Part of tree maintenance is proper fertilizing.
Like your lawn, added nutrients and fertilizers are needed to create healthy, long living trees. Younger trees, 5 years or less, need to be fertilized three times a year; early spring before the buds appear, early summer after the blossoms open, and in the fall when the leaves start to drop off. More mature trees will only need to be fertilized once or twice a year.
There are 3 types of fertilizers and all have their own benefits.
- Granulated fertilizers are often the cheapest and easiest to use.
- Liquid fertilizers can be sprayed on
- Slow release spikes are placed in the ground to release nutrients over time.
Apply the fertilizer at least a foot off the trunk as to not burn the bark and extend out to the canopy edge. Water the treated areas to help get the fertilizer down to the roots quicker. The amount of fertilizer you need to use is based off tree species and type of fertilizer. Carefully read the package label for the recommended spread rate for your particular tree.
