Fruit trees require the right amount of nutrient to grow healthily and maintain the best fruit production year after year. Feed them with the best fertilizer for fruit trees below and your trees will be getting exactly what they need.
Here are the best fertilizers for fruit trees you can buy in 2023:
- Best Overall: Jobe’s Organics 9227
- Best For Mature Fruit Trees: Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient Trio Soil Formula
- Best Liquid Fertilizer: FoxFarm FX14002 Big Bloom Liquid Concentrate
- Best Slow-Release Fertilizer: Jobe's 100046754 1612 Fertilizer Spike
- Best For Root Development: Dr. Earth 708P
- Best For Mango & Avocado: Miracle-Gro 1048291 Shake 'n Feed Continuous-release Plant Food
| 6 Best Fertilizers For Fruit Trees | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Jobe’s Organics 9227 | |
Best For Mature Fruit Trees | Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient Trio Soil Formula | |
Best Liquid Fertilizer | FoxFarm FX14002 Big Bloom Liquid Concentrate | |
Best Slow-Release Fertilizer | Jobe's 100046754 1612 Fertilizer Spike | |
Best For Root Development | Dr. Earth 708P | |
Best For Mango & Avocado | Miracle-Gro 1048291 Shake 'n Feed Continuous-release Plant Food | |
Best Overall: Jobe’s Organics 9227
- Environment-friendly & Reliable – OMRI-listed by USDA
- Faster results than traditional granular fertilizers - Jobe Biozome
- A very strong smell
The Jobe’s Organics 9227 is an organic-certified granular fertilizer by USDA. Its function is to strengthen the root system and improve soil condition in the long term to hence keep your fruit tree garden from drought, bad insects, and diseases.
But making it distinctive from the competitor is the Jobe's Biozome - an exclusive microorganism archaeon that's proven to be capable of speeding up the soil material breakdown for faster results.
The fertilizer, on the other side, doesn't riskily burn the roots or leaves as seen on liquid, fast-release products. In other words, this is like the advanced version of the standard granular fertilizers.
| Jobe’s Organics 9227 Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | Before planting Existing plants |
Where to Use | At drip line |
Coverage Area | 100 sq.ft. |
Benefits | Improve long-term soil quality Encourage root growth |
Fertilizer Analysis | 3-5-5 |
Available Sizes | 1.5 lbs. 4 lbs. 16 lbs. |
Highlight Features | OMRI-listed by USDA Jobe Biozome |
The Jobe’s Organics 9227 provides nearly all of the benefits of a best-overall fertilizer for fruit trees at an affordable price.
Best For Mature Fruit Trees: Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient Trio Soil Formula
- Ultra-potent, fast-acting, and high-phosphorus
- Ideal for all flowering and fruit-bearing plants
- Perfect for both hydroponics and conventional soil setups
- Easy to use
- 3 different bottles in one package
Next we have the Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient Trio Soil Formula, which is highly recommended for those looking for consistency in the way they farm their plants.
The coolest thing about this product by Fox Farm is that it comes with a pack of three 1-gallon bottles that should be used in sequence for luscious fruits all season long. Though some might find it a bit complicated to follow the feeding schedule to know exactly which bottle to use, it still perfectly works as an all-in-one solution.
Begin with Grow Big to provide the uptake of advanced nutrition to your plants. At the first sign of flowering or after the few first weeks into the growing season, switch to Tiger Bloom that is high in nitrogen and phosphorus for glorious flowering of all plant kinds. To deal with any root systems and optimize nutrient cycling, apply Big Bloom throughout all growing cycles.
| Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient Trio Soil Formula Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | Apply them in sequence |
Recommended for | All types of fruiting trees |
Benefits | Build blossom; heal root systems; produce more fruits; and improve soil environment |
Fertilizer Analysis | Big Bloom 0-0.5-0.7; Tiger Bloom 2-8-4; Grow Big 6-4-4 |
Available Sizes | 1-gallon Big Bloom, 1-gallon, 1-gallon Grow Big, 1 Twin Canaries Chart & 1 Pipette |
Highlight Features | A three-pack of favorite liquid fertilizers from FoxFarm |
Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient Trio Soil Formula is specially formulated for mature, late-season fruiting trees.
