How to fertilize fruit trees in container.

beeman · April 19, 2015

I am about to change out a container grown Peach tree as it's not doing very good, something wrong with the roots.
Question. How should I fertilize? Add a slow release as I add the mixture? Or should I add it to the top few inches? Or even just sprinkle it under the mulch?
At $50 a time I want to make sure I get it right.

beeman · April 20, 2015

Bump
Does anyone have an idea?

troad · April 21, 2015

beeman,

Not a grower of peaches but first thought is to provide nutrients that won't burn the roots.
If it were mine I would probably mix in bone meal, well composted steer manure, and maybe some alfalfa pellets or rabbit manure with the soil. Then see how the tree does. I would think you could add a time release fertilizer anytime later if you think the tree is underfed. JMO

kurt · April 21, 2015

I have Meyers Lemon,Key Lime,Fig,Navel Orange in large terra cotta pots(2x21/2 foot).They do not like wet feet.Two years ago I pulled them out and found a mush of soil(wet and smelly) at the bottoms.I mixed up a batch of a combo of coir,promix,black kow fine bark,and a lot coarse sand.Equal amount of each but 1/3 amount equal to amendment mix of the sand.When transplanting a good rinsing of rootball,light application of water when placing new ball in container.Bottom of container I placed about 6 inches of 1-1/2" coral rock as a drain field.I use a liquid drench(Miracle Grow blue granular mixed) once a week of fertilizer.A cover of pine bark on top of container makes it look good.Granulars work in the open field when regular rain activates and pushes through and is more diluted and does not burn.I have some home made round circular dollies because now they weigh at least 100 pounds each.Let dry out betwwen watering.If you can inspect the oringnal medium the trees came with it might help to replicate.Plastic large containers seem to get to wet over time(no real areation)But the terra cotta at that size are EXPENSIVE!

Worth1 · April 21, 2015

I have found my cacti do better in the terracotta pots if I drill more holes in the sides.

As far as fruit trees just about every one I see does good for maybe a year or and then slowly dies.
I think it is due to root girdling.

Plastic pots to me are useless they break down too fast and crumble up when you try to move them.
They last maybe 3 years here.

Worth

Salsacharley · April 21, 2015

I've got a dwarf cherry tree in a 30 gal Smart Pot. This is the beginning of the third year for this tree. I initially used the 1/3 Compost, 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 sphagnum peat mix of Square Foot Gardening for soil. Since then I have added composted leaf mulch. I feed it Texas Tomato Food occasionally, plus compost tea sometimes, as well as MG sometimes. I think the Smart Pot is good for the roots and definitely good for the drainage.
I am woefully remiss in any good discipline regarding feeding. I am hoping this will be a good year for fruit. The tree has improved steadily over time.

dustdevil · April 23, 2015

What zone are you? What variety of peach? How about some background? Too much water can be the kiss of death. My peach trees got fertilized with time release 10-10-10(12-12-12) in the warm part of spring and they lived to be about 16 years old. At 14, they get disease prone and start oozing sap.

If you are going to transplant, rinse the old soil off(since it may be tainted) and plant it into the best soil you can. Peaches aren't great on heavy(clay) soil.

beeman · April 23, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustdevil

If you are going to transplant, rinse the old soil off(since it may be tainted) and plant it into the best soil you can. Peaches aren't great on heavy(clay) soil.

Not transplanting, renewing the whole container with a new tree, and I do intend to use a container mix.
What I asked was, about where and when to add fertilizer.

April 19, 2015	#1
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	How to fertilize fruit trees in container. I am about to change out a container grown Peach tree as it's not doing very good, something wrong with the roots. Question. How should I fertilize? Add a slow release as I add the mixture? Or should I add it to the top few inches? Or even just sprinkle it under the mulch? At $50 a time I want to make sure I get it right.

April 21, 2015	#3
troad Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Des Moines, WA. Posts: 358	beeman, Not a grower of peaches but first thought is to provide nutrients that won't burn the roots. If it were mine I would probably mix in bone meal, well composted steer manure, and maybe some alfalfa pellets or rabbit manure with the soil. Then see how the tree does. I would think you could add a time release fertilizer anytime later if you think the tree is underfed. JMO __________________ There's a fine line between gardening and madness.

April 21, 2015	#4
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,489	I have Meyers Lemon,Key Lime,Fig,Navel Orange in large terra cotta pots(2x21/2 foot).They do not like wet feet.Two years ago I pulled them out and found a mush of soil(wet and smelly) at the bottoms.I mixed up a batch of a combo of coir,promix,black kow fine bark,and a lot coarse sand.Equal amount of each but 1/3 amount equal to amendment mix of the sand.When transplanting a good rinsing of rootball,light application of water when placing new ball in container.Bottom of container I placed about 6 inches of 1-1/2" coral rock as a drain field.I use a liquid drench(Miracle Grow blue granular mixed) once a week of fertilizer.A cover of pine bark on top of container makes it look good.Granulars work in the open field when regular rain activates and pushes through and is more diluted and does not burn.I have some home made round circular dollies because now they weigh at least 100 pounds each.Let dry out betwwen watering.If you can inspect the oringnal medium the trees came with it might help to replicate.Plastic large containers seem to get to wet over time(no real areation)But the terra cotta at that size are EXPENSIVE! __________________ KURT Last edited by kurt; April 21, 2015 at 11:45 AM. Reason: grammer/spelin

April 23, 2015	#7
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	What zone are you? What variety of peach? How about some background? Too much water can be the kiss of death. My peach trees got fertilized with time release 10-10-10(12-12-12) in the warm part of spring and they lived to be about 16 years old. At 14, they get disease prone and start oozing sap. If you are going to transplant, rinse the old soil off(since it may be tainted) and plant it into the best soil you can. Peaches aren't great on heavy(clay) soil. Last edited by dustdevil; April 23, 2015 at 04:09 PM.

April 20, 2015	#2
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	Bump Does anyone have an idea?

April 21, 2015	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I have found my cacti do better in the terracotta pots if I drill more holes in the sides. As far as fruit trees just about every one I see does good for maybe a year or and then slowly dies. I think it is due to root girdling. Plastic pots to me are useless they break down too fast and crumble up when you try to move them. They last maybe 3 years here. Worth

April 21, 2015	#6
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	I've got a dwarf cherry tree in a 30 gal Smart Pot. This is the beginning of the third year for this tree. I initially used the 1/3 Compost, 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 sphagnum peat mix of Square Foot Gardening for soil. Since then I have added composted leaf mulch. I feed it Texas Tomato Food occasionally, plus compost tea sometimes, as well as MG sometimes. I think the Smart Pot is good for the roots and definitely good for the drainage. I am woefully remiss in any good discipline regarding feeding. I am hoping this will be a good year for fruit. The tree has improved steadily over time.