Fertilizing an apple tree in the fall: basic principles of fertilizing to obtain good harvests

The best time for fertilizing

The timing of feeding the apple tree in the fall is before the first frost.

. The tree will have time to absorb all the nutrients well and will be able to easily overwinter. To increase resistance to frost, you should stop watering starting in September. In areas where frosts come late, fertilizers are applied in October. The appropriate time to complete work on feeding the apple tree in the fall is November 15.

Folk remedies

Experienced gardeners prefer natural additives of organic origin. These include: manure, wood ash, humus, bone meal.

Popular natural fertilizers:

Humus

Animal excrement and plant debris rot in the container with the lid closed. The signal for use will be the volume of raw materials reduced by 3 times. Humus holds water and nutrients in the root zone. Fertilizer is applied to the area near the trunk diameter and beyond in the grooves. The dosage is the same as for compost and manure.

Wood ash

To combat fungal diseases and pests, gardeners use wood ash. It also replaces potassium fertilizer for the soil. For a 7-8 year old apple tree, instead of 100 g of potassium chloride, add 10 cups of ash.

Bone flour

Organic fertilizer in the form of bone meal contains calcium and nitrogen. Bone meal is a soil deoxidizer. Used in dry and liquid form.

Benefits of autumn feeding

What are the benefits of applying fertilizer to an apple tree in the fall?

Autumn feeding of apple trees - video

Advantages:

1. Getting rid of pests and diseases without damaging the crop.
2. Safe winter living and a high-quality harvest next season.
3. With high yields, fertilizing will quickly restore plant strength.

Important!

Apple tree seedlings are not fertilized in the fall for two to three years after planting, since they receive all the necessary elements from the planting hole. Before planting, add the same amount of compost, humus, rotted manure and peat.

How to prepare apple trees for fertilizing and fertilizing

The main pruning of trees is carried out in the first half of autumn. However, the timing of fertilizing may fall on the 1st decade of September. At this time, it is important to carry out a sanitary haircut, since the shoots are still growing.

Work on the garden plot begins with an examination of fruit-bearing fruit plants, removing lichens and growing moss from the trunks, if necessary. This technique makes it possible to prevent the branches from drying out.

In addition, shoots with signs of disease and those growing incorrectly (not thick) are removed. After cleaning the trunks and trimming unnecessary branches, the tree is treated with copper sulfate and the cut areas are covered with garden varnish. All plant debris is removed from under the trees.

On a note!

You cannot begin adding nutrients until excess shoots are removed for sanitary purposes and the garden is thoroughly cleaned.

Types of fertilizers for feeding apple trees in autumn

To replenish nutrients in the soil, use:

• mineral fertilizers (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus);
• organic (poultry droppings, compost, manure);
• complex.

The most valuable fertilizers are organic

, because they contain all the useful substances necessary for the full development of the apple tree. Such fertilizing improves the soil structure. It becomes loose, and oxygen can more easily reach the root system.

Attention!

In autumn, either phosphates or potassium are applied as mineral fertilizers.

When choosing a fertilizer, be sure to take into account the type of soil. Taking into account the acid-base balance, the composition can be adjusted.

So, with low soil acidity, add:

• chalk;
• dolomite flour;
• tree ash;
• lime.

When the alkali is high, peat and sawdust are added.

Fertilizer application schedule

The sequence of autumn care for the apple orchard is as follows:

1. End of August – beginning of September . Inspection of the condition of trees, removal of lichen and moss. Spraying the leaves with mineral preparations, for example, a solution of superphosphate.
2. Late September – early October . Feeding fruit crops through the root system. During this period, organic matter (peat and manure) or mineral fertilizers (potassium salt, superphosphates) are used.
3. Mid October . Feeding with slurry, laying out mulch.

Mineral fertilizers for apple trees: consumption rate and rules of application in autumn

Depending on the time of autumn (beginning, middle, end), different forms of fertilizers are used.

So, in September, dry fertilizers in granular form are used for apple trees. The granules will gradually dissolve, supplying the plants with useful substances before and during frosts. When there are only a few weeks left before frost, liquid fertilizers are used. In this form, fertilizers are absorbed faster.

Apple trees at the age of two years, as well as those that have not yet formed fruits, are watered with a solution:
2 tbsp.
l. superphosphate, potassium sulfate + 10 liters of water. Interesting article:
Pruning an apple tree in autumn
Adult plants prefer granules. For one plant, 30 grams is enough.

