What fertilizers should I use to feed my pear tree in the fall for a good harvest?

During the growing season, nutrients in the soil decrease, and by autumn, the tree has used up almost all its reserves. Fruiting requires a significant amount of resources. Fertilizers and preparations will help restore the plants' strength for future fruiting and help them survive the winter. Pear trees are fed three times in the fall. Folk remedies are also used. fertilizer for fruit trees.

Why is autumn feeding of pears necessary?

Plant nutrition is essential. Without minerals, fruit will not set, the harvest will be meager, and the fruit will be small. If a pear tree isn't fertilized for several years, it will stop bearing fruit. Fertilizers also increase the tree's resistance to disease. After harvesting, the pear tree is completely exhausted; it has expended all its energy on ripening the fruit, so fertilize the trees in the fall before winter.

Proper fertilization will help the tree survive the frosty winter and fully recover in time for spring flowering. The autumn reserves will be enough for a new fruiting season next year.

Timing and rules for applying fertilizer to pears in autumn

The first autumn fertilizers are applied in September, after the harvest, when the leaves have completely turned yellow and are beginning to fall. Pear trees can be fed in the fall until early November, with feeding continued for two months. Fertilizing trees during the cold season is not recommended, as the root system cannot absorb nutrients at low temperatures.

If fertilizers are added later and temperatures rise above freezing, the buds may swell again, which is dangerous for future fruiting. A sudden frost may occur, freezing the buds and preventing flowering the following year.

Autumn fertilization is scheduled from September 10th to early November. The first fertilization is done after fruiting, and the second fertilization is done three weeks after the first fertilization. The third fertilization is done in winter—three weeks before the first frost—to help the plant survive the winter more easily.

Scheme and methods of feeding pears in autumn:

1. Fruit trees are fertilized in three ways: in furrows, under tillage, and using foliar feeding. Dry nutrient mixtures are added under tillage, distributed in a circle around the trunk, and then the soil is tilled. The diameter of the trunk around the tree should be equal to the width of the crown. This is easily visible on a sunny day, when the foliage casts a shadow on the ground.
2. The liquid mixtures are added to grooves dug around the tree. The grooves are dug 30 cm deep near mature trees and 15-20 cm deep near young trees aged 3-7 years. The solutions are poured into the grooves and covered with soil.
3. Foliar feeding is done by spraying the tree's crown with complex preparations. This procedure is performed once in the fall. The product is diluted more strongly than for root fertilization; the younger the pear tree, the lower the concentration of the preparation.

The impact of autumn fertilizing on crop yields

Autumn fertilization will ensure a bountiful harvest and larger fruit. Proper nutrition also influences the taste of the fruit; it will be sweeter, juicier, and more aromatic. Fertilizers are applied to young plants during tillage.

Each variety has its own fruiting period and characteristics. Therefore, when applying fertilizers, the variety's qualities and the plant's age are taken into account. Young trees produce poor yields; fruiting begins at age four, so fertilizers are used only for growth and development until the tree is four or five years old.

Fertilizers for pears in autumn

The type of fertilizer to add and its dosage depend on the tree's condition and age. Growth-enhancing substances should not be added before winter. Nitrogen supplements are undesirable.

After fruiting

In September after fruit harvesting Phosphorus-potassium mixtures are added. These substances promote bud formation and ensure wood development. The earlier you begin fertilizing the pear tree, the better it will prepare for winter. Potassium supplements draw moisture out of the tree, thicken the sap, and prevent the tree from freezing in winter.

After harvesting, autumn work is carried out along with fertilizing:

• collection and burning of leaves;
• removal of garbage, branches, stones;
• weeding around the tree trunk circle;
• loosening the soil;
• abundant watering;
• digging around the tree;
• application of fertilizers;
• wood treatment against pests and diseases;
• mulching the soil.

To guarantee a future harvest

Pear does not like soil with high acidity. Therefore Liming is often done in the fallLime, chalk, dolomite flour and ash are added.

For alkaline soils, use peat and sawdust. These substances are added during autumn tilling after watering.

Autumn feeding of pears for wintering

Fertilizers are needed to strengthen the plant's immunity and increase the pear's resistance to cold and frost. Furrows are dug around the tree and potassium sulfate and superphosphate are added. A tablespoon of each is added per square meter of soil.

Ten to fourteen days before temperatures drop below freezing, add peat and rotted cow manure to the soil beneath the tree. For the winter, cover the soil with mulch—straw, peat, sawdust, or hay. Add manure sparingly to avoid burning the rhizomes.

