Avocados need nitrogen, first and foremost, and a little zinc. You can use a citrus tree fertilizer as an avocado fertilizer or go organic and use compost, coffee, fish emulsion, etc. Avocados are hardy in USDA zones 9b to 11 and in those regions soil is generally sufficiently nutrient rich to support an avocado.
It is inexpensive and can be found at drugstores, where it is commonly sold as a laxative or for soaking feet. A cup or so spread around citrus, avocado and other fruit trees boosts their performance, too. This little bit once a year is just right, but more is counterproductive.
Growing conditions
Soil Avocado grow in a wide range of soils but grow best with good drainage in deep, fertile soils. Keep soil well mulched. In containers use a high quality potting mix such as Seasol Advanced Potting Mix.
Feed with a complete fertiliser, such as Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser in spring and autumn. For an added nutrient boost, feed with Yates Thrive Citrus Liquid Plant Food weekly during the flowering season.
Soil. Avocado trees prefer deep, well-drained soil and tolerate soil from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline — anywhere from pH 6 to 7 is ideal. A few weeks before planting, improve the soil by digging through a combination of blood and bone and well-aged cow manure.
Planting sites to a diameter of 2 metres should be prepared with 20 L of chicken manure or 50L of cow manure. 2-3 months prior to planting. Applications of lime / dolomite / rock phosphate and blood and bone are also beneficial depending on the natural soil nutrient level.
When looking to treat your avocado trees or control of avocado lace bugs, it's recommended that you spray your tree's leaves with pesticides such as horticultural oils or pyrethrin.
Mulching: Mulch avocado tree with a thick layer or organic mulch like Lucerne hay.
The vinegar will not overly acidify your soil. Also, adding vinegar to the water you apply to your avocado or citrus trees will clean the water and produce more vigorous growth in certain instances, according to Howard Garrett, the "Dirt Doctor."
If you need to apply fertiliser or manure before planting, do so 6 months before so it's broken down and taken up by the soil before planting. Never use nitrogen, potassium or animal manures on or just before planting. Fertilising soon after planting can burn the tender feeder roots of the young tree.
Adding Epsom salts to soil that already has sufficient magnesium can actually harm your soil and plants, such as by inhibiting calcium uptake. Spraying Epsom salt solutions on plant leaves can cause leaf scorch. Excess magnesium can increase mineral contamination in water that percolates through soil.
Avocados like loose, rich, well-draining soil. Plant in a container that has drainage holes, in good quality potting soil. The soil may need to be sandy to accommodate the tree's large roots and fast draining so that the roots do not succumb to root rot fungus.
High-nitrogen fertilizer is any fertilizer with more nitrogen content than phosphorus and potassium. You can check the NPK label on the package. The first digit refers to the amount of nitrogen in the fertilizer. This type of fertilizer is more suitable for lawns and leafy greens.
Most citrus growers in our area will use 13-13-13 fertilizer the first 3 years. The first 3 years the tree is to develop the root system. If fruit develops it is necessary to pick it off to allow for the root development. Trees 4 years and older can use 13-13-13 but 15-5-10 is the preferred fertilizer.
Use soil-based, free-draining compost, such as John Innes No 3, with added sharp sand. Established plants should be re-potted annually in spring, into a slightly larger container. For more on looking after plants indoors, see our guide to houseplants.
Pinch the tips of new lateral branches when they are 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm.) long, which should encourage more new branches. Then, pinch new lateral growth that develops on those branches and repeat until the plant is full and compact. It isn't necessary to pinch shorter stems.
Hi Richard, avocados need well drained soil to thrive, they do no enjoy "wet feet" and are susceptible to a root fungal disease called phytophthora if drainage is poor. This shows up as leaves yellowing, there could be brown spots on the leaves and the tree won't thrive.
Keep the attacked plant away from other plants to prevent the spread of Persia mites from one pot to another. Use a good insecticide and spray it on your avocado plant. Don't forget to spray the bottom of the leaves as well.
Apply fungicides such as phosphonates can help trees tolerate the disease. To apply the fungicide, follow the label. Fungicide may be sprayed onto bark or foliage, drench into the soil with irrigation water, or injected into the trunk.
Avocado trees are more sensitive to chloride than many other plants. The roots absorb chloride and it accumulates within the tree over time. When the chloride level gets too high, it causes the leaves of your avocado tree to turn brown and eventually die.
Plant during warm months. First loosen the soil, then work in plenty of organic matter to about 60cm deep. Try a mix of mushroom compost and cow manure.
Fertilising: Avocados enjoy soils with a high organic matter status, so it's a good idea to mulch around trees with straw and sheep manure or cow manure annually. It is thought that maintaining good organic matter levels, reduces the incidence of root rot (caused by the fugus Phytophthora).
Yes! You can compost avocado pits, avocado skins, and even unusable or brown avocado meat.