15 Best Fertilizer for Fruit Trees

The best fertilizer for fruit trees will provide essential nutrients to feed the growing orchard garden. As you might know, fruit trees are heavy feeders that absorb a large number of macronutrients from the soil, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.

As such, using fertilizer is a practical and helpful way to compensate for the deficiency of essential substances in every phase of their lifecycles.

When done well, fruit trees will indeed thrive: establish deep roots, sprout leaves, and bear fruits. The most important thing is that you select the right product, which meets the tree’s demand.

Let’s look into some fertilizer for fruit trees brands carefully and make a choice you’re proud of.

Types of Fertilizer Based on Its Form

Below are some popular types of fertilizer you are going to notice when finding the best fertilizer for fruit trees

Granular

Granular fertilizer is a solid form of fertilizing granules that are popularly-used for their slow-release feeding properties. As such, you don’t have to apply it often.

Concentrated Liquid

Liquid fertilizer offers a quick way to add nutrients to the plant. You might notice some instant changes in your garden as soon as you water trees with it. Liquid fertilizer delivers consistent nutrient content in each drop.

Spikes

Fertilizer spikes are quite convenient to use because they are often pre-measured so that you don’t have to spend time doing this, like other types of fertilizer.

Since fertilizer spikes are hammered to the ground in some specific positions around the plant’s root, it might cause uneven nutrition distribution.

Best Fertilizer For Fruit Trees Brands

Here are some best fertilizers for fruit trees brands in the market. Let’s discover with me!

Miracle-Gro

Miracle-Gro offers a wide range of plant foods that you need for your home garden. Their fertilizers for fruit trees are suitable for both indoor and outdoor plants with the high amount of macronutrients.

Jobe’s Organics

With a patented Biozome® blend of three beneficial microorganisms, Jobe’s Organics provides incredible nutrients for plants to thrive.

EcoScraps

EcoScraps is well-known for its environmentally-friendly products, which are made from food waste. It aims to make sustainability become popular in the fertilizer industry.

What Are The Best Fertilizer For Fruit Trees?

The best fertilizer for fruit trees can help your home garden yield a bountiful harvest. When looking for fertilizer for fruit trees, consider Miracle-Gro, Jobe’s Organics, or Dr. Earth.

They’re known for their nutrition boost, long-term benefits, and easy-to-use. Let’s explore some of their top fertilizer for fruit trees below.

• Best Overall: Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Citrus, Avocado, Mango Fertilizer For Fruit Trees
  “Comprises of many essential nutrients such as magnesium, iron, potassium, and sulfur, used for both in-ground and containers.”
• Best Budget: Espoma TR4 Tree-Tone Plant Food Fertilizer For Fruit Trees
  “Affordable price, features exclusive Bio-tone® microbes, organic fertilizer for overall growth.”
• Best Organic: Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed 2-3-1 Fertilizer For Fruit Trees
  “A ratio of N-P-K of 2-3-1, organic fertilizer derived from fish and seaweed, promotes the shelf life of fruit trees.”
• Best Spikes: Miracle-Gro Fruit & Citrus Plant Food Spikes Fertilizer For Fruit Trees
  “Mess-free operation with long-lasting nutrition, supports fruit production and foliage growth.”
• Best Liquid: EZ-gro Tropical Plants Instantly Feed Fertilizer For Fruit Trees
  “Concentrated liquid stored in a 32-ounce can, easy to absorb, and includes micronutrients for overall growth.”
• Best for Fruit Trees in Containers: Jobe’s Organics 09224 Fruit & Citrus Fertilizer For Fruit Trees
  “High-quality organic fertilizer, has an advanced Jobe’s Biozome technology to improve soil quality. “
• Best for Fruit Bearing Trees: FoxFarm FX14003 Big Bloom Liquid Concentrate Fertilizer For Fruit Trees
  “Including 0% of nitrogen, 0.5% of phosphorus and 0.7% of potassium, all-natural OMRI-listed organic ingredients, enhances fruits’ flavor.”
• Best for Bare Root: Schultz All Purpose 10-15-10 Plant Food Plus Fertilizer For Fruit Trees
  “All-purpose liquid fertilizer, easy to measure, easy to use, great for bare-root trees.”
• Best for Citrus: J R Peters Inc 52524 Jacks Classic No.1.5 Fertilizer For Fruit Trees
  “Made for all citrus plants in your home garden, nice packaging, includes micronutrients.”

