Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
Like all other woody plants, conifers depend on an optimal supply of nutrients. There are various fir fertilizers for the plants, which are presented to you in this guide.
In a nutshell
- Conifers require significantly more magnesium, iron and nitrogen than deciduous trees
- suitable conifer fertilizers contain less phosphorus and potassium
- Magnesium and iron ensure the optimal supply of nutrients to the needles
- good fertilizers for conifers can be recognized by the rich color of their needles
- Magnesium fertilizers are an excellent booster for the trees
Fir Fertilizer: Necessary ingredients
If you want to keep conifers, you have to pay special attention to the fertilizer used. Conventional fertilizers with a classic NPK composition are often not sufficient for fir, pine or larch because they depend on a different nutrient composition. A nutrient deficiency can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- brown needles
- yellow needles
- weak growth
In this case, the conifers do not have the right nutrients at their disposal. A nutrient deficiency can occur, especially over the summer, if you fertilize incorrectly. Fertilizers that provide higher amounts of nitrogen and the important magnesium are particularly suitable. Magnesium aids in photosynthesis and is less common in soils favored by conifers, such as sandy soil. That is why conifer fertilizers specialize in a good supply of magnesium, while phosphorus and potassium play a subordinate role. They should also contain the following nutrients in order to maintain the vitality of the plants over the long term:
- iron
- sulfur
Notice: A start fertilization with mature compost is recommended if you either plant bare-root conifers or there are poor soil conditions for the trees. Sandy or loamy soils make growth much easier with a little compost.
5 high quality fertilizers
Now we introduce you to 5 well-suited fertilizers for your conifers.
Epsom salt
Epsom salt is an excellent magnesium fertilizer for your conifers. You should not use Epsom salts as the main fertilizer, but as a supplemental fertilizer when there are signs of deficiency. Epsom salt not only contains a lot of magnesium, but also high amounts of sulfur, which is also important for the plants. When fertilizing, you should consider the following points:
Epsom salt as a long-term fertilizer
- Dosage (maintenance fertilization): 50 to 60 g per m²
- Dosage (magnesium deficiency): 90 to 100 g per m²
- spread around the tree
- incorporate into the soil
- water vigorously
Tip: Mix ten grams of Epsom salts with one liter of water to feed the needles directly with fertilizer. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray the needles thoroughly.
Ready mixed fir fertilizer
Do without the use of normal NPK fertilizers and use special mixtures for conifers that are available in liquid or granular form. They are the perfect fertilizer for the plants, as they offer the nutrients already mentioned in an optimized mixture with high quality. The quality of the mixture is particularly important. Use organo-mineral fertilizers, as primarily mineral variants do not have such a good effect on the plants. Mixtures with compost are excellent for conifers, for example. When making your selection, you should take a closer look at the individual amounts of nutrients. Products with the following values are recommended:
- Nitrogen: 8 to 15%
- Magnesium: 5%
- Phosphorus: 2 to 3%
- Potassium: 5 to 6%
- optional: sulfur and iron content
Tip: When fertilizing, be sure to follow the dosage information on the fertilizer package. If the manufacturer does not provide any information about the dosage, administer 60 to 120 grams per square meter.
guano
Guano is of high quality and is also suitable as an additional fertilizer for conifers. The fir fertilizer offers a good mix of nitrogen and magnesium, which are extremely important for the health of the plants. Many fir fertilizers already contain guano because it improves the effect of the product. You need 40 to 50 percent of the fertilizer per square meter.
Guano fertilizer is made from excrement from seabirds such as penguins or cormorants; Source: excrement from seabirds such as penguins or cormorants
horn shavings
Horn shavings are recommended as a supplement to compost or magnesium fertilizers as they provide additional nitrogen at high concentrations. Just work some of the horn shavings into the soil to support the conifers. 60 to 80 grams per square meter are completely sufficient as a nutrient addition.
potash magnesia
In order to increase the frost tolerance of the plants, which is particularly recommended for young specimens, you should incorporate a portion of Kalimagnesia in autumn. Kalimagnesia acts as a fir fertilizer before winter and once again provides the conifers with sufficient magnesium, sulfur and potassium. 40 to 50 grams of fertilizer are used per square meter. The fertilizer is also known under the name Patentkali.
Tip: If you can't find Kalimagnesia, you can also lime your conifers. Lime has a positive effect on the nutrient supply of the plants, especially if they are not doing too badly.
frequently asked Questions
What should be considered before fertilizing?With conifers in particular, it is important to examine the soil for signs of a magnesium or nutrient deficiency. A soil sample will help you determine if there is a problem. In particular, you should check the pH value, as this can also be the reason for the discolouration of the needles. A pH of 6.0 to 8.0 is ideal.
When are conifers fertilized?If granules are used, you usually only have to fertilize once a year. This is possible from the end of February or beginning of March, after the conifers have already been watered once. Magnesium fertilizers such as Epsom salts can be incorporated from the end of February to the end of August, depending on when a deficiency is evident. Liquid fertilizers are applied over the entire period according to the manufacturer's instructions.
What is the best way to supply potted plants with fir fertilizer?While a high-quality conifer fertilizer is preferably used outdoors in the form of granules, you should only supply specimens in the bucket with liquid fertilizer. This is administered via the irrigation water, otherwise salts and burns will form on the substrate. When dosing, follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid over-fertilizing.