Cherry trees require large amounts of nutrients every year to grow, bloom and bear fruit. Only a few soils naturally have sufficient nutrient reserves. Most of the time the gardener has to help by fertilizing.
How should you properly fertilize a cherry tree?
To optimally fertilize a cherry tree, you should apply organic fertilizer at the end of winter, fertilizer containing nitrogen for shoot growth in March/April, fertilizers containing potash and phosphorus in winter and a complete fertilizer after a strong yield.
The amounts of nutrients removed from the soil by the cherry trees only partially return to the soil through natural rotting processes. In order to promote long-term growth and yield of cherry trees, the gardener must replenish the nutrients through fertilization. These are the four core nutrients: nitrogen, potash, phosphorus and lime. The lack of some of these nutrients leads to deficiency symptoms.
If there is a nitrogen deficiency, linear growth decreases, the leaves remain small and take on a yellowish-green color. Constant excess nitrogen leads to a predominance of shoot growth and a decrease in the formation of flower buds. Potassium deficiency primarily results in insufficient resistance to disease and frost. Phosphorus deficiency is noticeable in delayed fruit formation. Lime makes heavy soil looser, while light soil improves its water balance.
Organic fertilizers
Organic fertilizer refers to the rotted remains of plants and animal excretions. Plant waste of all kinds that is collected in a compost heap creates intensive soil life through decomposition and the waste is transformed into humus. Cow or horse manure is used as animal excrement in the garden.
Mineral fertilizers
The mineral fertilizers are naturally occurring or industrially produced s alts that contain one or more plant nutrients. The so-called complete or mixed fertilizers, which contain several core nutrients and important trace elements in a ratio that is favorable for the plants, are easily applicable.
Time and execution of fertilization
Organic fertilizer should not be worked in too deeply on the tree disc at the end of winter. Proceed as follows with mineral fertilizers:
- Nitrogen-containing fertilizer is given in March/April to promote shoot growth and around the beginning of June to promote flower bud setting,
- Fertilizers containing potash and phosphorus are applied in winter (November to February),
- after a strong yield, the cherry tree should be provided with complete fertilizer.
Tips & Tricks
The soil under the cherry trees can also be improved by green manure. At the end of the summer, certain annual plants are sown on the tree disk and their remains are worked into the soil the next spring.
