I have several young fruit trees (Orange, Mandarin, Pear, Peach, Apple, Avocado, Kumquat). They were bareroot and planted just this past February. Shall I give them some compost now or wait until Spring? I'm in Zone 9a.
Cheryl, I can't see that it would hurt. Compost is such a gentle fertilizer that you won't be getting a growth spurt just before cold (okay, less warm) weather. The compost will help protect the roots, also. You can always add compost in the spring, if you have it. I'm composting around my bay trees, and the herbs that overwinter.
The citrus and avocado both are very sensitive to freezing so the biggest threat to them is the cold. Be prepared to wrap the tree trunks and cover them in case of freezing temps. The other trees you mention fare much better with cold temps and in fact require colder temps to properly flower and set fruit. The compost won't hurt any of them. If you use a compost/mulch, don't let it touch the tree trunks, keep it back an inch or two.
You cant go wrong with compost. You could get a really big harvest in the Spring because the ground is so fertile. Plants know what's happening, they just don't talk much.