Best Fertilizer For Fruit Trees Comparison Chart 2023

Every weekend is a weekend for gardening. That means gardening is a hobby you should maintain once started because you will receive a lot of benefits from it.

The following chart contains the top 15 best fertilizer for fruit trees. Let’s compare their essential features and choose the best option for your garden.

Top 15 Best Fertilizer For Fruit Trees Reviews 2023

It’s time to take a closer look at each product, including the pros and cons of the 15 best fertilizer for fruit trees below

1. Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Citrus, Avocado, Mango Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

(Best Overall)

Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed comprises many essential nutrients such as magnesium, iron, potassium, and sulfur. That’s why it provides fruit trees with what they need to grow fully and healthily.

It seems to be best for citrus, avocado, and mango. However, you can use it for a wide range of fruit trees, both in-ground and in containers.

It’s easy to use and doesn’t take much time for you to become familiar with it. All you need to do is to sprinkle the fertilizer on the ground near the root within the tree branch, till the soil gently, and lastly, pour the water carefully.

The best part? It only needs to reapply after three months.

Key features:

• Contains magnesium, iron, potassium, and sulfur
• Feeds up to 3 months
• Packed in a shaker jug
• High nitrogen for tree growth
• Special for citrus, avocado, mango
• 1.75 tbsp per 4 sq. ft

Product Specifications

Brand	Miracle-Gro
Net Weight	4.5 pounds
Packaging Type	Jug
When to apply	Apply every 3 months
Recommended For	Citrus, avocado, mango
Benefits	Support plants growth and root strength

2. Espoma TR4 Tree-Tone Plant Food Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

(Best Budget)

Espoma TR4 Tree-Tone offers an affordable price so that you have no reason not to have a closer look at it right now.

It’s able to nurture the whole tree from tip to root with an ideal fertilizer analysis of 6-3-2. It also contains exclusive Bio-tone® microbes, which bring many beneficial microorganisms to the soil for slow-release feeding.

For people who love organic and natural products, this fertilizer can be what you’re looking for. It comes without any filler and sludges.

According to Tree-Tone, you should feed the tree one time in spring and fall so that you can provide them with well-rounded diets for an abundant harvest.

Key features:

• Includes Bio-tone® microbes
• 6-3-2
• Packed in a resealable bag
• Promotes overall growth
• No filler and sludges added
• 3-6 pounds per inch

Product Specifications

Brand	Espoma
Net Weight	4 pounds
Package Type	Resealable bag
When to apply	One time in spring and fall
Recommended For	Fruit, shade, and ornamental trees
Benefits	Promote overall growth

Let’s see how to fertilize trees with Espoma Tree Tone here:

3. Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed 2-3-1 Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

(Best Organic)

This product delivers more than you expected when it comes to nurturing fruit trees. Notably, it’s 100% organic and is a combination of hydrolyzed fish and seaweed. Therefore, it also enhances soil quality and increases the activity of bacteria and fungi in the soil.

It comes with the ratio of N-P-K of 2-3-1 and is stored in a 9-pound plastic can.

According to application rates, you should use 1 oz of this fertilizer per gallon of water and feeds the fruit trees from 1 to 2 times every 1-2 weeks to get the best result.

Fish and seaweed fertilizer is known for its ability to prolong plants’ shelf life and make fruits and vegetables taste better with a sweet flavor.

