Why apricot trees should be fertilized early after harvest
Apricot tree fruits ripen early, and there is still a considerable period from harvest to leaf fall. During this time, if management is strengthened, it plays an important role in reducing the occurrence of pests and diseases, promoting tree growth, restoring tree vigor, and improving the number and quality of flower buds.
Pest and disease control: After harvest, apricot trees are often harmed by pests and diseases. Spraying should be done at the appropriate time according to the situation to protect the leaves and increase nutrient accumulation in the tree.
After the apricot fruit is harvested, fertilizer should be applied early. For trees with weaker vigor and those that bore more fruit that year, fertilizer should be applied even more promptly to make up for the shortage of nutrients in the tree. Organic fertilizer and a small amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be applied in furrows. The organic fertilizer is mainly farmyard manure. Generally, for 5- to 6-year-old newly fruiting trees, apply 30-50 kg of farmyard manure and 0.3-0.5 kg of superphosphate per tree; for trees in full fruit stage, apply 70-100 kg of farmyard manure and 0.5-1.0 kg of superphosphate per tree, and water immediately after application. In addition, combine spraying with foliar application of 0.2% urea and 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate 2-3 times. This can increase the level of reserve nutrients in the tree, keep the apricot tree vigorous after harvest, promote flower bud differentiation, and ensure the yield for the coming year.
After the apricot tree is harvested, the tree body is still growing. Its vegetative growth should be controlled, tree vigor should be moderated, and the light conditions inside the tree canopy should be improved. Because it is difficult to form plump flower buds in parts of the canopy with poor light conditions, summer pruning methods can be used (such as pinching, twisting shoots, pulling branches, bending branches, opening angles, etc.) to make the tree well ventilated and well lit.
Because apricot trees are not tolerant of waterlogging, if there is standing water when the rainy season comes, it should be drained promptly to prevent apricot trees from becoming diseased due to waterlogging and affecting the growth and development of the tree.