There are several answers to this question depending on many factors, how old is the tree? Is it in the ground or in the container? Which type of soil you have? Which time of the year is it? Organic or not?
There are 3 main macronutrients all plants need: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).
Generally avocado trees are nitrogen thirsty so fertilizer suitable for avocados either slow release or fast acting have higher N ( nitrogen) number as this is the main element needed by trees.
P fertilization is not common.
When trees begin to bear, K fertilizer may be applied to replace the K removed with the fruits. Avocado fruits are high in potassium (K) even higher than bananas.
The 4th element that avocados sometimes need is Zinc. In young trees, Zn applied foliarly or It can be a single application of dry fertilizer which can correct the deficiency for up to 5 years. too much Zn may injure trees and the correct amount depends on soil type. That's why the preferred method is foliar Zn application as it is safer and faster.
The rule of thumb is that if you are fertilizing an avocado tree in a container use slow release fertilizers, you may add them on top and never in the soil mixture
Young trees should be fertilized cautiously. Over-fertilizing may burn the roots, but under-fertilizing will result in poor growth.
In the ground young trees are generally fertilized every 4 – 6 weeks through the eight-month growing season (March – October). Manures should only be used as a
fertilizer on young trees if the manure is well composted and leached by winter rains (in order to remove the salt in the manure).
Young trees are often mulched with wood chips to reduce moisture loss from the soil
surface mulch does not supply nitrogen and, in fact, may actually tie up available
nitrogen in the soil surface. Remember mulched trees may require a little bit of extra nitrogen to overcome this effect.
Let us know in the comment section which fertilizers have you used and your results we love to hear from you!
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