Key features:

• OMRI-listed organic fertilizer for fruit trees
• Derived from fish and seaweed
• N-P-K rate is 2-3-1
• Packed in a 9-pound can
• Able to make a total of 256 gallons for outdoor use
• Able to cover 8000 sq ft

Product Specifications

Brand	Neptune’s Harvest
Net Weight	9 pounds
Package Type	Can
When to apply	Apply every 1-2 weeks
Recommended For	All fruit trees and containers
Benefits	Increase shelf life and natural sugar in plants

Watch how to use Neptune’s harvest fish and seaweed blend fertilizer:

4. Miracle-Gro Fruit & Citrus Plant Food Spikes Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

(Best Spikes)

Miracle-Gro Fruit & Citrus Plant Food Spikes can improve soil biology and maintain nutrition for fruit trees for quite a long time below the surface. Moreover, it’s a powerful way to support root growth.

With these spikes, you only need to feed fruit trees once a season in spring and fall. To optimize the benefits of this fertilizer, you should follow the manufacturer’s step-by-step instructions carefully.

It is also suitable for palm trees due to its foliage promotion ability.

The best part? There is a 6-month money-back guarantee so that you don’t have to worry when giving it a try.

Key features:

• Contains 12 spikes per bag
• N-P-K rate is 10-15-15
• Comes with a step-by-step instruction
• Feeds once a season
• Supports fruit production and foliage growth
• Great for fruit and palm trees

Product Specifications

Brand	Miracle-Gro
Net Weight	3 pounds
Package Type	Bag
When to apply	Apply once a season in spring and fall
Recommended For	All fruits, citrus, and palm trees
Benefits	Yield more fruits and foliage

5. EZ-gro Tropical Plants Instantly Feed Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

(Best Liquid)

EZ-gro Tropical Plants Instantly Feed Fertilizer features concentrated liquid, which is meticulously tailored for fruit trees. As an experienced company, EZ-gro ensures the effectiveness of unique formulation 20-3-19.

Liquid fertilizer helps trees absorb nutrition faster. It contains potassium, iron, magnesium, and more.

As soon as you feed the plants with this fertilizer, you will notice positive changes, especially the tree giving more fruits and becoming more exuberant.

This fertilizer is specially used for tropical tree fruits such as kumquat, orange, Meyers Lemon, mango, lime, to name a few.

Key features:

• Liquid fertilizer
• 20-3-19
• Includes micronutrients
• Stored in a 32-ounce can
• Increases fruit yield and overall growth
• Used for tropical fruit plants

Product Specifications

Brand	EZ-gro
Net Weight	32 ounces
Package Type	Can
When to apply	Apply every 7 to 14 days
Recommended For	All tropical fruit trees
Benefits	Produce more fruits

6. Jobe’s Organics 09224 Fruit & Citrus Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

(Best for Fruit Trees In Containers)

Another organic fertilizer in my list is certified OMRI-listed by USDA. That’s mean it’s 100% organic and free of other synthetic chemicals that might harm the soil in the long term.

Jobe’s Organics features Jobe’s Biozome technology so that the more you use this fertilizer, the more your soil quality is improved. At the same time, fewer and fewer diseases and insects attack. Jobe’s Biozome supports how quickly plants can absorb nutrition.

Jobe’s Organics 09224 is often used for fruit trees in containers and suitable for inground trees.

Key features:

• OMRI-listed by USDA
• Packed in a convenient resealable bag
• Jobe’s Biozome technology
• Used for fruit and citrus trees
• 3-5-5

Product Specifications

Brand	Jobe’s Organics
Net Weight	16 pounds
Package Type	Resealable bag
When to apply	Apply every 2 to 3 weeks or as needed
Recommended For	Fruit and citrus trees
Benefits	Produce more fruits

Watch the video to see how to feed the plant with Jobe’s Organics 09224:

7. FoxFarm FX14003 Big Bloom Liquid Concentrate Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

(Best for Fruit-Bearing Trees)

FoxFarm FX14003 contains earthworm castings and bat guano, which provide three essential macronutrients for fruit-bearing trees, including 0% of nitrogen, 0.5% of phosphorus, and 0.7% potassium.

