Wondering how to fertilize an avocado tree? It takes a lot of work for avocado trees to produce the delicious fruits we grow them for. To be successful, these trees require a range of macro and micronutrients for all-around health.
In the first year of growth, avocado trees should be fertilized once per season, excluding winter. In the years that follow, they can be fertilized annually until they have matured. After a few years, you can stop fertilizing and only apply more when a soil test determines the soil is nutrient deficient. Choose a citrus fertilizer or one with higher nitrogen values for the best results. Regular applications of compost around the tree will improve overall health and soil quality.
The importance of fertilizing avocados
Most plants need a few essential components to grow successfully – light, water, air and nutrients. Nutrients are required in different amounts based on the plant, but all are important for the correct growth and functioning of plant cells.
When you’re growing fruit trees with the goal of harvesting as many fruits as possible, understanding nutrients is vital. Without the right balance of nutrients in the soil, your trees may struggle to flower, produce fruit, or even grow leaves and stems depending on what is missing from the soil.
That’s where fertilizer comes in. Fertilizers contain different ratios of essential plant nutrients, making it easy for you to give your trees everything they need to thrive. Fertilizers are added to the soil to be absorbed by the roots along with water.
Do avocado trees need fertilizer?
When it comes to avocado trees, they also need the right balance of nutrients in the soil to grow their best. However, they are not considered heavy feeders and are generally happy to grow without help if planted in good-quality soil. That doesn’t mean fertilizer is never needed, just that it is not needed as often as some other fruit trees.
In the early stages of growth, regular fertilizing will help the plant establish itself and mature as quickly as possible. But once they have been growing happily for several years, they will not require feeding as often. An occasional application of compost to improve soil health is usually enough to maintain the right nutrient levels before feeding again.
How often do avocado trees need fertilizer?
Thanks to their low-maintenance nature, avocado trees don’t need frequent fertilizing. Soon after planting, they require regular applications to boost growth. But once they’ve settled in, you can fertilize once per year or even skip a year if the tree is growing happily.
In the first year after planting, it is recommended to fertilize once per season, skipping winter when growth slows to avoid the production of new growth that will be more vulnerable to cold damage. In the years that follow, take a look at the growth to determine whether you need to fertilize or not. Usually, most avocado growers fertilize annually in the first few years of growth, slowing or stopping once the tree is mature.
Also apply a layer of compost as mulch around the tree each year, avoiding the trunk, to improve the soil quality and replenish lost nutrients throughout the season.
What type of fertilizer is best for avocado trees?
Plant nutrients are typically split into three categories – macronutrients, secondary nutrients and micronutrients. All are vital to plant health, but some are needed in higher quantities than others. Macronutrients are those you’ll see on fertilizer packaging as NPK: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
For avocado trees, nitrogen is needed in higher amounts than the other macronutrients for strong branches and plenty of leafy growth. The other nutrients assist in flowering and fruiting, but if your soil is well-balanced you shouldn’t need to add higher amounts of phosphorus or potassium for your avocado tree to grow successfully.
Citrus tree fertilizers typically work best for avocado trees and are widely available. But if you can’t find one, just look for fertilizers with a higher ‘N’ ratio for the best results. Your chosen product should also contain trace secondary and micronutrients to improve overall soil health.
Before choosing a fertilizer, conduct a soil test to assess the balance of nutrients in the soil. This prevents any issues with overfertilizing and stops and potential imbalances caused by incorrect fertilizer application.
How to fertilize avocado trees
The process of fertilizing will depend on which fertilizer you choose. Generally, avocado fertilizers come in powder or pellet form, dug into the top layer of soil around the tree. There are also fertilizers available that are diluted in water and applied with your regular watering schedule, although these disappear from the soil quicker than powdered fertilizers.
Whichever product you choose, avoid applying it right next to the trunk of the tree to prevent damage. Leave a ring around the base and sprinkle the fertilizer into the soil around the tree just past the drip line. This will deliver the nutrients right where they are needed, ensuring all parts of the tree are happy.
The risk of overfertilizing an avocado
Although we may reach for fertilizer to boost growth or resolve a problem, it’s also important to understand the risks of overdoing it – especially for avocado trees.
Because they are not heavy feeders and often don’t need a top-up in the later years of growth, adding fertilizer when it is not required can do damage to the roots that is difficult to repair. It can also cause inconsistencies in growth that may prevent flowering or fruiting for an entire season, potentially longer.
Always follow the instructions on the packaging and only fertilize when absolutely necessary.
