Autumn fertilizer: what top dressing and when is it better to apply for the garden and vegetable garden

Nutrient components are introduced into the soil not only in spring and summer, when cultivated plants are in the active vegetation stage, but also before winter. The difference between autumn fertilizers is that they contain a high content of potassium and phosphorus and a minimum of nitrogen, which can provoke an increased growth of green mass. Because of this, the plants will not tolerate the cold period well and may even die.

Features of fertilization in autumn

To harvest a rich harvest next season, experienced gardeners use special dressings that must be applied to the soil in the fall.It is recommended to complete all soil fertilization procedures before the end of September, then they will have time to soak into the soil and begin their effect before the first frosty days arrive.

Autumn fertilizer is especially important for perennial crops, since during the growing season they spent all their reserves of substances on the formation of fruits, and it will be difficult for them to survive the winter cold without additional intake of organic and mineral elements. During the winter, fertilizers will turn into a form accessible to crops and provide active growth in the spring.

Among the basic substances needed by every plant, nitrogen, potassium, calcium and phosphorus are isolated. Since the first macronutrient provokes the active growth of green mass and shoots, it is not recommended to use it before winter, otherwise trees and shrubs may freeze. Phosphate fertilizers, on the other hand, are an ideal solution for autumn fertilizer, as they are absorbed slowly and do not lead to active crop growth.

Of the advantages of the autumn use of mineral and organic fertilizers, the following points should be highlighted:

During the summer, the soil warms up, and beneficial microorganisms quickly absorb the introduced fertilizers and begin to process them into a state suitable for plants.
In autumn, there is enough moisture in the soil, due to which fertilizers dissolve and their components are absorbed into the ground.
Fed before the cold weather, plants better resist the effects of low temperatures and the penetration of infectious agents.
Toxic substances, often found in chemical preparations for top dressing, have time to wash and erode from the soil before spring and do not penetrate the fruits of cultivated plants in the summer.
Those crops that overwinter in the soil, by this time, have borne fruit and are able to freely absorb the beneficial components of the preparations.
With the advent of warm days, the gardener is faced with the task of quickly sowing the garden, and there is not enough time for the full preparation of the land. If top dressing has been in the soil since autumn, it is enough to loosen the top layer before planting crops and start sowing immediately.

Types of minerals that are applied in autumn

Before starting to fertilize before winter, it is worth understanding which nutrients are most suitable and how they affect the soil and plants.

Phosphoric

This element is found in mineral supplements in a hard-to-reach form for plants, and it needs time to transform into a form suitable for crops. As a result of chemical processes occurring during the winter period, phosphorus fertilizer becomes an easily digestible element.

This group includes drugs such as superphosphate, potassium metaphosphate, phosphate rock.Most gardeners prefer superphosphate, which is simple and double, in the first case, the amount of the main nutrient is about 20%, in the second - 50%. In addition to phosphorus, the composition of the fertilizer contains sulfur, magnesium, monocalcium phosphate and phosphoric acid. Both simple and double dressings are approved for use on all crops and on all soil types. For better absorption and distribution in the soil, the fertilizer is mixed with organic matter - humus or compost, the consumption rate is 40 grams per square meter of the garden (in the case of using double superphosphate, the rate is halved). They bring the drug under the autumn digging of the soil.

Phosphorite flour is preferred by those gardeners who lead organic farming. The fact is that this is a completely natural product, which is obtained by grinding into powder phosphorites - sedimentary rocks. The composition of this fertilizer contains 20% phosphorus and 30% calcium, the rest is accounted for by a complex of microelements.When using phosphate rock in your garden, they adhere to a consumption of 2 kg of top dressing per 10 square meters. meters of area. It must be remembered that phosphorus-based flour contributes to soil deoxidation.

This type of fertilizer, potassium metaphosphate, is also ideal for acidic soil. The main share in the composition of top dressing falls on phosphorus oxide - 60%, and potassium metaphosphate also contains 40% potassium oxide. A mineral preparation is used to nourish crops characterized by increased sensitivity to chlorine. Adhere to the dosage of 15 grams of fertilizer per 10-liter bucket of water.

Potash

Substance like potassium speeds up the process of photosynthesis, increases the resistance of crops to the effects of adverse weather conditions and strengthens immunity against common diseases. Since most types of top dressing contain chlorine, it is recommended to apply it in the fall so as not to harm the plants.Until spring, the harmful element evaporates from the soil and no longer poses a threat to crops.

From the most common potash fertilizers, it is worth highlighting the following preparations:

Kalimagnesia. It contains 30% potassium and 17% magnesium. This variety is often used on sandy soils. 20 grams of potassium magnesia are consumed per square meter.
Potassium chloride. Contains the highest concentration of the main component - 60%. But since chlorine (40%) is present in its composition, fertilizer can only be used in autumn. For 1 sq. meter take 15-20 grams of the drug.
Potassium sulfate. This type of potash fertilizer acidifies the soil, therefore it is suitable only for alkaline soils or with a neutral reaction. From 15 to 30 grams of the drug is used per square of the plot.

What fertilizers are applied in the garden in autumn

As part of preparing the site for winter, both organic and mineral fertilizers are used in the garden. The main thing is to correctly calculate the dosage of dressings and follow the recommended time frame.

Organics

Organic fertilizing made in the autumn can increase soil fertility and prepare them for spring planting. Since the soil is resting at this time, beneficial microorganisms have time to fully process the fertilizer components. Organics decompose slowly and eventually turn into humus. If you use them in autumn for several years in a row, you will be able to improve the characteristics of even the most depleted soils.