Types of fertilizers

Autumn fertilization of pear trees involves adding organic and mineral supplements around the trunk. Traditional nutritional methods are also used. Fertilizers are applied after rain or watering.

Organic

Organic fertilizers include manure, compost, humus, and bird droppings. They are rich in nitrogen, which promotes the development of foliage and new branches, and therefore, larger fruit sets. Fertilizing pear trees with organic fertilizer should be done after harvest, when the plant is weakened. Organic amendments improve the soil structure, making it light and loose. If the soil is rich in humus, there is no need to add nutrients.

Add organic matter to the tree's trunk. Wood ash is effective for pear trees: add 150-200 grams of ash per square meter around the tree during tillage. Ash from chemical products should not be used. After fertilizing, cover the soil with a 15-20 cm layer of peat and humus.

Mineral fertilizers

Minerals essential for tree regeneration. Potassium, phosphorus, iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium help trees survive the winter. These minerals promote bark restoration, support the immune system, and resistance to disease and insects.

Example of a mixture:

• potassium chloride – 1 tbsp;
• superphosphate – 2 tbsp. l.;
• a bucket of water.

The solution is sprayed on the foliage and branches after harvest. The same solution is also applied to the roots of trees, at a rate of 10 liters per square meter. Additionally, the following are added per 10 liters of liquid: 10 g of zinc, 5 g of copper, 15 g of boric acid, and 180 g of magnesium.

Composition of dry fertilizer mixture:

• phosphate rock – 1.5 tbsp. l.;
• potassium chloride – 1 tbsp;
• potassium sulfate – 1 tbsp;
• urea – 1 tbsp;
• ash – 400–500 g;
• Ammophoska – 3 spoons.

Sprinkle this mixture around the tree and dig the soil. Distribute all fertilizer evenly around the trunk. Water the soil thoroughly before applying.

Traditional methods

Folk remedies contain primarily organic ingredients. They are used in small garden plots and vegetable gardens. Industrial production uses different preparations. The advantage of folk remedies is that they are environmentally friendly and safe for plants.

Folk remedies:

1. Mullein or manure is diluted with water, the grass is added, and the mixture is left to steep. This mixture contains nitrogen, so it should be added sparingly to avoid burning the roots.
2. Humus is a safer and more nutritious solution. It is added during digging.
3. Ash is rich in microelements and protects against pests.
4. Bone meal contains nitrogen and calcium. It is used only once every four years because it takes a long time to decompose. It is added during tillage.

Features of autumn feeding by region

In different regions of the country, fall fertilization of pear trees occurs in different months of the fall, depending on climate and weather conditions. The optimal time for fertilization is September. Before fertilization, trees are inspected for fungal infections and treated. Diseased, dead, and old branches are pruned.

Fertilization periods by region:

• Siberian region and the Urals – August 15-30;
• middle zone, Moscow region – end of September, beginning of October;
• south of the country – mid-October.

When applying fertilizers, be sure to consider the age of the trees. Young trees require less fertilizer than older pear trees. Young trees are those that have not yet borne fruit and are up to 4-5 years old.

Advice from the pros

To avoid harming the plants, pear trees need to be fertilized promptly and adequately in the fall. Professional advice and recommendations will help you avoid serious mistakes when growing fruit-bearing trees.

Recommendations:

1. Before winter dormancy, the tree is watered thoroughly. 20 liters of water are used per plant.
2. All fertilizers are applied strictly according to the instructions so as not to burn the rhizome.
3. Stores sell antiseptics for treating fruit trees against fungus. After spraying, the trunks are whitewashed.
4. When adding fertilizers to the root, step back 50 cm from the trunk.
5. Last year's mulch is removed in the spring, and new mulch is laid in the fall after fertilizing.
6. Potassium and nitrogen are applied separately; they are incompatible and should be applied at different times.
7. If the weather is dry and there is no rain, then liquid fertilizers are used.
8. Organic matter is added only to trees older than 5 years.
9. Spraying with fertilizers is carried out thoroughly, it is necessary to cover all the foliage, all the branches, and the trunk.
10. Fertilizers should not be applied before frost, as they will not be absorbed by the plants during the cold. Fertilizers should be applied 25-30 days before the first frost.
11. If a pear tree lacks phosphorus, its yield will decrease. If the leaves turn pale, it's a nitrogen deficiency. A potassium deficiency causes the leaves to become spotted and curl.

Fertilizers and folk remedies are selected for pears based on the variety and growing region. The dosage of fertilizer for a specific plant is determined based on the tree's age. Properly fertilized pears will be disease-free in the fall, and the following year they will bloom profusely and produce a good harvest.