It comes as a 1-gallon can of concentrated liquid fertilizer and can be used to feed various fruits and vegetables in your garden. It’s beneficial when it comes to sick and transplant trees.

Due to all-natural ingredients, this fertilizer is soil-friendly plant food and a wise choice for anyone who wants continuous blooms and simultaneously enriches their fruits’ aroma.

Key features:

• 100% natural and organic liquid fertilizer
• Registered CDFA Organic
• One-year warranty
• 0-0.5-0.7
• Contains main macronutrients

Product Specifications

Brand	FoxFarm
Net Weight	8 pounds
Package Type	Can
When to apply	Apply once per week
Recommended For	Fruits and vegetables
Benefits	Promote multiple blooms, for sick and transplant trees

Click for more information about FoxFarm Big Bloom:

8. Schultz All Purpose 10-15-10 Plant Food Plus Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

(Best for Bare Root)

Schultz All Purpose 10-15-10 Plant Food is extremely easy to use because you don’t have to estimate how much fertilizer every time.

All you need to do is extract seven drops of this concentrated liquid fertilizer per quart of water. As such, it appears more economical than other brands.

It works well with both indoor and outdoor plants. Since it’s an all-purpose product, you can use it for any types of tree you want, from flowers, fruits to vegetables.

It’s highly recommended for bare root fruit trees because it can help with root growth while it seems gentle to them.

Key features:

• Concentrated liquid fertilizer
• 10-15-10
• 7 drops each time
• All-purpose product

Product Specifications

Brand	Schultz
Net Weight	8 ounces
Package Type	Bottle
When to apply	Not specific
Recommended For	Indoor and outdoor plants
Benefits	Useful for transplanting, repotting, and rooting

9. Dr. Earth 708P Premium Natural Wonder Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

Dr. Earth is also a well-known brand in the gardening industry. Dr. Earth 708P works amazingly and helps all fruit trees grow their roots thanks to the fertilizer analysis of 5-5-2.

Besides macronutrients, it includes a lot of micronutrients. It contains probiotics, prebiotics, and pro moisture hydrate.

All the ingredients are derived from organic sources such as alfalfa meal, fishbone meal, and more. It’s OMRI listed and non-GMO, so that you can trust its premium quality.

Key features:

• Organic fertilizer for fruit trees
• Human-grade ingredients
• Features TruBiotic Technology
• OMRI listed and non-GMO

Product Specifications

Brand	Dr. Earth
Net Weight	4 pounds
Packaging Type	Polybag
When to apply	Apply every 2-3 months depending on your particular type of trees
Recommended For	All fruits
Benefits	Healthy root development

10. J R Peters Inc 52524 Jacks Classic No.1.5 Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

(Best for Citrus)

J R Peters 52524 is dedicated to all citrus plants in your home garden, such as lemons and limes oranges, kumquats, grapefruits, Meyer lemons, and dwarf varieties mangos.

It’s well-packed in a plastic tub, so you don’t have to worry about storage. This can ensure the product is kept dry and clean the entire time you use it.

With the formula of 20-10-20, it can provide a large amount of nitrogen, phosphate, potash. Not to mention, it also comes with some micronutrients such as magnesium, sulfur, iron, and zinc for more giant leaves, bigger flowers, and more fruits.

Key features:

• Stored in a plastic tub
• 20-10-20
• Unique formula for citrus plants
• Contains micronutrients

Product Specifications

Brand	J R Peters
Net Weight	1.5 pounds
Package Type	Plastic tub
When to apply	Apply every 7 to 10 days
Recommended For	Tropical fruiting plants
Benefits	Produce more fruits

11. Southern Ag 01902 Citrus Nutritional Spray Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

Southern Ag 01902 plays the role of supplement plant foods of minor elements such as iron 1.2%, sulfur 4.1%, manganese 1.2%, zinc 1.7%, and magnesium 1.0%.

This fertilizer helps you take care of your fruit trees as soon as you notice any micronutrient deficiency which causes yellow leaves.

