How and When to Fertilize a Tree
Tree Fertilizer: When and How to Fertilize a Tree
Fertilizer for a tree may be something you haven't considered in the past. Trees are pretty self-sufficient and don't often need to be watered, so you shouldn't need to fertilize them either, right? But actually, fertilizing trees and shrubs is a great way to improve their health and make them more resistant to pests, disease, and environmental challenges. While fertilizer won't address all of a tree's issues, it will help it stand a better chance.
Is it necessary to fertilize my tree?
All of the minerals that trees require to survive and thrive should be available to them in their natural habitat. However, Many of the natural mechanisms that feed nutrients to the soil are disturbed in urban and suburban settings. Pollutants may strip nutrients from the earth and disrupt their absorption back into the soil. As a result, urban and suburban trees frequently lack access to all of the nutrients they require to thrive, leaving them stressed and more susceptible to pests and diseases. Anything you can do to replicate that environment will help you save money on fertilizer. This may involve leaving leaves on the ground rather than raking them up in the fall to let them decompose. However, your trees and shrubs may still benefit from fertilizer to supplement any nutrients they may be missing in the local soil.
Some other signs that your tree's soil may have a nutrient deficiency can include:
- Annual twig growth is shorter than usual
- A narrower canopy is caused by undersized leaves that are fewer in number
- Branch tips and dead branches
- Leaf veins are darker in color than the leaf margins
Fertilization can be part of a comprehensive strategy to restore your plant's health if you see these indicators.
When is the best time to fertilize a tree?
Fall through mid-spring is a suitable period to fertilize trees in the Columbus area. Instead of just putting out new growth, the tree's roots collect nutrients from the earth and direct them to key health-promoting tasks, including root development and disease resistance.
Fertilizing a tree throughout the growing season might help it overcome mineral deficits and fight diseases. If you're fertilizing in the middle to late summer, stay away from high-nitrogen formulations since they'll merely encourage weak, young growth that'll be easily destroyed in the winter.
What is the Best Fertilizer for my tree?
It's critical that you use the correct fertilizer for your tree. Fertilizers include both macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and micronutrients (such as Iron, Magnesium, and Manganese). Each of these minerals impacts a tree's development differently, and different plants require different formulas. We recommend choosing a fertilizer that has a gradual (also known as regulated) release of accessible nitrogen. Another quick way to test and see what type of fertilizer you may need is to perform a soil test. Soil testing can help determine which nutrients your soil is rich in and what may be lacking. You can pick up a soil testing kit at most local hardware stores.
Where Do I Put The Fertilizer?
Fertilization aims to get the nutrients to the tree's roots as quickly as possible. As a result, fertilization is required throughout the root system. In general, a tree's roots grow well beyond the reach of its branches, so when applying fertilizer, make sure to spread it outside of the area just by the base.
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