Feeding Apricot Trees When And How To Fertilize An Apricot Tree

If your mature apricot is in good general health but shows reduced vigor and poor fruit production, it is time to fertilize. Apply a balanced fertilizer, 16-16-16, for example, in early spring (late February or March) and fall (late September or October). Apply no more than 2 pounds of actual nitrogen per year.

How do you fertilize an apricot tree?

If you do need to feed your trees, apply about one half to one cup of fertilizer for young trees and one to two cups for mature trees. Also, check the application instructions for the specific fertilizer you are using.

When should I feed my apricot tree?

When to Fertilize Apricot Trees

In nutrient-rich soil, you can withhold using fertilizers until your apricot trees begin bearing fruit (average: 2-5 years after planting). ...
Typically for apricot trees, you can start fertilizing after bud break, but by no means any later than July.

How do I get my apricot tree to produce fruit?

Since apricots bloom on two-year-old wood, you have to be really careful how you prune them and realize that any year with heavy pruning may lead to a couple of years without fruit. Leave plenty of old growth to balance the new when you're pruning apricot trees in the future, but do prune to stimulate fruit production.

What is the best time to fertilize fruit trees?

Spring is the best time for fertilizing fruit trees, because that's when they need plenty of energy to push out new leaves and nurture baby fruits.

What is the best fertilizer for apricot trees?

If your mature apricot is in good general health but shows reduced vigor and poor fruit production, it is time to fertilize. Apply a balanced fertilizer, 16-16-16, for example, in early spring (late February or March) and fall (late September or October). Apply no more than 2 pounds of actual nitrogen per year.

Do apricot trees need lots of water?

Apricot trees require deep watering, especially when they begin bearing fruit. To avoid over-watering your apricot trees, water the trunk and base areas every two weeks or so, giving your trees a healthy soak.

Do you need 2 apricot trees to produce fruit?

There does not have to be a second apricot tree for the blooms to produce fruit for most apricots, because most varieties are self-fruitful. The blooms appear during early March or the end of February and require dry weather to remain on the tree and produce fruit.

How long do apricot trees live?

Apricot trees are perennials, meaning that they can live for very long periods of time; apricots usually live between 40 and 150 years.

Do apricot trees fruit every year?

Some apricots are also alternate-bearing – meaning, like avocados, they don't produce fruit every single year. Sometimes they put out every other year, and sometimes every third year. And then, there is the rain equation. Apricots bloom early in February and March – the height of our rainy season in normal years.

Where is the best place to plant an apricot tree?

Plant apricots in full sun. They can grow in partial shade, but the yield will be less than if grown in full sun. Plant apricots in a well-drained loamy soil. Apricots do not like wet roots.

What time of year do you prune apricot trees?

Prune apricot trees in late winter or early spring as the new leaves and flowers begin to open. During this period of time the tree is actively growing and the pruning cuts heal quickly so that diseases have little chance to enter the wounds.

Why is my apricot tree not producing fruit?

The apricot tree's lack of fruit production could be due to flower or young fruit damage from weather; it could be due to reduced pollination, also potentially affected by weather; it could be due to tree damage caused by a pest or pests, or it could be a nutrition issue for the tree.

What is the best time to fertilize apple trees?

Example of a balanced 'N-P-K' value: 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 The best time to fertilize fruit trees is during the growing season, starting in early spring (around bud-break) and finishing by July. Fertilizing too late in the season can cause trees to grow when they should be shutting down for the winter.

Is cow manure good for fruit trees?

Fertilize trees in early spring so they can use the nutrients during active growth. ... Cow manure is usually aged into compost before it is sold, so it also makes for a good tree manure. Sheep manure has a high nitrogen content, but it has a lower content of other nutrients.

What fertilizer is best for fruiting?

Apply a high-phosphorus fertilizer, sometimes labelled as "fruit tree fertilizer," according to the manufacturer's instructions during the growing season. Phosphorus aids in root strength as well as bud and bloom development.

How often should you water an apricot tree?

Once every 10 days or two weeks is plenty. Worse than dry, thirsty roots is waterlogged, drowning roots. Although a little depression in the soil aids summer watering, it's important to bring the soil around the tree up to the level of the surrounding soil for the winter.

What animal poop is the best fertilizer?

Rabbit poop wins the prize as the most concentrated herbivore manure. Rabbits don't produce poop in the quantity of larger animals, so consider it a special commodity and use it sparingly on vegetable seedlings as a nitrogen boost. Soak rabbit poop in water for 48 hours and apply as a dilute liquid fertilizer.

Can you prune apricot trees in summer?

Wait until late summer to prune your apricot tree.

Trim your tree as soon as possible after harvesting fruit. ... Pruning in late summer gives your apricot tree more time to grow new branches, which means that your tree will produce more apricots next year.

How do you take care of an apricot tree?

The trees need full sun and well-drained sandy or loamy soil that is at least 4 feet deep. In addition, they require 600 to 900 hours of winter temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit to set fruit. Apricot trees need a cold rain in late winter when the blossoms are ready to open, followed by dry spring weather.

Why do apricot trees die?

As we discussed, there is a common fungus disease of apricots call Eutypa die back that is spread by splashing rain and enters through pruning wounds. For this reason, apricot trees should be pruned now (early Fall), never during the wet winter.

Can apricot trees grow in pots?

Apricots: Apricot trees generally get too big (about 15 feet) to grow in containers for any prolonged period. However, some catalogs sell varieties on dwarfing rootstocks. ... Trees require annual pruning to remain healthy and fruitful. The fruit must be thinned to reach full size.