Those experienced in farming do not wait until the plants show signs of lack of nutrients but will periodically replenish the plants to ensure they have everything they need year-round. For this case, use Southern Ag 01902 one to two times a year.

Key features:

• Contains iron, sulfur, manganese, zinc, and magnesium
• Prevents minor elements deficiency
• Nutritional supplements for plants
• Used to spray on plants

Product Specifications

Brand	Southern Ag
Net Weight	1 pound 4.5 ounces
Package Type	Can
When to apply	For prevention of deficiencies:   1-2 times a year For missing substance replenishment: Every 2 weeks
Recommended For	Fruit and citrus, mango, avocado trees
Benefits	Add more micronutrients to plants

12. Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Edibles Plant Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Edibles Plant Fertilizer is OMRI-listed organic and contains nitrogen (9%), phosphate (4%), soluble potash (12%), calcium (4.5%), and other nutrients.

It’s completely soil-friendly. What is more, it features excellent packaging with a recyclable carton box.

It’s recommended for fruits, tomatoes, herbs, and vegetables grown inground or in containers. To get the best results, you should give your plants one application every seven days.

If you follow the direction correctly, one box of this fertilizer can cover up to 265 sq. ft.

Key features:

• 9-4-12
• Increases the quality of fruit harvest
• Apply every 7 days
• Certified organic fertilizer

Product Specifications

Brand:	Miracle-Gro
Net Weight:	1 pound
Packaging Type:	Recyclable paper bag
When to apply	Apply every 7 days
Recommended For	Fruits, tomatoes, herbs, and vegetables
Benefits	Abundant fruit harvest

13. Down to Earth Mix 6-2-4 Organic Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

Down to Earth Mix 6-2-4 is another option for fans of organic brands. You can trust its quality because all ingredients of this product are listed by OMRI. That means they are 100% organic and natural.

This fertilizer is a combination of beneficial macronutrients (N, P, K) and added calcium, ensuring plants’ overall health, especially fruit development.

The company also provides explicit instructions for you to follow. This way, we can make sure that plants receive a proper amount of nutrition for a bountiful harvest.

Key features:

• Contains primary nutrients and added calcium
• Kept in a recyclable paper box
• Used in spring
• Includes added calcium

Product Specifications

Brand:	Down to Earth
Net Weight:	5 pounds
Package Type:	Recyclable paper box
When to apply	Apply every one month after the blooming phase in spring, only 2 times a year
Recommended For	Fruit trees
Benefits	Bountiful harvest

14. EcoScraps for Organic Gardening PFB174404 Berry Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

EcoScraps for Organic Gardening PFB174404 is formulated to benefit berry plants such as strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, and more. To be more specific, it has a high amount of nitrogen.

Notably, this product is a mixture of many organic ingredients, including recycled materials from food leftover. That’s why choosing this brand is a simple way to promote sustainable living by reducing landfill waste.

It’s soil-friendly and user-friendly. It contains no poop, so you don’t have to worry about the bad smell when using it.

Key features:

• Organic fertilizer for berry plants
• 4-5-4
• Contains recycled materials
• No poop added

Product Specifications

Brand:	EcoScraps
Net Weight:	4 pounds
Package Type:	Bag
When to apply	Not specific
Recommended For	Best for berry plants
Benefits	Promotes growth

15. Ross 14330 Refills for Ross Root Feeder Fertilizer For Fruit Trees

If you’re looking for an efficient way to take care of plants’ roots, Ross 14330 should be on top of your shopping list.

This product is used to refill for Ross Root Feeder and comes as a pack of 54 units. You should follow the instruction about the recommended quantity and how to use it if you’re new to the root feeder.

Featuring fertilizer analysis of 9-46-15, this fertilizer contains a high amount of phosphate, contributing significantly to plants’ growth of plants root. Phosphate, together with other macronutrients, increase the surface area of the root, strengthen existing roots and increase the ability to absorb nutrients from the soil.

