I have some small but established apple trees. The soil they are in is weak
and more sandy than anything.

Production is disappointing and not anywhere like that of similar sized
trees that I've seen.

Would a mulch of manure around each tree help? Is this a good time to do it?

I have read on the web not to add manure because it'll not encourage the
roots to go on the search for food. I can see the logic of this for new
trees but mine are a few years old.

Any views?


mark

On 02/10/2014 14:23, mark wrote:
I have some small but established apple trees. The soil they are in is weak
and more sandy than anything.

Production is disappointing and not anywhere like that of similar sized
trees that I've seen.

Would a mulch of manure around each tree help? Is this a good time to do it?

I have read on the web not to add manure because it'll not encourage the
roots to go on the search for food. I can see the logic of this for new
trees but mine are a few years old.

Any views?


mark


I'd be inclined to spread 3 or 4 inches of old compost or peat around
the tree, a couple of feet out from the trunk and then fork it in gently

On 02/10/2014 14:23, mark wrote:
I have some small but established apple trees. The soil they are in is weak
and more sandy than anything.

Production is disappointing and not anywhere like that of similar sized
trees that I've seen.

Would a mulch of manure around each tree help? Is this a good time to do it?

I have read on the web not to add manure because it'll not encourage the
roots to go on the search for food. I can see the logic of this for new
trees but mine are a few years old.

Any views?


mark





You don't say if you have blossom at the appropriate time ... followed
by bees or other pollinators during that time. Lack of either would
account for an unproductive tree. Also, if you're pruning incorrectly,
you may be cutting out flowering wood.

By all means follow David's advice and mulch well, but water the trees
really thoroughly first. The mulch will help to hold the water in as
well as suppressing weeds and improving the soil. In the spring, give a
high potash feed to encourage flowering. If you're unsure of your
pruning, then give it a miss and see what happens.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

"Spider" wrote in message
...
On 02/10/2014 14:23, mark wrote:
I have some small but established apple trees. The soil they are in is
weak
and more sandy than anything.

Production is disappointing and not anywhere like that of similar sized
trees that I've seen.

Would a mulch of manure around each tree help? Is this a good time to do
it?

I have read on the web not to add manure because it'll not encourage the
roots to go on the search for food. I can see the logic of this for new
trees but mine are a few years old.

Any views?


mark





You don't say if you have blossom at the appropriate time ... followed by
bees or other pollinators during that time. Lack of either would account
for an unproductive tree. Also, if you're pruning incorrectly, you may be
cutting out flowering wood.

By all means follow David's advice and mulch well, but water the trees
really thoroughly first. The mulch will help to hold the water in as well
as suppressing weeds and improving the soil. In the spring, give a high
potash feed to encourage flowering. If you're unsure of your pruning,
then give it a miss and see what happens.



Blossom was fine. I'll go with the advice to mulch, water and feed. Thank
you.

mark

On 02/10/2014 14:23, mark wrote:
I have some small but established apple trees. The soil they are in is weak
and more sandy than anything.

Production is disappointing and not anywhere like that of similar sized
trees that I've seen.

Did it set a decent number of fruit or too many small ones?

Would a mulch of manure around each tree help? Is this a good time to do it?

Yes, but not too deep and the chances are you really want to give them a
high potash feed like wood ash or slow nitrogen blood fish and bone.

I have read on the web not to add manure because it'll not encourage the
roots to go on the search for food. I can see the logic of this for new
trees but mine are a few years old.

Any views?

Too much nitrogen encourages soft growth. Potash encourages flowering
and fruit production. Don't mulch too deep either - many trees resent
having their surface aerobic roots buried too deeply. RHS advice here@

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=539

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

"Martin Brown" wrote in message
...
On 02/10/2014 14:23, mark wrote:
I have some small but established apple trees. The soil they are in is
weak
and more sandy than anything.

Production is disappointing and not anywhere like that of similar sized
trees that I've seen.

Did it set a decent number of fruit or too many small ones?

Would a mulch of manure around each tree help? Is this a good time to do
it?

Yes, but not too deep and the chances are you really want to give them a
high potash feed like wood ash or slow nitrogen blood fish and bone.

I have read on the web not to add manure because it'll not encourage the
roots to go on the search for food. I can see the logic of this for new
trees but mine are a few years old.

Any views?

Too much nitrogen encourages soft growth. Potash encourages flowering and
fruit production. Don't mulch too deep either - many trees resent having
their surface aerobic roots buried too deeply. RHS advice here@

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=539




I shall read and bookmark the RHS link. Thank you.

mark