As professional agronomist and landscape specialist Tautvydas Gurskas emphasizes, the most important thing after picking berries is to fertilize the plants in time. According to him, both berry bushes and fruit trees and shrubs are perennial plants that require proper care continuously.
“Imagine how much energy your garden plants have spent to grow this year’s crop. So if we want them to delight us again next year, be sure to fertilize the berry bushes and fruit trees. This way they will restore their strength and accumulate new energy, can grow new flower buds for the next year, and bloom in spring,” says T. Gurskas.
He adds that the more necessary microelements are given to the plant, the stronger it is and the better it can prepare for winter: “It is important to mention that nitrogen is needed as little as possible at this time: it stimulates growth, which can cause the shoots of bushes not to harden in time, and later they risk freezing. Therefore, it is advisable to choose fertilizers dominated by microelements, with a symbolic amount of nitrogen. Also, they should be fast-dissolving so that plants quickly receive the necessary substances.”
Fertilizing can be done immediately
For those wondering when is the best time to fertilize berry bushes and fruit trees, the expert advises not to wait and to do it now, after picking berries and fruits or while preparing to do so. According to him, the quality of the harvest will definitely not suffer because of this.
“Plants absorb fertilizers within a week or two, so they can be scattered practically before picking berries and fruits. The fertilizers themselves – a good handful – should be scattered near the roots, but as widely as possible, not right next to the trunk. Plants absorb nutrients through the thinnest roots, farthest from the trunk. So it is best to scatter fertilizers within about a half-meter radius,” advises T. Gurskas.
He also points out that if the soil around the berry bushes is covered with mulch, it is recommended to loosen it – by hand or rake: this way fertilizer granules will fall deeper, closer to the plant roots. After doing this, it is recommended to water the soil abundantly with a watering can to speed up the dissolution of the fertilizers.
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Not all fertilizers are suitable for everything
When considering which fertilizers to choose for specific berry bushes, the professional agronomist advises first to pay attention to their composition. According to him, fertilizers suitable for blueberries may be suitable, for example, for currants, but the opposite is not possible.
“Fertilizers intended for blueberries can be used for cranberries, rhododendrons, other acid-loving plants, as well as ericaceous plants, because they contain sulfur. As is known, sulfur acidifies the soil, which is important for the mentioned berry bushes and other plants. However, these fertilizers can also be used for currants, gooseberries, and other seed and stone fruit plants without harming them,” says T. Gurskas.
However, he points out that fertilizers intended for the latter plants contain chlorine. Therefore, they are not recommended for blueberries and other shrubs growing in acidic soil.
“The amount of chlorine in this type of fertilizer is not dangerous for most berry bushes, and due to its properties, it disinfects the soil, protecting it from fungal infections. However, blueberries and other ericaceous plants prefer acidic, moist soil where they live in harmony with the mycorrhiza present there. Therefore, it is very important to read the fertilizer composition before fertilizing berry bushes, and after fertilizing – water abundantly, and only then hurry to freeze picked berries or cook jams,” advises professional agronomist T. Gurskas.
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