Phosphorus

It is poorly soluble in water, so it is used in dry form, scattered around the trunk, and then dug up along with the soil and then spilled well.

Potassium chloride

Apply under apple trees only in autumn and in sandy soil.
On other types of soil, potassium sulfate
.

Iron sulfate often eliminates an apple tree disease such as chlorosis, which occurs due to iron deficiency.

. The leaf blade does not develop properly, the veins become faded, since they lack chlorophyll. This leads to leaf fall. Productivity decreases.

To prepare fertilizer at home, take 10 liters of water, add 2 teaspoons of citric acid, dissolve and add an additional tbsp. a spoonful of iron sulfate. This solution is used when there is no more foliage.

Factors taken into account when feeding

When choosing the type of fertilizer, as well as determining its quantity and application method, it is necessary to take into account a number of factors:

• age of the fruit crop;
• variety;
• degree of development of the root system.

When there is an excess of minerals, tree shoots begin to grow rapidly, and therefore the winter hardiness of the bark is significantly reduced, leading to freezing.

Age dependent

Caring for apple trees of different ages is not the same. Feedings that are beneficial to a 5–8 year old fruit-bearing crop can be harmful to young specimens. Young apple trees that have never produced fruit require lower concentrations or even different types of fertilizers.

For young trees, it is unacceptable to use dry preparations that can burn their root system.

In addition, solutions must be used with great care and when preparing them, adhere to the half ratio. For example, for an apple tree at the age of two years you will need 200 g of superphosphate, and for an adult tree - at least 500 g. As for humus or manure, it will be enough to add 10-15 kg under the trunk of each young crop, while an adult will need 50–60 kg.

Despite the fact that young apple trees tolerate mineral fertilizers (for example, potash), preference should be given to organic matter. Thus, ash or yeast infusion introduced in the fall not only helps trees survive the winter, but also helps accelerate their development with the arrival of spring.

To feed young apple trees, you do not need to use the hole method due to the high risk of damage to the root system.

Dependence on variety

When choosing a preparation for feeding, the variety of apple tree is taken into account: the height of the tree, the location of the root system and the growth of branches.

For fruit crops of low-growing and dwarf varieties, the usual dosage is reduced by approximately 30%.

The close location of the roots of columnar apple trees to the surface makes it impossible to use general fertilizer application technology. For this reason, preference should be given to drugs in liquid form. It is also permissible to scatter dry mixtures near the trees, mix them with the top layer of soil and water thoroughly.

After performing such fertilizing, the ground around the trunk must be mulched, which will retain moisture and heat.

Organic fertilizers

It is better to add organic matter in liquid form. There are several substances that are most often and effectively used as fertilizers.

Wood ash for feeding apple trees in autumn

Wood ash contains a lot of potassium. It is used to dig up soil. It provides better oxygen flow. After harvesting, fertilizing with ash is carried out. You can also add it to your compost bin.

Bone meal for apple trees

This fertilizer contains all the necessary microelements: calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium.

After application, the nutrients dissolve for a long time over 8 months, which is what is required for the winter. For this reason, bone meal is often added in the spring rather than in the fall.

Manure

Feeding the apple tree with manure in the fall is necessary. It allows you to saturate the soil with potassium. This organic matter is diluted with water and the resulting solution is used for irrigation. It is enough to carry out such fertilizing once a season.

Peat

Serves as both fertilizer and mulch. Peat scattered on the ground is an excellent way to normalize the acid-base balance of the soil. Prevents moisture evaporation.

Urea

You can also fertilize apple trees in the fall with urea. For 10 liters take a couple of tbsp. spoons Spray the trunks over the entire height.

Interesting article:
Urea or carbamide: how to apply fertilizer

Chicken droppings

Feeding with chicken manure in the fall is done in small quantities, since it contains a high nitrogen content, which can lead to the growth of branches and foliage. Take 100 grams of the substance for 1.5 buckets of water and leave for seven days.

Types of feeding

There are several ways to fertilize apple trees in the fall. Ideally, you should combine them into a complex or perform them one by one.

Foliar

In the interval between the end of the harvest and the dropping of leaves, in September - October, fruit-bearing trees should be fed branch by branch using spraying. The plant has not yet fallen asleep and will gratefully accept nutrients in such an accessible form. You can combine feeding with treatment against pests and pathogens that have gathered to overwinter under the bark and in the foliage.

