Garden Tips: February is the Time to Fertilize Stone Fruit and Citrus Trees

By BRUCE SCHWARTZ | Contributing Writer

February marks the time of the year when stone fruit and citrus trees need to be fertilized before blooming.

For stone fruit trees—such as peaches, nectarines and plums—apply chicken manure compost and triple 16 fertilizer, available at Ace Hardware. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the three primary elements needed for plant growth.

The Lilly Miller triple 16 is good for this. In addition to these three primary elements, Lilly Miller triple 16 also contains sulphur, the fourth-most important element.

Lilly Miller does not have the secondary elements—calcium and magnesium—and does not have the trace elements—iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron and molybdenum. I will have a recommendation for the best secondary and trace element fertilizer in my next column. These elements work together for optimum plant growth and health.

Plant growth also depends on organic matter that breaks down into organic acids, which act as the catalyst for efficient nutrient uptake. Chicken manure compost, also available at Ace Hardware, is an excellent source of organic matter that breaks down into organic acids, and feeds the microbes and fungi that live in the rhizosphere, better known as the root zone.

The microbes and fungi form symbiotic relationships with roots of plant species. It all works like a symphony orchestra.

For citrus trees, use Citrus Grower Blend, available Anawalt Palisades Hardware, along with the chicken manure compost and Lilly Miller triple 16 blend.

Citrus trees have a specific trace mineral requirement for zinc and manganese. These two elements act as a catalyst in citrus trees for nutrient uptake.

Typical zinc/manganese deficiencies are yellow leaves. Also, when the leaves become mottled with lighter green or yellow green areas between the veins in the leaf, this is another sign of a zinc/manganese deficiency.

Make sure to read the directions and do not over fertilize.

Bruce Schwartz is a 24-year resident of the Palisades Highlands. He was an agricultural consultant for 20 years, specializing in soil nutrition for crops grown in the Central Valley. He was named Pacific Palisades’ Citizen of the Year in 2017 and a Golden Sparkplug award winner in 2013, and is a member of several community organizations. To reach Schwartz, call 310-779-1773 or email bruceschwartz@rodeore.com.