Hey guys, what's the best fertilizer for my apple and pear tree? I bought the miracle gro organic fruit and veg, but a grandparent brought round some fish blood and bone.
Ive only applied the miracle gro once, which was earlier this week.
I recently announced that i used general miracle gro, the bluish crystals, and was recommended to change.
Anyone have any experiences or recommendations?
The last time this was brought up there was, I would say, an extremely heated discussion about it.
Miracle Gro and other synthetic fertilizers provide more fertilizer, at the expense of the soil food web's ability to provide for itself. The synthetics will kill much of the microbiology in the soil. Earthworms are not microbiology. You need a microscope to see them, because they are micro biology. There are advocates on this forum for both organic and synthetic approaches. Please don't attack me personally.
John S
PDX OR
I remember, and i hope this topic isn't hijacked into a similar row.
I think that at the end of the day, adding any form of fertilizer will always cause a loss of/alteration of the microbiology of the soil.
Adding woodchips helps prevent growth of weeds, and im okay with that; my fruit and veg insecticide used if certain populations rise beyond acceptable levels results in the loss of many aphids, and im fine with that 
Anti fungicide also helps to prevent apple scab by the destruction of spores, and that also, for me, is acceptable.
My aim is to hopefully grow the healthiest, best looking and great fruit producing fruit trees.
I am planting herbs close to the bases of my fruit trees, to help provide a habitat and food source for other small insects/creatures, as well as improve the health of the soil and also prevention of certain wrigglys.
But as far as the nutrition of the tree is concerned, would anyone recommend either of the suggested fertilizers?
(I am trying to go less synthetic if that is in someway being considered as an improvement in morals )
I find that by having a diversity of habitat, things like aphids and the currant worm end up not being noticeable problems. My yard attracts a lot of young ladybugs, which are voracious aphid eaters. Adults eat some, but not as many. Little birds are attracted to my yard, and not only do I enjoy listening to them and watching them, they eat worms. When I first moved into my yard, I had a lot of pest and disease problems because the previous owner did everything with toxics and nothing to the soil.
I use compost tea if I've got fungus-based or bacterially based diseases, which is about 95% of them. It kills diseases by making your plants stronger than the diseases. Providing well-draining soil is key for many fruit trees, so gravel, pumice, or even rocks will help. Compost helps the water drain as well.
I do think that some people responsibly use synthetic fertilizers and some organic, with a minimum of microbiology damage.
John S
PDX OR
Thanks for your responses john. My main problem with one of my trees is apple scab, and it completely ravishes the tree. By tea-compost, do you mean like tea bags, or leftover from your evening meal?
Another problem with my garden is the fact that our soil is extremely heavy clay under about a foot. I tried to combat this for my first 2 trees by digging deep and providing a wide hole filled with compost for them. My latest tactic is going to be to apply some gypsum lime at the bottom with a layer of mulch before adding a top layer of soil, this apparently helps to separate the clay somewhat.
Although ive read some apple trees can cope with clay
Idyllwild
simplepress
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Marsha H
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