Autumn nutrient mixtures should not contain nitrogen fertilizers, because they stimulate growth, and the task is to prepare the trees for wintering.

Give preference to potassium and phosphorus fertilizers , which increase frost resistance, help strengthen the root system and ripen shoots. To prepare the working solution, you need to take a bucket of warm water and add 1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate and a couple of tablespoons of superphosphate. Stir thoroughly until the crystals are completely dissolved and spray the trees generously.

Foliar feeding should be carried out on a windless day in cool, dry weather.

“Fitosporin” can be added to the solution as a remedy for fungal infections, insecticides and insectoacaricides. Just before use, be sure to check with the seller or in the instructions for compatibility of the drugs, otherwise they will have to be used separately.

Root in liquid form

Applying fertilizer solutions at the root of the apple tree has a very good effect. The same superphosphate (at the rate of 100 grams per bucket of water) can be added to the tree trunk circle along the projection of the crown using irrigation. Wood ash , a proven folk remedy, is a good source of potassium and phosphorus Phosphorus helps young shoots “ripen” and survive the winter. The ash is first poured with warm water and left for 10-12 hours.

Long-term dry feeding

After leaf fall, trees are fertilized in a circle around the trunk. You can scatter a bucket of dry ash and a couple of buckets of rotted manure or compost, add dry superphosphate in the amount of 200 g per adult plant.

As the snow melts in the spring, the nutrient mixture is gradually dissolved by water and delivered to the roots in a liquid form that can be absorbed.

Many gardeners use ready-made granular fertilizers marked “autumn”, scattering them in the tree trunk and incorporating them into the soil

Features of fertilization depending on the age of apple trees

The difference in feeding adult and young fruit crops is the concentration of fertilizer. The older the plant, the greater concentration it requires.

Attention!

A young apple tree is considered to be a tree that has not yet bear fruit. As a rule, this period begins in the 5th – 8th year, depending on the variety.

Feeding young apple trees in the fall is carried out with potassium or phosphorus preparations

. Minerals are added both in combination and separately.

For complex application, prepare a solution at the rate of 4 tbsp. spoons of the substance per 10 liters of water. When used separately, take 2 tbsp. spoons of potassium and phosphorus for the same amount of water. When applying dry fertilizer, 1 tbsp. A spoonful of granules of both elements is scattered on the ground around the trunk and dug up along with the soil.

For adult plantings, the consumption rate is increased by 2 times

. The quantity depends on the size of the tree.

Preparation of a solution for feeding apple trees per 10 liters of water:

• phosphorus-potassium complex - from 6 to 14 tbsp. l.;
• superphosphate - from 4 to 6 tbsp. l. + sulfate or potassium sulfate – from 2 to 8 tbsp. l.

The consumption rate of fertilizer in dry form is 3 tbsp. spoons per 1 m2.

Excellent varieties of apple trees:
Apple tree Aport Summer apple tree Augusta Apple tree Gala
Advice!

In rainy weather, dry fertilizers are applied directly to the soil.

The type of apple tree also influences the amount of fertilizer applied. For example, for an adult dwarf apple tree, fertilizer is taken in an amount of 30% of the consumption rate for an adult tree.

Feeding the columnar apple tree in the fall is carried out mainly with a solution. The peculiarity of this variety is that the roots are close to the surface of the earth, so when applying dry fertilizing, a high concentration is not required.

Fertilizer application technique

After completing the preparatory activities, gardeners begin applying fertilizers. For good bud formation for the next year, it is recommended to feed the apple trees in August with a mineral composition - superphosphate . The drug is dissolved in an amount of 150 g in 10 liters of water and the leaves are sprayed with it. If for some reason this method cannot be implemented, fertilizer is applied to the soil.

Tree trunk method

The algorithm for this most common feeding method is as follows:

• generously shed the soil inside the trunk circle so that the concentrated preparations do not burn the roots;
• distribute fertilizer evenly;
• dig to a depth of 15 to 20 cm;
• pour water again;
• Lay out a layer of mulch made from sawdust, straw or peat.

Manure used as fertilizer must be well rotted.

Two buckets of manure are placed under one apple tree.

When using the tree trunk method, you need to follow a number of rules:

• carefully dig up the soil near columnar varieties of apple trees due to the close location of their root system to the surface, the optimal loosening depth is no more than 10 cm;
• Feed young trees simultaneously with watering, using preparations diluted in water;
• when determining the boundaries of the tree trunk circle, focus on the width of the crown.

