Knowledgebase
Sweetening My Fruit Tree Soils; Blueberry Blues #889918
Asked November 16, 2024, 11:38 AM EST
Chittenden County Vermont
Expert Response
Hello Dean,
Thank you for reaching out to the EMG helpline!
If the area containing your existing trees is going to remain a wetter area, you might try to find a more ideal site to plant your new trees.
Dwarf fruit trees typically have a root zone that ranges between 10-12 feet in diameter or a radius of 5-6 feet around the trunk. If you wanted to apply your fertilizers over the root zone, the total area would be about 1000 square feet for all 10 dwarf trees. Considering this area and the recommendations on your soil report for your fruit trees, you could purchase 200 lbs of dolomitic limestone, 1 lb of nitrogen, 2 lb of phosphate, and 3 lb of potash and distribute under the drip line (spread of the branches) of the trees. You can amend the soil with all of recommended items. Here are a few general care resources for fruit trees, which might be helpful!
Maine Extension, Early Care for Fruit Trees
Cornell Guide to Growing Fruit at Home
University of MN Extension, Growing Apples in the Home Garden
The primary way to reduce soil pH is by adding elemental sulfur. I see that your sulfur value found in the sample was 39 ppm, higher than the typical values found in Vermont samples. It's not necessarily too high. Your organic matter and CEC results indicate that you have a heavier clay soil. More sulfur may be necessary to lower the pH in a clay soil and it does take time for the chemical reactions that change soil pH to occur. The maximum annual application of elemental sulfur is 10 lb / 1000 square feet. Your soil report recommends adding 1 lb of potash per 1000 square feet to increase potassium. Potash may increase your pH further. You could consider using a sulfate of potash, which is more balanced. Here are a few local general resources that cover blueberry care.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any additional questions.