It is high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential for healthy tree growth. For example, studies on avocado tree responses to different levels of nitrogen fertilization have found roughly the same results for more than 50 years now. Should you buy a big or small avocado tree. Some of the lower leaves are a nice deep green and some of the upper leaves are a pale green/yellow. One question that I have, that I havent been able to find elsewhere on the internet, is what will happen if I over fertilize my tree? Is wood ash good for avocado trees? Fertilize trees in early spring so they can use the nutrients during active growth. You should also note that the shells are identifiable even after composting. For me, its a consistently fruitful tree, which means it must also be healthy. The nutrient content of manure varies depending on what the animal ate and what type of animal the manure comes from. I rented a trailer and went to a soil yard and bought partially composted shredded trees and green waste. I planted a Hass about two years ago (I believe it was a 5 gallon from home depot) and it has only grown less than a foot in all this time. At the bottom, I put in a French drain to allow the water to drain out toward the fence, where there is a steep slope. Ps- Id love to come see your property! Is it too late, should I pursue the company who did the work said roots are shallow. Chicken manure is a good fertilizer for avocado trees because it's rich in nutrients and is specifically high in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and sulfur. While driving the 126 through the Santa Clara River valley I saw perfect groves near Ventura and scorched groves near Piru. I do receive many loads with at least some palm fronds, but they are well shredded. Even with my watering (though I admit bad care from me as I focused on the rest of the garden) the tree just looks sad and Im wondering if the time has come and I just need to start over with another tree? Goat droppings manure is odorless doesnt draw attention to insects and doesnt burn plants if applied raw, as does cow dung. This fertilizer is a balanced mix of nutrients to provide your avocado tree with everything it needs. You shouldnt need to make a well, or watering basin, any wider than 2-3 feet in diameter unless youre planting very big trees. Last year we had snowvidwhere we lost power for almost 4 days, and Temps were close to zero at times. Thanks. Hi Greg, thanks for your response. I use my moisture probe to assess moisture level along with leaf droop to determine when to water. Hi Laura, That sounds like such a fun idea. Everyones growing conditions are different. I specified no firewood and only once was there large pieces of wood, which I used for makeshift borders. Its still in its 15 gallon pot that Ive placed about 5 feet from my reed- is that a good/perhaps best cross pollinator or should there be another I should be looking for? The eggshells being seen after composting isnt a big deal, but it may not be aesthetically right to others. Ive seen many fruitful avocado trees fertilized with a boxed or bagged product, such as E.B. Dont expect growth on avocados right now. Hi Vincent, . Dried cow manure has much higher nutrient levels - 2% nitrogen, 2% phosphorus, and 2.4% potassiumso you could use much less, roughly 10 pounds per 100 square feet. Here is the translation: Have a look at these posts and their accompanying videos to see if they answer some questions or give you clues about your trees: I get by with a spading fork and a two-wheeled garden cart (by Rubbermaid, large rectangular black plastic contraption) that has bicycle sized wheels with solid rubber tires that never go flat. Thanks! Here's why: sheep, cow and other composted manure are about 1% N, 1% P and 1% K by weight. So we add stuff to our soil when necessary. It grew 2 to 3 feet within a couple years. Since Ive owned it, the leaves are droopy and more greenish yellow than dark green (like my 13 year old Haas). Spread the manure in a circle from about 2 feet from the trunk to one and a half times the radius of the canopy. Im always building small compost piles beside my trees, and the mass of white avocado roots to be found there after a couple months tells me that the trees love it. But these varieties are very rare in Southern California; almost all avocado trees grown in Southern California have deep green foliage if the trees are healthy. Fish bone meal manure is a good source of phosphorus and calcium that is important for your avocado tree to develop strong roots. On such young trees as yours (7 months in the ground), I would put only an inch or two down. The good news is that Reed trees fruit very well without any B-type avocado tree nearby. Thank you! Here are more direct links to Benders two-volume Avocado Production in California. Found at home on the link in the article. Leave about a foot of space around the trunk to help prevent rot; this will also make it easier to water the tree. I have been watering and fertilizing with the same schedule over the years. For the in-ground plants, I water 2-ft around the perimeter inward using 1 to 2 pitchers. The owners have added mulch and watered well in the remaining root zone but the tree is not showing recovery. In the fall or early spring, spread a two- to three-inch layer of composted manure over the surface of the soil. Loosen the soil deeply before planting. Hi Greg- I love your stuff! Thank you very much for your insightful responses. That means that it is fully eco-friendly and cost-effective. Were the big growers affected by this summers heat? I have created a 2-foot mound then planted the trees in the mound, added ~4 inch local mulch, and put a shade cloth above and on the west side of each tree to cut down the intense sun on the young trees. It contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential for plant growth. I was hoping you could help me out with an avocado tree problem! All of the trees are mulched and all are going into bloom now. Thank you for this very instructive article, I would like to translate it into French for the acclimatons.com website. Before planting, dig in plenty of chook, cow or horse manure into the ground. 5 Best Fertilizers For Avocado Trees - AvoSeedo This is the 4th year, the tree produced lots of fruit but the size is pretty small. But maybe youd like to give it a little boost, a little extra just to make some bonus fruit? I will check the roots this weekend. I have never raked a leaf from under any of my fruit trees of any type. Hi Greg. No doubt that July heat hit the big growers just as it hit us.