Best Liquid Fertilizer: FoxFarm FX14002 Big Bloom Liquid Concentrate
- 100-percent natural and organic biologically alive formula
- Great medicine for sick plants or transplant fertilizer
- Safe for use around tender young plants
- Easy to apply
- Small size
This water-soluble plant food incorporates all-natural elements including castings (earthworm waste), guano (bat waste), Norwegian kelp, and a lot more high test organic ingredients so your trees can easily absorb a large amount of nutrients essential for their strong growth.
Norwegian kelp improves the uptake of nutrients and aids in better yields. Rock phosphate transfers energy to every single part of your plants for dramatic improvement in fruit flavors.
However, as this micro-brewed formula is available in 1-quart bottle, you have to use it sparingly.
| FoxFarm FX14002 Big Bloom Liquid Concentrate Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | Use every time you water |
Recommended for | All types of fruiting trees |
Benefits | Enhance flavor and fragrance of fruits |
Fertilizer Analysis | 0-.5-.7 |
Available Sizes | 1 quart |
Highlight Features | 100-percent natural and organic biologically alive formula |
FoxFarm FX14002 Big Bloom Liquid Concentrate enhances the flavor and fragrance of any kinds of fruiting trees.
Best Slow-Release Fertilizer: Jobe's 100046754 1612 Fertilizer Spike
- Pre-measured fertilizer spikes nourishes at the roots
- Easy to install
- Last all season long
- Safe to use
- Might kill the grass surrounding the tree
This time-release fertilizer by Jobe's for all kinds of fruit and citrus plants is the best pick for those who are tired of following manufacturer’s instruction to mix balanced fertilizer every day during the growing season.
Insert one of these spikes into the soil around each tree's drippings in the early spring when your trees start to grow and reapply in the late fall. Doing this means that all you have to do this season is to provide your greens with the suitable amount of water.
Jobe's 100046754 1612 Fertilizer Spike is potent enough to kill the grass surrounding your fruit trees.
| Jobe's 100046754 1612 Fertilizer Spike Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | Early spring and late fall |
Recommended for | All fruit and citrus trees |
Benefits | Provide the nutrients needed for delicious, robust fruit |
Fertilizer Analysis | (9-12-12) 5 spikes in traditional packaging, (8-11-11) 5 spikes in clear package, (8-11-11) 9 spikes, (9-12-12) 15 Spikes, (8-11-11) 160 spikes |
Available Sizes | 5; 9; 15; and 160 spikes |
Highlight Features | Active ingredients: Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur |
Jobe's 100046754 1612 Fertilizer Spike provides your plants with all the nutrients required for tasty, robust fruits without any mixing hazards, stink smell, mess, and wasteful runoff.
Best For Root Development: Dr. Earth 708P
- Great results on root growth – the fertilizer analysis of 5-5-2
- Quick release - eight selected strains of endo and ecto mycorrhizae
- Safe - No sewage sludge, chicken manure, or GMO
- Wish there were more size options
- Very bad odors
The Dr. Earth 708P is a great alternative for chemical fertilizers.
Aside from the abundant sources of macronutrients, it provides eight selected strains of endo and ecto mycorrhizae - which are extremely beneficial soil microbes. Those microbes will break down materials in the soil more aggressively for quicker release.
As a result, you'll find noticeably hearty root development of your fruit trees in the next months. No risks because it is made completely of natural and organic materials.
| Dr. Earth 708P Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | Spring and Fall |
Where to Use | At the drip line |
Benefits | Promoting hearty roots and fruit growth |
Fertilizer Analysis | 5-5-2 |
Available Sizes | 4 Pounds |
Highlight Features | the fertilizer analysis of 5-5-2 eight selected strains of endo and ecto mycorrhizae No sewage sludge, chicken manure, or GMO |
If you are looking for the best fruit tree fertilizer for root development, the Dr. Earth 708P is our recommendation
Best For Mango & Avocado: Miracle-Gro 1048291 Shake 'n Feed Continuous-release Plant Food
- Contain added potassium, magnesium, sulfur and iron to improve common nutrient deficiencies
- Feed up to 3 months
- No mixing required
- Prevent overfeeding or burning when used as directed
- It might take a while to see positive results
Those don’t have neither much free time nor the know-how of mixing plant food should pick the Miracle-Gro 1048291. Attainable in a 4.5-lb container, this Shake 'n Feed Continuous-release plant food lasts for up to 3 months. ALso, it delivers necessary nutrients instantly and directly to new in-ground or existing avocado, citrus, and mango trees, which allows them to flourish.