Key features:

• 9-46-15
• Pack of 54 units
• Refill for Ross Root Feeder
• Mess-free fertilizing product
• Pre-measured units

Product Specifications

Brand	Ross
Net Weight	2 pounds
Package Type	Box
When to apply	Apply in early spring and monthly through mid-summer
Recommended For	Fruit and nut trees
Benefits	Support root growth

Buying Guide: What Are the Best Fertilizer for Fruit Trees on the Market?

Before choosing fertilizers for fruit trees, consider those essential factors below carefully to make sure your go-to product will meet your needs.

The Nutrients

Fruit trees need many types of nutrients to grow and give yield, in which: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (N-P-K) are the three factors that plants need the most and have the most significant impact on fruit yield and fruit quality.

Nitrogen:

• Help plants grow and develop
• If there is a lack of nitrogen, plants will slowly sprout, grow stunted, and significantly lower productivity

Phosphorus:

• Phosphorus is essential in helping plants develop roots
• Great for blooming. Without phosphorus, the tree will be stunted and difficult to flower

Potassium:

• Increases nutrient transport
• Increases the plant’s tolerance to adverse conditions
• Helps to increase fruit quality.

In addition to macronutrients, micronutrients also play a vital role in determining yield, especially increasing the quality of the fruit. They are iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, and more.

Organic Fertilizer

Organic fertilizer is a combination of many ingredients that are derived from natural sources. They often don’t have a high quantity of N-P-K.

However, they are soil-friendly because they encourage soil biology and bring long-term benefits to your garden.

Synthetic Fertilizer

Synthetic fertilizer features a higher quantity of N-P-K. They are easily diluted in water and can be absorbed quickly by the tree. As such, synthetic fertilizer creates a quick change in your garden as soon as you use it.

You can consider synthetic fertilizer if you need a quick boost of nutrition for your plants. Organic fertilizer seems to be the favored option because they are a more sustainable solution for both plants and soil.

Effectiveness

When shopping online or at the store, you might need to look at the fertilizer analysis to ensure you bring home the right product that your plants need.
The N-P-K ratio will be different for different plants and plant growth stages; therefore, it will decide how effective the fertilizer is.

Ease of Use

Most fertilizer products come pre-mixed and with detailed instructions in the package so that you can use them efficiently.

Storage

Even they are stored in resealable bags, you still need to keep them in a dry and cool place. As such, you can extend their lifespan significantly and avoid mold.

Size of Fertilizer

As you can see, all the products in my article review has a capacity ranging from 1 to 9 pounds, so it’s up to you to choose the appropriate size for your home garden.

Using Guide of Fertilizer for Fruit Trees

Let’s find out how to use fertilizer for fruit trees properly to get the optimal results for your crops

Young Trees

As for young trees, you may need to focus on weed control and soil moisture rather than fertilization. However, if you notice that the plant is growing slowly, you will need to use fertilizer right away.

Fertilizers for fruit trees increase biological activity in the soil which allows plants to absorb nutrition more easily and effectively. One more thing, it’s better to use organic fertilizers for young trees.

Mature Trees

Modest is a key when it comes to mature trees. You might need consult product’s label for more information about how much fertilizer you should use. Overusing fertilizer might lessen fruit growth, especially nitrogen.

Trees with Nutrition Deficiencies

Different plants might have different needs of nutrients, and there will be times when a nutritional deficiency occurs, which can be noticed through yellow leaves and slow growth.

At this time, it is necessary to choose fertilizers with micronutrients such as calcium, iron, and zinc.

FAQs

You might have a lot of questions about the best fertilizer for fruit trees before purchasing. Let’s answer some of them below.

My Top Pick

I have mentioned the top 15 best fertilizer for fruit trees products in the market and dig deep into each product. Based on my article, you can gain some useful information to find a suitable brand.

And the go-to product for me is Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Citrus, Avocado, Mango Fertilizer For Fruit Trees for its nutrient-dense qualities and versatility.

How about you? Have you ever fed your fruit trees with fertilizer? Drop a comment below! I would love to make a conversation over this useful topic.