Content
In order to grow a beautiful pear orchard, regular and proper care is necessary. One of the main processes is feeding. Every gardener who grows fruit trees should know what fertilizers are needed for pears in the fall. Timely, proper fertilizing is the key to a good harvest next season.
Why feed a pear in the fall?
Pear feeding is done in spring, summer and autumn. Autumn feeding is especially important, since the yield and quality of the fruit depends on it. It is needed to compensate for the nutrients lost by the plant during growth and fruiting, as well as to increase resistance to winter cold. During low temperatures, an unprepared tree may die.
Features of autumn feeding of pears in winter
Autumn fertilizing is applied to the tree trunk circle, retreating 60 cm from the tree trunk. It will allow the plant to store all the necessary nutrients for a long winter. For young seedlings, fertilizing is applied through digging, 2 years after planting.If the soil was treated before planting and the pit was fertilized according to the rules, the young tree is not fed.
If you do not perform autumn feeding, you can observe:
- decreased immunity;
- deterioration in the taste of fruits;
- shredding leaves.
Timing of autumn feeding
In autumn, the pear is fertilized 2 times. The first - after removing the fruits. For this purpose, mineral complexes with nitrogen are used. Nitrogen is added to restore strength after fruiting, no later than the beginning of September. If you add nitrogen later, the plant will begin to actively grow green mass, which will have a detrimental effect on the tree in winter.
Second, depending on the region of growth, fertilizing is applied from mid-September to mid-November, when the foliage turns yellow by more than 30%. During this period, peat, rotted manure or humus are added. This method will not only enrich the pear with essential microelements, but will also become a warm pillow for the roots. The nutrient layer must be at least 15 cm.
How to feed a pear in the fall
A fruit tree can grow in one place for more than 20 years. During this time, the root system sucks out all the juices and nutrients from the ground. Therefore, it is necessary to fertilize regularly. In autumn, pears are fed with organic and mineral fertilizers.
Mineral fertilizers for pears in autumn
To grow a rich harvest, chemical additives are needed. A correctly used dose will improve productivity, normalize the metabolic process, have a positive effect on the formation of flower buds and strengthen the immune system. For dwarf, columnar and low-growing varieties, the dosage should be one third lower.
Potassium is very important for pears, especially before wintering.After all, this microelement helps the crop to withstand winter cold. It removes excess moisture from the cells, which leads to thickening of the juice.
Wood ash is a popular plant material, but it is rational to apply it only to heavy clay soil. The optimal dosage is 1 tbsp. per 1 sq. m. Wood ash is laid out under the pear tree, spilled generously, the soil is mulched with a 15 cm layer of straw, dry leaves, spruce needles or cones.
Of the ready-made preparations, the drug “Kalimagnesia” is used. This supplement contains not only potassium, but also magnesium. To dilute the fertilizer, add 20 g of the drug to 10 liters of water. The prepared solution is poured onto the tree trunk circle. You can also use potassium sulfate, diluting it strictly according to the instructions.
Phosphorus is responsible for the growth and development of the plant. A lack of microelement affects the quality of emerging buds and further productivity. Phosphorus deficiency can be determined by untimely leaf fall and small leaf blade size. For 1 sq. m. you need to add one of the drugs:
- simple superphosphate – 45 g;
- double – 30 g;
- granulated – 45 g.
The best results will be achieved by applying fertilizer to the holes. To do this, holes are dug around the trunk to a depth of 20 cm. The required dosage of fertilizing is placed in each hole, sprinkled with soil, spilled and mulched.
Also, many gardeners use combined fertilizers. They are valued for their ease of use and good results. The composition includes not only phosphorus and potassium, but also a specialized component for the garden. The most popular preparations: “Orchard”, “Universal”, “Autumn for garden crops”.When using fertilizers, you must carefully read the instructions and follow the recommended dosage.
Most gardeners prepare complex mineral supplements on their own.
Option #1
- potassium chloride – 1 tbsp. l.;
- superphosphate – 2 tbsp. l.;
- water – 10 l.
All ingredients are mixed in warm water until completely dissolved. The prepared fertilizer is used to irrigate the tree trunk circle.
Option No. 2
Use immediately after fruiting, before the first autumn month.
- urea - 1 tbsp. l.;
- superphosphate – 2 tbsp. l.;
- potassium chloride – 1 tbsp. l.;
- phosphate rock – 1.5 tbsp. l.;
- ash – 2 tbsp.;
- ammophoska – 3 tbsp. l.
All ingredients are mixed and scattered at a distance of 60 cm from the trunk. After feeding, the soil is shed generously.
Fertilizing pears in the fall with manure
Organic fertilizers are the most reliable and effective fertilizers. It is impossible to grow an environmentally friendly crop without organic matter. Manure remains a favorite from ancient times to this day. The frequency of application depends on the age of the tree and the fertility of the soil:
- up to 7 years - no more than 2 buckets per sq. m;
- over 8 years – 3-4 buckets.
Bird droppings are a lightweight option that can be placed under the pear tree in dry form. Dry granules are buried in the ground around the tree trunk and shed generously.
Other organic fertilizers
Pears can be fertilized in the fall with other fertilizers, such as:
- ash from burning potato tops and sunflowers, mixed with humus;
- compost - spread around the trunk with a thickness of at least 10 cm;
- green manure - sown in a tree trunk circle in spring or autumn.
Rules for applying fertilizing
The main feature of fertilizing is the penetration of the root system. Therefore, shallow grooves are made in advance into which mineral fertilizers dissolved in water are added.
After applying the fertilizer, the soil is shed generously. If fertilizing is applied in rainy weather, watering is not necessary. To determine the degree of soil moisture, you need to take a lump of earth from a depth of 10 cm and squeeze it in your palm. If the soil has turned into a cake, it means there is enough moisture in the soil; if it crumbles, it needs abundant watering. The watering rate is 2 buckets per 1 adult specimen.
Advice from experienced gardeners
Before applying fertilizers, you need to familiarize yourself with the advice of experienced gardeners:
- Organic matter can be applied to trees older than 4 years.
- Nutrients are absorbed within 3-4 weeks, so it makes no sense to fertilize before the onset of frost.
- Before feeding, prepare the pear: remove dry, broken branches and foliage around the trunk.
- Lightening of the foliage indicates a lack of nitrogen. Therefore, in mid-August, the pear can be fed with nitrogenous fertilizers. The main thing is to follow the dosage, otherwise the plant may not overwinter well, and in the spring a large amount of foliage will bloom on the tree to the detriment of the harvest.
- If the pear tree is not fed with phosphorus in the fall, it will not produce leaves and form fruit.
- If by the end of summer the foliage is curled and covered with spots, it means that the supply of potassium has dried up. It is this mineral that the pear will especially need in winter.And if the foliage turns pale and turns purple at the edges, it means that the plant lacks magnesium and needs to use complex mineral supplements.
Conclusion
Properly applied fertilizers for pears in the fall are the key to a high yield of tasty and aromatic fruits. The main thing is not to rush, but to show restraint, awareness and adhere to the dosage.