Though it might take a while for these positive results to be seen, the Miracle-Gro 1048291 Shake 'n Feed Continuous-release Plant Food is worth your wait.
| Miracle-Gro 1048291 Shake 'n Feed Continuous-release Plant Food Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | N/A |
Recommended for | Citrus, avocado, and mango trees |
Benefits | Encourage new growth |
Fertilizer Analysis | 8-2-10 |
Available Sizes | 4.5lbs |
Highlight Features | Contain added potassium, magnesium, sulfur, and iron |
Miracle-Gro 1048291 Shake 'n Feed Continuous-release Plant Food does wonder for citrus, avocado, and mango trees.
How To Choose The Best Fertilizer For Fruit Trees?
Type
Liquid and granulated are the two major types of fertilizers for fruit trees. Effective yet easy-to-prepare, liquid fertilizers are highly recommended for most gardening applications thanks to their convenience. However, they tend to cost more than granulated fertilizers. Moreover, if you are in search of plant food that nourishes your trees for all season long without having to reapply, slow-release granulated organic fertilizer is a better choice.
Fertilizer Analysis
Most fruit tree fertilizers consist of a blend of NPK, referring to nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. However, the NPK ratio printed on each fertilizer’s package indicates the nutrient percentage per pound of product, not the exact amount. N, P and K. For instance, if the NPK listed on the bag is 7-10-12, meaning 7% nitrogen, 10% phosphorous, and 12% potassium, then there is 0.07 pounds of actual nitrogen, 0.1 pounds of actual phosphorous, and 0.12 pounds of actual potassium for every pound of this fertilizer.
The best fertilizer for fruit trees should contain a balanced ratio of these three ingredients. For example, 12-12-12 and 10-10-10 make the safest fertilizer to use on most fruit trees.
Let’s take a closer look at these trace elements that help your fruit trees properly develop!
Nitrogen
Most fruit trees prefer organic fertilizer high in nitrogen that makes their leaves green which is essential for green growth, photosynthesis, and general growth. The best time to feed your trees with a high-nitrogen fertilizer is in early spring when the buds haven’t broken and only if they don’t grow satisfactorily. Note that too much nitrogen can burn the plants and encourage more leaf formation than fruit production.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus helps transfer energy to all tree parts for strong root and flower development. As this ingredient cannot spread through the plant ground fast, it should be included in all fruit tree fertilizer.
Potassium
Another essential ingredient in plant food is potassium which supports water regulation water inside and outside the tree’s cells.
Which Brands Make The Best Fertilizer For Fruit Trees?
Jobe's Company
Knowing that only beautiful, healthy trees can create your yard’s spectacular look, this Texas-based company has been manufacturing and distributing more than 200 products of fertilizers and plant spikes to top garden & lawn retailers across North America. With 50 years’ experience in this industry, Jobe's Company delivers the highest-quality landscape edging, sunscreen fabrics, landscape fabrics, shade fabrics, tree care products, and fertilizers.
Schultz Company
Schultz is part of United Industries Corporation with over 70 years’ experience in the lawn and garden care and insect control markets. Its product line of grass seeds; plant food; and rich, productive soil mixtures are the perfect solution for growing spectacular, bountiful gardens.
FoxFarm Soil & Fertilizer Company
This company established and developed in Humboldt County has been crafting the professional-grade soil mixes, micro-brewed liquid plant foods, and fertilizers since 1984. Whether you want to grow vegetables, flowers, or fruits, you can trust that FoxFarm Soil & Fertilizer Company products can bring success.
FAQs
What is the best time to fertilize fruit trees?
The late winter and early spring, which are right before the growing season, are the best time to fertilize fruit trees. That’s when your plants can get all the extra nutrients needed for their growth. Apply a half-strength fertilizer for older, established fruit trees in the autumn.
How much fertilizer do fruit trees need?
1lb of actual nitrogen is the maximum amount to give your fruit tree per year.
Are coffee grounds good for fruit trees?
If the nitrogen level of your soil is already high, the growth of your fruit trees could be stunted by the extra boost from coffee grounds which are highly acidic.
What is the best fertilizer for apple trees?
Like other fruit trees, apple trees prefer an organic fertilizer which is high in nitrogen.
Are eggshells good for fruit trees?
Eggshells work as a good source of calcium and other minerals for a strong cellular structure development.
Conclusion
Fertilizing is one of the most important requirements of flavorful fruit production without blemishes. Feed your trees with one of the best fertilizer for fruit trees above, then you will your own freshly delicious fruits soon.