There is another type of trunk feeding method. Its principle is to form a furrow with a depth of 20 cm, into which fertilizers are poured, mixed with soil, and dug up. Such recesses should be 60 cm from the stem.

Forming holes

In addition to the tree-trunk method of fertilizing, many gardeners use another technology. Its peculiarity is the use of holes with a depth of no more than 20 cm, which are dug 50 cm from the trunk along the perimeter of the tree crown. ½ of the applied fertilizer is placed in the recesses, then the remaining portion of the preparation is dug up and distributed over the top layer. At the end of the procedure, watering is carried out and mulch is laid out.

The advantage of feeding using holes is the possibility of a gradual supply of macro- and micronutrients to the roots of the apple tree.

Foliar feeding

At the end of August, apple trees are sprayed , for this purpose they use:

1. Copper sulfate. Suitable not only for feeding, but also for treating trees against pests.
2. Inkstone. Effectively destroys lichens, moss and fungal spores on the bark.

How to properly fertilize an apple tree in the fall - fertilizing technology

Trees are processed using the following methods:

• foliar;
• trunk;
• hole

Each method has its own characteristics.

Foliar feeding is used when the tree is weakened and requires intensive fertilization with nutrients. The plant is sprayed evenly from a spray bottle. Used to increase immunity and in preparation for winter.

How and what to fertilize fruit trees correctly - video

The trunk method is carried out in the form of scattering fertilizer in granular form around the trunk.

There are two possible ways here:

• scattering dry matter around the trunk of the apple tree and digging the soil to a depth of 20 cm, after which the ground is watered and covered with mulch;
• At a distance of half a meter from the trunk, make a groove, at least 20 cm deep, place fertilizer, cover it with soil and cover it with mulch.

For young plants, it is worth using liquid fertilizers so as not to dry out the roots.

Hole fertilizer for apple trees resembles the tree-trunk method of application.

Procedure process:

• holes are made around the trunk up to 40 cm deep;
• dry fertilizer (preferably mineral) is placed in the holes;
• The holes are watered, sprinkled with soil and mulched.

Each of the presented methods is effective. The preferences of the gardener himself are important here. Those preparations that easily dissolve in water are sprayed or used for irrigation. Those that do not dissolve well are used in digging.

Preparing trees for fertilizing

Before applying fertilizers, you need to carry out several preparatory procedures. The first step is to inspect the trees for the presence of organisms such as lichen and moss . They are removed very carefully, having first laid a film on the ground in the tree trunk circle, after which the fruit crop is treated with copper sulfate. They also pay attention to the presence of harmful insects settling inside the old bark.
If pests are found, they are disposed of along with the bark by burning them outside the garden area. Another mandatory procedure when preparing a garden for winter is sanitary pruning . Broken, dry and diseased branches are removed, and the cut areas are treated with garden varnish. This preparation is also used to cover defects found on trees: damage, hollows, etc.

Important autumn activities include protecting apple trees from fungal microorganisms . For this purpose, tree trunks are treated with an antiseptic and then whitened.

Whitewashing will prevent damage to the bark by pests, rodents, as well as sunlight reflected by snow, which can cause severe burns.

Soil preparation includes watering, digging and weed control . Loosening must be done very carefully so as not to harm the root system. Additionally, a layer of mulch is poured around the tree: in winter it will protect the soil from freezing, and in spring it will act as fertilizer.

Fertilizing apple trees in various regions of the country

Different areas of the country require different feedings.

For example, in the Urals it is worth paying more attention to protecting the apple tree from diseases and pests. The method of applying fertilizer is leaf-by-leaf with urea and ash. Superphosphate is applied under the root. For 10 liters of water take 40 grams. Fertilizers are placed in the furrows and then sprinkled with soil.

How to fertilize apple trees after flowering? - video

Autumn feeding of apple trees in Siberia should be aimed at protecting the plantings from winds and frosts

.
The preparation “Gumi-Omi” is suitable for fruit trees. It contains sodium humates, micro- and macroelements, boron, copper. The solution is made according to the instructions. This fertilizer is also suitable for apple trees in the Leningrad region.
How to feed apple trees in the fall in the Moscow region?

You can use any of the listed fertilizers of mineral or organic origin. The main feed remains manure or compost. Two buckets of fertilizer are enough for one tree.

