Fertilizing

November 7, 2015

I am relatively new at trying to grow plants and trees.  I have a pear tree that is young, about 3 years old now, and is still quite spindly.  It produced quite a few pears this year but the trunk of the tree is very slender.  Should I fertilize this tree and if so, when?  I also have some plum trees that I think need fertilizing.  They are older, about 10 years, and still produce but some of the limbs have died.  Should I fertilize them and if so, when?

Most fruit trees benefit from an application of fertilizer once or twice a year depending on their age.   For young trees, in early spring broadcast a complete fertilizer (10-10-10).  You can repeat this again in June. For older trees broadcast fertilizer around the tree every year in late March.  Usually well-established trees only need one application of fertilizer a year, but watering is important for all fruit trees.  

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