Methods for Fertilizing and Watering Osmanthus Trees
The editor will answer your questions about common knowledge of flower cultivation concerning osmanthus trees. Here are the methods for fertilizing and watering osmanthus trees in detail:
Friends who enjoy cultivating flowers know that there is a saying, "Three parts planting, seven parts management." Water and fertilizer management is a frequently important task.
1. Watering: Osmanthus trees have different water requirements during different growth stages. Excessive or insufficient watering directly affects the normal growth and development of the plant. For newly planted osmanthus trees, especially within the first month after planting, it is necessary to water them according to the weather conditions and site conditions, ensuring each watering is thorough. If possible, spray water on the plant's canopy to maintain a certain level of humidity and reduce water evaporation from the seedlings. Moreover, to promote earlier blooming of osmanthus trees, it is advisable to water moderately in mid-September when flower buds begin to sprout, keeping the soil moist. Before watering, it is necessary to loosen the soil and then proceed with the watering. When using a water pump or tap water, avoid washing away the soil at the roots of the osmanthus plant. Mature osmanthus trees have a certain drought resistance and do not require excessive watering, only needing drought prevention and watering during extended periods of high temperatures and dryness.
2. Preventing Waterlogging: Osmanthus trees are not tolerant to waterlogging. Poor ground drainage or high groundwater levels can cause a large number of leaves to fall off, root rot, and even death. After the plum rain season and prolonged or heavy rain, it is necessary to check and carry out drainage ditches to ensure the normal growth of young osmanthus trees. Practice over the years has shown that in low-lying areas with poor drainage, osmanthus trees grow poorly, affecting blooming, with blackened and rotting roots and severely yellowed and withered leaf tips, all caused by waterlogging damage.
3. Fertilization: According to "Flower Mirror," osmanthus trees "thrive with pig manure and become fertile with silkworm sand," showing the importance of fertilization for their growth. To make osmanthus trees branch out and grow vigorously, fertilization is necessary. Fertilization should be frequent with thin applications, focusing on fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers. Young osmanthus trees need to be fertilized four times a year, before winter, before early spring sprouting, in late May, and from late June to late July. Choose a sunny day with dry soil for fertilization. The first two applications should mainly use cow and sheep dung or lake mud as base fertilizers, while the last two should focus on fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers. Mature osmanthus trees require fertilization three times a year, including one base fertilizer in mid-to-late October before winter, and two topdressings, the first to promote shoot growth in February to March, and the second to promote flowering in August (one month before blooming) to increase flower quantity and quality.
Meanwhile, since the absorption of nutrients and water by osmanthus seedlings is entirely in the outer area of the tree canopy, it is advisable to dig ditches for fertilization outside the projected canopy. The depth of the ditches can depend on the depth of the roots. For newly transplanted osmanthus trees, due to root damage and weaker absorption capacity, topdressing should not be done too early. When fertilizing, the fertilizer should not come into contact with branches, leaves, thick roots, or fibrous roots. After fertilization, cover the soil and level the ground.
The above is a complete introduction to the methods for fertilizing and watering osmanthus trees, for everyone to learn and understand!