How to feed apple trees in the fall: effective formulations and application rates

Now let's talk about the most effective fertilizers for apple trees in the fall - we will give recommendations and tell you about application rates for one apple tree.

Mineral fertilizers for autumn nutrition of fruit trees

In the autumn, only phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are applied; nitrogen fertilizers are now inappropriate. If you add nitrogen fertilizers, there is an increased risk that this may activate the growth processes of the tree. It is clear that new growths in such a short period of time, which remains before the onset of serious frosts, will no longer become lignified and will definitely freeze out in the winter. Here are the best fertilizers to apply to apple trees in the fall:

• Among phosphorus fertilizers, potassium sulfate is now appropriate. The application rate for a tree under five years old is approximately 25-30 grams, for a tree from 5 to 15-20 years old - 35-40 grams, and for an older tree - from 50 to 60 grams.
• The best potassium fertilizer to apply to apple trees in the fall is potassium sulfate. Its norm for a tree under five years old is from 20 to 25 grams, for trees aged from 5 to 15-20 years - about 30 grams, for an older tree you can add 55-60 grams of potassium sulfate.

How to use organic fertilizer for apple trees in the fall

From organic fertilizers, you can now use compost or humus. The use of manure, chicken manure, mullein and similar fertilizers can cause the apple tree to stimulate growth, as is the case with nitrogen fertilizers. Then wintering the apple tree will be unsuccessful.

Compost and humus are safe for apple trees in this case. They can be applied in the amount of a bucket for a tree under five years old, one and a half buckets for a tree from 5 to 15–20 years old, and two buckets for older apple trees.

Photo by Pixabay/MarcoRoosink: Fertilizing organically in the fall will help increase your harvest in the future.

How to prepare effective fertilizers for apple trees according to folk recipes

Of the traditional fertilizers, wood ash is primarily used, which can increase the yield. Wood ash is good because it contains a whole range of nutrients for the crop. Wood ash contains up to 5% potassium by weight. That is, if you add 100 grams of wood ash, then this amount will contain 5 grams of potassium.

The amount of wood ash for an apple tree up to five years old is 150-200 grams, for an apple tree aged from 5 to 15-20 years - 250-300 grams, for older trunks - 350-400 grams.

Folk methods of feeding apple trees in the fall

Fertilizing an apple tree in the fall with folk remedies:

• Yeast
  . Promotes the growth of young plants. Water the apple trees with a solution of live yeast. For 9 liters of water take 3 tbsp. spoons of sugar and 500 grams of yeast. They insist for seven days. Before use, dilute in a ratio of 1:20. One tree requires 3 liters.
• Ash
  . For 10 liters of water take 2 kg of ash. Leave for 24 hours. Apply to the ground in dry weather. For one apple tree - 3 liters of ash solution.
• A solution of potassium permanganate
  improves the condition of the plant, root development, and disinfects. Watering is carried out once every 30 days.

Feeding apple trees with fertilizer in the fall is a great way to prepare your plantings for the winter.

The plants will overwinter well and will be full of strength for new flowering and fruiting.

Recently searched:

Advice from experienced fruit growers

Let us share the secrets of experienced gardeners and professional experts:

1. Long-lived apple trees are considered to be varieties of Soviet selection (Antonovka, Autumn Striped, Papirovka) and their scions.
2. The trend in agricultural business in the world is planting the latest hybrid varieties . Features: rapid development, abundant (giant) fruiting in the first years of life and aging by 8 years.
3. When planting apple trees, you need to take into account the characteristics of the region . Released varieties, as a rule, quickly adapt to a certain climate and bear fruit for a long time and stably.
4. When choosing a variety, it is important to know that southern varieties, despite their early ripening, large size and juiciness of fruits, are less winter-hardy. And Siberian, Altai varieties and apple trees of Yekaterinburg selection tolerate winter well and are not inferior in taste to “southerners”.
5. When harvesting even late-ripening varieties, it is better to pick the fruits when they are green , that is, not fully ripe. 1-2 weeks before full ripening, the apples are carefully removed from the tree; the fruits will ripen during storage.
6. A timely harvest activates the formation of next year's buds (space is freed up for bud formation).
7. The optimal way to store winter apples is to put the fruits in a box, sprinkle them with a mixture of fluff lime and sawdust in a ratio of 1:2 or 1:1. No more than 2-3 layers are placed in the box.

