Avocado tree - fresh horse manure (forum)

Ross starts with ...
I have an established reed avocado tree 3 years old and 2.5 metres tall. One week ago I decided to fertilize with fresh horse manure and mulch to give it a boost for spring. It is now starting to lose it's leaves. Is there anything that I can do to help it survive other than pull back the compost and give it a thorough watering?

Time: 24th July 2014 6:54pm

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About the Author Ross
Balmoral Brisbane
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Boris Spasky says...
Pray.
The salts in fresh horse manure are strong enough to kill many plants including sensitive avos.

Time: 24th July 2014 7:41pm

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Carl76 says...
Fresh horse is never a good idea, only after a good long time composting first.

Time: 24th July 2014 7:43pm

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Markmelb says...
Its a bit early to fertilize avos even in Brissy - wait till August and use 4 good handfuls of Dynamic lifter or similar away from trunk - BTW are the Leaves yellow when they drop off? as if so is normal during flowering cycle as plant is using sugars in leaves to flower up - just remove the horse poo and it should be ok also give it a couple handfuls of Gypsum and a couple teaspoons of zinc sulphate dissolved in watering can then watch it grow

Time: 24th July 2014 7:52pm

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Jason says...
I have feltilsed mine with straight fresh chicken poo (about 5 kilos per tree) at this time of year without any problems whatever. It gives a massive spring flush of growth but mostly I can't afford so much poo so I use chemical fertiliser after flowering most years at about 2kg per tree.

By the way, spring leaf drop is normal.

Time: 25th July 2014 1:41pm

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Original Post was last edited: 25th July 2014 1:40pm

About the Author Jason
Portland
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Ross says...
Thanks all for your helpful advice. I have pulled the manure away and given plenty of water and diluted seaweed today with a trip to the hardware tomorrow for gypsum and zinc sulphate. Yes Jason our 2 other trees partly drop leaves at this time of year. This tree is in a dry location so may be stress related as we are currently experiencing an extended dry period in Brisbane.

Time: 25th July 2014 9:16pm

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About the Author Ross
Balmoral
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