One of the most readily available fertilizers for crops is compost. When applied to light soils, it is possible to retain moisture in the ground longer; when applied to heavy clay soils, on the contrary, it increases water permeability. Organic fertilizer is prepared from spring, in which case it will acquire the necessary characteristics and useful properties until autumn.2 buckets of top dressing are used per square meter of garden.

Under the autumn digging, both fresh and rotted manure are brought in, unlike spring. Ammonia, which is in fresh fertilizer and is dangerous for cultivated plants, will come down in the spring along with melt water and will not harm plantings. Depending on the type of soil on the site, from 2 to 8 kg of manure is used per square meter of the garden.

Since bird droppings are a highly concentrated fertilizer, it must be applied in a diluted liquid form. The most commonly used concentration is 1:20, it is safe for crops.

The use of potassium-rich wood ash is advisable only on heavy clay soils, on other types of soil it will simply be washed away by melt water, and the fertilizer will not be useful. About 2 cups of organic fertilizer are used per square meter of area.

Mineral blends

When choosing a complex mineral fertilizer for application on the site, you should pay attention to the inscription on the label. As a rule, there is a corresponding mark on the compositions intended for autumn use. Such dressings contain practically no nitrogen in their composition, instead they have an increased concentration of phosphorus and potassium.

From complex fertilizers, it is recommended to pay attention to the following preparations:

Monopotassium phosphate. A water-soluble fertilizer designed to feed all crops.
Borofoska. In addition to the main components, the composition contains boron, calcium and magnesium.

Rules and application times

In order for fertilizers used in the fall to bring the expected result, it is necessary to observe the timing of fertilizing and the rules for their application.

For berry bushes

For a garden in which currant, raspberry and gooseberry bushes are planted, both mineral and organic compounds are suitable. It is necessary to start fertilizing from the end of summer to mid-October, depending on the region of cultivation. Nutrient mixtures can be laid out along the perimeter of the near-trunk circle, or can be embedded in small ditches dug between the rows.

To feed berry bushes, it is recommended to prepare such a mixture - add 40 grams of potassium s alt and 60 grams of superphosphate to 15 kg of humus or compost. This amount of fertilizer is enough to feed 1 adult plant.

For fruit trees

Before winter, both organic matter and mineral fertilizers are used to feed fruit and berry trees, the main thing is that they do not contain nitrogen, which will provoke increased growth of shoots. Different complexes are being prepared, depending on what kind of culture grows in the garden:

For cherries and plums, dry manure or bird droppings are used, embedding it in the near-stem circle of a tree. After a week, prepare a nutrient solution consisting of 40 liters of water, 10 tablespoons of superphosphate and 8 tablespoons of potassium sulfate. Trees are watered with this liquid in early autumn at the rate of 2 buckets per adult specimen.
Pears and apple trees. For a tree whose age does not exceed 8 years, 10 kg of humus is prepared, which is enriched with 200 grams of potassium sulfate and 300 grams of superphosphate. This mixture is distributed around the perimeter of the tree crown and dug up with soil.

For conifers

On sale there are special complexes designed for autumn feeding of coniferous plants. They begin to fertilize in the country from the first days of September, and finish by the beginning of October. You can use drugs in both granular and liquid form.It is recommended to purchase potassium sulfate, it slightly acidifies the soil, which favorably affects coniferous crops. You can also take potassium phosphate and apply it at a dosage of 10 grams per 10 liters of water.

For strawberries

Top dressing of garden strawberry bushes is carried out from September to October, combining this procedure with cutting the leaves. Bird droppings are considered to be a universal fertilizer for this crop, which is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 20. This composition is infused for 2 days, and then grooves are shed between the plants. Care must be taken not to get the solution on the leaves, otherwise it will cause burns.

At the end of October, cultures should be fed with potassium and phosphorus. Ash infusion has proven itself well, for its preparation, 150 grams of ash is diluted in 10 liters of water and 500 ml of solution is poured under each bush.

For roses

The use of fertilizers in the rose garden begins in early September. To prepare the solution, take 1 liter of hot water and dissolve 50 grams of superphosphate in it. The leaves of the crop are sprayed with this liquid.

Another recipe consists of 10 liters of water, 5 g of superphosphate 5 g of potassium monophosphate. The solution is used for watering under the root.

For lilies

Feeding for lilies begins to be applied in the last days of August, they do it twice with an interval of 2 weeks. They use potassium magnesia, the consumption per square meter is 30 grams. The first time fertilizer can be applied dry, and the second time to prepare a solution consisting of 6 liters of water, 2 tbsp. spoons of potassium magnesia and 1 tbsp. spoons of superphosphate.

For lawn

The timing of lawn grass fertilizer application depends on weather forecasts. Top dressing is carried out 10 days before the onset of the first frost.

It is preferable to use double superphosphate, the consumption rate is 50-70 grams per square meter of plot.

For the garden

It is recommended to fertilize the land and prepare it for the next season with fresh manure.However, it must be remembered that such top dressing can be used no more than once every 3 years. It is scattered before digging over the area at the rate of 3 kg per square meter and sealed on the bayonet of a shovel.

For vegetables, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers will be a good feed, 25 g of potassium s alt and 50 g of superphosphate are taken per square of the garden. All work on fertilizing the soil must be completed before the first days of October.

For flowers

The main components necessary for flowers are potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. They are brought in for digging in September at the rate of 15 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium s alt per square meter. If the flowers are already planted on the site, then these components are dissolved in 10 liters of water and the root watering of the plants is carried out.