How to recognize micronutrient deficiency?

Based on the condition of leaves and branches, you can find out about the lack of microelements in the soil:

• transparent leaves indicate a lack of nitrogen;
• a lilac-violet hue of the leaves indicates a phosphorus deficiency in the soil;
• small growth and spotting of leaves is characterized by a lack of boron in the soil;
• dark green spotted leaves, few flowers and delayed development indicate a lack of potassium in the soil.

By introducing the necessary microelements into the soil, the gardener contributes to a better wintering of the apple tree.

Serious mistakes gardeners make when caring for apple trees in the fall

• Apply fertilizer before harvesting fallen leaves.

First you need to clear the garden of plant debris, and only then use fertilizers. If they are applied to the leaves and baking powder along with them, there is a high probability that pathogens will enter the soil and infect it. In addition, the effectiveness of the fertilizer is reduced, since the application rate is calculated for soil without impurities.

Why you can’t apply fertilizers along with fallen leaves (click to expand)

(!) Another negative side of the presence of leaves is that when they decompose, they release carbon dioxide, which enters into a chemical reaction with fertilizers and can form substances harmful to plants.

Features of feeding with ash

The wood combustion product contains macro- and microelements important for the apple tree in the form of the following chemical compounds:

In addition to phosphorus and potassium, the ash contains a large amount of calcium-containing compounds. Because of them, the substance is not recommended to be applied to alkaline soil. But, it is an indispensable neutralizer for acidic soil.

The best is considered to be the ash obtained from birch firewood (find out → the use of wood ash as a top dressing, how to dilute it, properties + reviews from gardeners) . Also, ash obtained by burning peat (see → feeding with peat) or plant residues is used at the following application rates:

Ash is added to moist soil, followed by loosening. There is no need to leave it on the surface. When dry, it will quickly dissipate in the wind.

Also, the ash is used for foliar feeding. At the same time, it performs a double function - it serves as food for the ground part of the tree and protects against harmful insects and diseases.

Ash does not dissolve well in water, but forms a suspension that must be constantly shaken when spraying. To prepare liquid fertilizer use the following recipe:

• 1.5 kg per 10 liters of water . Leave for 2 - 3 hours, stirring from time to time.

4.After adding ash to dry soil, it needs to be loosened and watered.
Laundry soap is added to the infusion as an adhesive so that the composition is better fixed on the surface of the crown. Also, the suspension can be used for root feeding. As a rule, it is carried out after moisture-charging irrigation. This is the final irrigation for the apple tree this season. They use a lot of water, because the next session will only be in six months. For one tree you will need:

• 30 l for seedlings and plants up to three years old,
• 50 l for a young fruit-bearing tree,
• 100 - 120 liters for an apple tree that is more than ten years old.

Water volume may decrease in rainy autumn.

Specialist consultation

The volume of water for each tree is set individually. To know exactly how much to add after rain, you need to know to what depth the soil is wet. Then, add what is missing. The rule is:

• 10 liters of water moisten 1 m2 of soil to a depth of 10 cm.

Example:

After the rain, the ground was wet by 10 cm. For moisture-recharging irrigation, you need to add at least 90 liters of water for each square meter of the trunk circle for an adult fruit-bearing tree.

I.I. Bilevich – garden agronomist

Watering is an important step in fall feeding, especially for organic matter that dissolves slowly.

When to fertilize

There are no specific dates for the autumn application of fertilizers to the soil. In different regions of the Russian Federation, apple trees of different varieties and ripening periods are grown. Each variety in each region has its own feeding time. Early varieties of apple trees in the Moscow region are fed in September, late varieties - in October. In the southern regions of Russia, fertilizers are applied in November. The optimal time is to apply fertilizing to the soil immediately after harvesting, when the soil is still warm and chemical elements are actively dissolved by soil waters. Plant roots absorb salt solutions, nourishing the trees. Late-ripening varieties of apple trees are fed fourteen days before the soil freezes.

Gardeners have developed the following schedule for caring for an apple tree by month. From the end of fruiting to the beginning of September, tree trunks are cleaned of adhering moss and lichens, and the leaves are sprayed with solutions of phosphorus fertilizers. In September, mineral and organic fertilizers (peat, manure, superphosphates and potassium salts) are added to the soil. In the first half of October, slurry is poured under the trees and the soil is covered with mulch.