should be fertilized with phosphorus and potassium in the fall. These nutrients strengthen the fruit tree's immunity and increase its winter hardiness. In the fall, the plant ends its active growth phase. Therefore, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are not used during this period. Such fertilizers stimulate vegetative growth. When applied, the apple tree does not enter a dormant phase, weakening and freezing from the winter cold.

Before adding nutrients, consider the soil composition, or more specifically, its acidity. If this level exceeds the permissible norm, even with abundant flowering, a bountiful harvest will not be achieved. To neutralize high acidity, dolomite flour, crushed chalk, slaked lime, or wood ash are added. The latter substance enriches the soil with phosphorus and potassium, making it particularly popular among gardeners. If the soil is too alkaline, fruit trees will lag in growth. To normalize the soil, wood shavings or high-moor peat are added.

Mineral fertilizers

With the onset of autumn, apple trees can be fertilized with mineral fertilizers. The application method should be chosen based on the weather. If the first frost is within 20 days, the nutrients are applied as liquid solutions.

Important!

Dry granular fertilizers dissolve over several months and are used after harvesting.

In autumn, apple trees can be fed with the following substances:

phosphate flour;
simple or double superphosphate;
potassium sulfate;
potassium monophosphate;
potassium chloride.

For young plants over two years old, use a solution of 1 bucket of water, 2 tablespoons of potassium sulfate, and the same amount of superphosphate. For mature apple trees, apply the same dry ingredients at a rate of 30 g per plant.

Phosphorus fertilizers dissolve poorly in liquid. Therefore, for maximum effect, they should not simply be sprinkled around the trunk; the soil should be dug up and watered thoroughly. Potassium chloride is applied only in the fall. This allows the fertilizer to neutralize before spring. This fertilizer is used for areas with light, sandy soil. In all other cases, potassium sulfate is more suitable.

Organic fertilizers

In the fall, gardeners often prefer organic fertilizers. Over the winter, the added substances rot, enriching the soil with useful elements and improving its structure. Organic fertilizer is spread over the soil near the trunk and dug in. Fruit-bearing trees require 6 kg per 1 m² of soil. Young trees require half that amount.

To ensure that apple trees survive the winter successfully, the following fertilizers are applied:

liquid manure;
humus;
compost;
peat;
wood ash;
bird droppings;
green manure.

Important!

Fresh manure or bird droppings should not be used as fertilizer. They burn the roots and encourage excessive branch growth.

Well-rotted mullein contains beneficial microflora, making it very useful for improving soil structure. It is diluted with water at a ratio of 1:5 and used to water the soil around the trunk. Bird droppings have a higher concentration of nutrients, so they are mixed with water at a ratio of 1:10.

Wood ash is a good soil fertilizer. It can be applied dry while digging around the tree trunks or dissolved in water first. Wood ash is rich in potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and beneficial microelements. It reduces soil acidity. Green manure is applied to combat fungi, pathogens, and pests. To do this, mow the grass and bury it in the tree trunks or spread it on top as mulch.

Folk remedies

Some gardeners successfully fertilize apple trees using time-tested folk methods. These include:

Bone meal, used to reduce soil acidity and saturate it with magnesium, phosphorus and calcium.
Yeast that stimulates the development of young seedlings. This fertilizer enriches the soil with nutrients, stimulates plant tissue growth, and activates metabolic processes.

Methods of applying fertilizers

Fertilization in the fall can be done in several ways:

root;
foliar;
hole bookmark.

When choosing a specific method, consider the age of the fruit tree, the regional climate, and the timing of fertilization. Substances that are poorly soluble in water are applied during tillage. Highly soluble preparations are used in liquid form for soil irrigation and crown spraying.

When applying fertilizer, be sure to follow the recommendations on the product packaging or the advice of experienced gardeners. Exceeding the permissible concentration will worsen the health of the fruit tree, prevent the onset of dormancy, and reduce winter hardiness. For young seedlings, the concentration of the fertilizer used should be halved.

Foliar method

Spraying the crown with nutrient solutions is done while the tree still has green foliage. The entire plant is treated, including the trunk and the soil around the trunk. When using some products, apply the solution generously to the bark. This treatment method is used for plants showing signs of infection. The nutrients are quickly absorbed by plant tissue. The effect of the treatment becomes noticeable within a few days. However, the effect of spraying wears off after three weeks. Water-soluble products are suitable for foliar treatment:

mineral complexes;
superphosphate;
potassium sulfate.

Root method

This fertilization method is most often used in the fall. Before fertilizing, the soil around the tree trunk is watered thoroughly to reduce the risk of root burn. Fertilizers are applied dry during tillage or dissolved in water beforehand and then watered.

Important!

For columnar apple trees, this method of fertilizing should be used with caution. Their roots are shallow, so the soil should be loosened to a depth of no more than 10 cm.

The dry fertilizers are spread over the tree trunk area and the soil is tilled to a depth of 15 cm. The area is then moistened and the top layer is covered with organic matter: straw, grass clippings, peat, or sawdust. Dry mineral supplements or organic matter are added in a similar manner. Another option for root fertilization is to apply the fertilizer to a furrow spaced 0.5 m from the center. The fertilizers are applied to a depth of 20 cm and covered with soil.

Bookmarking in the holes

This method is used to fertilize mature, fruit-bearing apple trees. Several holes are dug 0.5 meters from the center to a depth of 40 cm. Organic matter or mineral supplements are added. The soil is then tilled and thoroughly moistened. The surface layer of the treated area is covered with a layer of mulch to insulate the roots before frost sets in. This allows the beneficial elements to gradually penetrate the tree's roots. This is enough to ensure the plant survives the winter months and is provided with all the necessary nutrients in the spring.

Features of fertilizing apple trees of different ages

Apple trees that are already bearing fruit require different fertilizers than young ones. Typically, the plant begins to bear fruit five years after planting. Before this age, it is considered young and requires a reduced concentration of nutrients.

Before harvesting the first crop, fruit trees are fed with the following preparations:

A liquid solution of 10 liters of water, 20 g of superphosphate, and 15 g of potassium sulfate. These same substances can also be added as dry granules when digging into the soil.
A solution of potassium monophosphate from 10 g of the preparation per 1 bucket of water.
Wood ash at the rate of 100 g per 1 bucket of water.

Advice!

Monopotassium phosphate is the most effective fertilizer for young apple trees. It dissolves quickly and is easily absorbed by the root system. However, it is more expensive than other fertilizers.

Mature fruit-bearing apple trees are fed with the following substances:

a solution of 30 g of superphosphate, 20 g of potassium sulfate and 10 l of water;
a solution of 1 bucket of water and 15 g of potassium monophosphate;
wood ash in the amount of 200 g per 1 m² of the tree trunk circle.