What is the best time in Spring to fertilize trees?

General Fruit Growing
1

Should it be done before the tree comes to life around late February? Or is it better done once the tree awakens, say late March / early April?

Thanks

2

Best time is now in early dormancy, and then again I mid-late spring after it is actively growing. Most of the spring flush of growth is driven by stored nutrients from the prior year. No point in fertilizing when the soil is colder than 40 degrees. The roots still grow, but Nitrogen is less available at those temperatures and will just leach out of the soil.

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3

i fertilize about a month before leaf out or in
oct. after leaf fall . in late spring i use a low n higher p and k fert. to aid fruiting. trees i only fert in early spring or fall.

4

Agree

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5

I have read to put the fertilizer on the ground around the trees after the ground freezes, When the snow melts the fertilizer slowly gets released into the soil around the tree.

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6

It’s of far more use to the trees in the fall. Around the time of snowmelt, the ground is too cold for the trees to take up the nutrients effectively, so most of it is just washed away.

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7

That is basically what I was referring to . Putting it down before the ground freezes and letting the snow help with water so the trees get the fertilizer. Maybe I said it incorrectly. Thanks for making it more clear.

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8

You want it to be getting to the roots well before the ground freezes. If it’s coming with the snow melt, it just washes away.

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9

Good catch!

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