When to Fertilize Osmanthus Trees, How to Apply Pig Manure, and the Best Fertilizer Choices

The osmanthus tree, also known as muxi, is an evergreen tree of the Oleaceae family. Osmanthus is best planted in late spring, and the planting hole should be dug deep and wide. So when is the best time to fertilize an osmanthus tree? What fertilizer is best and most vigorous? How do you apply pig manure? Now here is a summary of osmanthus tree fertilization methods for everyone:

The reasonable fertilization timing and precautions for osmanthus are introduced as follows:

I. Fertilizer Types

Fertilizers are generally divided into three major categories: organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, and biological micro-fertilizers.

1. Organic fertilizers are usually divided into plant-based organic fertilizers and animal-based organic fertilizers. Animal-based organic fertilizers include human feces and urine, the feathers, hooves and horns and bone meal of poultry and livestock, and the waste from fish, meat and eggs. Plant-based organic fertilizers include bean cake and other cake fertilizers, sesame paste residue, weeds, leaves, green manure, Chinese herbal medicine residue, distiller's grains, and so on. Both types of fertilizer contain abundant nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements. Both are slow-release fertilizers, fairly complete in nutrients and long-lasting in effect; before use they must undergo sufficient fermentation and decomposition, as raw fertilizer easily damages the root system.

2. Inorganic fertilizers, commonly known as “chemical fertilizers”, are fertilizers rich in mineral nutrient elements made by chemical decomposition or processed from natural ores. This type of fertilizer has a high nutrient content, many kinds of elements, a fast effect, is clean and hygienic, and is convenient to apply, but long-term use easily causes soil compaction, so it is best mixed with organic fertilizers for a better effect. Inorganic fertilizers are divided into nitrogen fertilizers, phosphorus fertilizers and potassium fertilizers. Nitrogen fertilizers include urea, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonia water, ammonium chloride, calcium nitrate and so on, and can promote lush branches and leaves in flowers; phosphorus fertilizers include superphosphate, calcium magnesium phosphate and so on, mostly used as a base fertilizer additive, with a relatively slow effect, while potassium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonium phosphate are high-concentration quick-acting fertilizers that also contain nitrogen and potassium and can be used as a top dressing, and can promote bright flower colors and plump fruits; potassium fertilizers include potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium nitrate and so on, all quick-acting fertilizers that can be applied as a top dressing, and can promote sturdy branches and a robust root system in flowers. Chemical fertilizers have a fast effect but simple nutrients; their fertilizing nature is violent but not lasting. Apart from phosphorus fertilizer, general chemical fertilizers are all used as top dressing. When using chemical fertilizers you must be sure to use the right amount, and the concentration should be kept at 0.1%-0.3%; it must not be too strong, otherwise it easily damages flower roots and seedlings. After applying chemical fertilizer, water immediately to ensure the full use of the fertilizer effect.

3. Biological micro-fertilizer can simply be understood as microbial fertilizer. SaleFu double-micro compound fertilizer contains a large amount of beneficial microorganisms and is also rich in the various medium and trace elements needed for plant growth. Used together with organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers, the beneficial microorganisms can both raise the utilization rate of chemical fertilizers and promote the decomposition of organic fertilizers, promoting the osmanthus tree's absorption of nutrients and greatly improving the osmanthus tree's disease resistance and stress resistance.

II. Reasonable Fertilization

So-called reasonable fertilization means paying attention to timeliness and the right amount. So-called timeliness means applying when the flowers need it; for example, when the leaf color is found to have become pale and the plant's growth has become coarse and strong, fertilizing is timely. As for when to apply what fertilizer, this should be determined according to the different growth and development stages; for example, at the seedling stage more nitrogen fertilizer can be applied to promote rapid and sturdy growth of the seedlings. No matter at what stage fertilizer is applied, attention should be paid to the amount; if too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, it easily causes excessive vegetative growth; if too much potassium fertilizer is applied, it hinders reproduction and affects flowering and fruiting.

1. Points to note when fertilizing

Osmanthus seedlings absorb nutrients and water entirely through the fibrous roots at the outer edge of the canopy, so it is best to dig a trench outside the canopy projection and fertilize there, with the trench depth determined by the depth of the roots. For newly transplanted osmanthus, because of root damage the absorption capacity is relatively weak, so top dressing should not be too early. When fertilizing, the fertilizer must not come into contact with the branches and leaves, nor directly with the thick roots and fibrous roots. After application, cover with soil and level the ground at the same time.

Fertilization is very important for the growth and development of osmanthus. To make osmanthus branch and leaf abundantly and grow vigorously, it must be fertilized. Fertilization should be light and frequent, mainly with quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer. Young osmanthus trees should be fertilized 4 times a year, at the times: before the onset of winter, before bud break in early spring, late May, and from late June to late July. Choose clear weather and dry soil for the application. The first two times are mainly base fertilizer of cow and sheep manure, lake mud and the like combined with SaleFu microbial fertilizer, and the latter two times mainly quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer. Adult osmanthus is fertilized 3 times a year. One of these is base fertilizer, applied from mid-to-late October to before the onset of winter; the two top dressings are, first, a shoot-prompting fertilizer applied in February-March to promote spring shoots, and second, a flower-prompting fertilizer applied in August (1 month before flowering) to increase flower quantity and improve flower quality.

What fertilizer is best and most vigorous for osmanthus trees

Osmanthus likes fertilizer, and going a year without fertilizing is very unfavorable to the growth of the osmanthus tree. Osmanthus trees should avoid chemical fertilizers as much as possible and use more farmyard manure. Osmanthus trees especially like pig manure fertilizer, and there is a folk proverb that goes “to make osmanthus fragrant, smash the pig dung vat”. In cities where there is no pig manure, decomposed cake fertilizer liquid (or high-efficiency active fertilizers such as Huimanfeng, Chunquan 883, and Opur) can be used.

How do you use pig manure to fertilize osmanthus? Dig a pit around the tree and pour the pig manure in; as long as the roots are not damaged, that is all that is needed.

Correct fertilization methods for osmanthus trees:

1. Dig a trench outside the canopy projection and fertilize there, with the trench depth determined by the depth of the roots.

2. For newly transplanted osmanthus, because of root damage the absorption capacity is relatively weak, so top dressing should not be too early.

3. When fertilizing, the fertilizer must not come into contact with the branches and leaves, nor directly with the thick roots and fibrous roots.

4. After application, cover with soil and level the ground at the same time.

Here is a summary of osmanthus tree fertilization methods for everyone; I hope it can help you.