Look no further, when it comes to why, how, and when I should fertilize my trees. Our guide should give you an idea in all reality on how to do it and the way to pick the fine fertilizer.
WHY SHOULD I FERTILIZE MY TREE?
It’s simple, fertilizer allows trees to stay healthy and full of life. 
Trees are hard, but that doesn’t prevent outdoor stressors from seeking to stress them and do harm to them. Proper fertilization can help a tree better withstand environmental stressors, like heat stress and frost. And, they’re more resistant to damage from pesky pests or disorderly insects.
In nature, trees in the woods are often fertilized by way of the nutrients recovered from the leaves that drop and different organic material. This natural process rarely takes location in deliberate landscapes in communities and subdivisions when leaves and nutrients get racked up year after year. These vitamins within the soil have to get replaced by means of ordinary fertilization. Fertilizer virtually offers the vitamins essential for that and different metabolic plants and trees to enhance, no different than humans taking vitamins.
Sure, most trees live without ordinary fertilization. However, they may not reach their full ability or potential. Regular "feeding" will assist trees to grow to full size, stay longer, and have a extra appealing appearance. Also, the first-rate protection against insect, ailment, and different issues is a vigorously growing, well-fed tree.
Fertilizer Basics
Nutrients can be divided into 3 classes—Primary, Secondary, and Micronutrients
Primary Nutrients: These are represented by way of the analysis these are the numbers on the bag of fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 12-6-6. In order, those numbers represent the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium the primary vitamins, in a particular fertilizer. These are called primary nutrients due to the fact they may be those most needed by using timber, in quantity.
Secondary Nutrients: These aren't proven in big numbers however should be part of the "guaranteed analysis" shown at the fertilizer bag. Secondary Nutrients are needed in large parts, however lesser, portions, and include calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Fortunately, those factors can without difficulty be brought through applying dolomitic limestone and/or gypsum.
Micronutrients: Often disregarded and needed in lesser quantities, those nutrients provide for the synthesis of chlorophyll and the activation of different enzymes crucial to the use of nitrogen and the general boom system. Micronutrients encompass Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, and Zinc.
What is the difference between slow and fast release fertilizer?
Fast release fertilizers can serve a legitimate motive while trees are in health danger needing emergency assistance. More frequently than not, however, speedy-release equals fast disappearance. Most of the time, a slower-release system is nice for fertilizing trees. Rather than a quick, extreme "feeding," trees do respond higher to a slower, more measured launch of vitamins over a period of months as opposed to weeks.
What Kind of Tree Fertilizer Should I Get?
Research shows that the nutrient most used for increasing the tree's health and benefits is nitrogen. As an end result, the popular analysis is to a few times the number of nitrogen compared to phosphorous and potassium. Our favorite, for this reason, is Espoma PlantTone. The reason we recommend it is due to the mixture of primary vitamins correct and gradual release, however, Espoma PlantTone incorporates all the micronutrients noted above.
When is The Best Time To Fertilize Trees?
Annual treatments of fertilizer in March-April have to be sufficient to preserve tree health and growth all through the growing season. This timing has been a usual practice for many gardeners and tree specialists throughout the U.S. for years. Despite the fact that early spring is a great time, new research shows there may be an even better time to fertilizer trees..
Contrary to popular belief, many experts now take into account late fall, or about a month after the first killing frost, to be the precise time for making use of fertilizers. In the past, the motive against fertilizing inside the fall turned into the fear that vegetation and trees would be placed on with unseasonably warm weather coming back could do harm which could cause it to be burned.
The secret to fertilizing trees in the fall is to understand the distinction between early fall and late fall timing. If you fertilize in late summertime or early fall when temperatures are nonetheless warm and vegetation isn’t actively growing, it's far probable that new growth could occur and damage to new foliage could be the possible result.
How to Fertilize Trees?
For trees growing in mulched, landscaped or comparable locations, simple ground fertilization will do the task. Just spread the granular fertilizer at the ground evenly around the brink of the tree's canopy meaning the dripline. Do not put fertilizer inside one foot of the trunk.
For trees growing in turf, fertilizer is best carried out below the foundation zone of the grass. Punch, drill, or dig small holes eight-12 inches deep frivolously spaced across the dripline about three feet aside and distribute the fertilizer equally some of the holes. Then cowl or fill within the holes. This approach places the vitamins into the tree's root quarter and avoids burning or over stimulating the grass and will prevent the wasting of fertilizer.
How Much Fertilizer Should I Put on My Trees?
One cup of Espoma PlantTone in keeping with a foot diameter of the tree's branch unfold ought to be sufficient for ground administration. When making use of underneath grass as described above, -thirds of a cup according to the foot of the trunk spreading should do the trick.
DOES MY TREE NEED TO BE FERTILIZED?
In forests, soils have nutrients galore. In our yards, that’s no longer regularly the case.
As we sweep away leaves, twigs and fallen bark, we’re disposing of potential recycling of vitamins for the soil. Additionally, the grass around the trees is unnatural and regularly outcompetes trees for vitamins and water. That’s why we want to fertilize our trees with a strong slow-release fertilizer which imitates nature.
Look for these symptoms that are a telltale giveaway that your tree is lacking vitamins inside the soil. If you notice those signs, fertilization can be part of a holistic approach to restoring your tree's fitness.
Shorter than normal annual twig and branches growth or increase
Undersized leaves which can be fewer in a variety
Dead branches
Leaves changing colors or looking lifeless
If your trees are experiencing any of the above signs, we recommend reaching out to a tree care company with certified Arborists on staff that can look at your tree's health. Tree fertilization isn’t as costly as homeowners might think. Hopefully, this tree fertilization guide helps you with your tree maintenance. If you need a quote fill out the tree service request form to get a quote or search your zip code and contact a company listed in Arborists Near Me for immediate help.
