Space the holes about 2 feet apart in large concentric circles, starting 1 1/2 feet from the trunk of young trees or 3 feet from the trunk of larger, more mature trees. Early spring, April, is the best time to fertilize, before new growth begins. Blue Spruce trees grow best in USDA Hardiness Zone 3 through 8. As long as the rate used is two pounds actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet or less, you can spread the fertilizer with a drop spreader under the evergreen branches and slightly beyond, then water it in well. And fertilizers of any kind won't help a tree that was planted in a wet spot or with its roots all strangled up in burlap or other nursery wrappings. That evenly distributes the nutrients that trees need. If you want to start providing fertilizer for arborvitae trees, you need to select a fertilizer. You wish to encourage more rapid growth in relatively young evergreens. My experience is that trees are pretty good at feeding themselves; they got deep roots to find water and nutrients down low and lots of leaves up high to collect the solar energy that helps the tree use that food efficiently. If you're calculating by square feet of garden, work 2 to 3 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer 3 to 4 inches deep for each 100 square feet before planting corn. And the organic advice you get from a soil lab is going to vary greatly from state to state. The needle foliage is stiff with a blue or silver-colored tint. The bag says for shrubs, trees, vegetable gardens, etc but nothing about lawns. In fact, there's good reason NOT to, as they can build up to levels that cause serious problems, especially if you fertilize with large amounts more than once a year. Depending on how much you need the best buy and value comes in purchasing larger 50 lbs bags which cost less per pound.. Also, buying a slow-release fertilizer will feed plants continuously throughout the season. Now that you’ve determined a need for your fertilizer, let’s take a look at your options in terms of types. This new growth may not have time to “harden off” (become acclimated to colder temperatures). But it can also mean additional work when applied to light, sandy soil. Mulch that is deep enough (3 to 4 inches around trees and shrubs) will prevent weed growth and adds organic matter to the soil as it breaks down. Create an even layer starting 6-inches out from the trunk to … All rights reserved. I love gardening for a lot of reasons. Nourish them all season long with Miracle-Gro® Evergreen Plant Food Spikes 12-6-12. For example, a 10-8-6 fertilizer contains 10 percent nitrogen, 8 percent phosphorus and 6 percent potassium. Keep evergreens healthy by mulching the soil surface under their branches and slightly beyond. Apply the 10-10-10 slow-release fertilizer at a rate of 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet of lawn to provide the lawn with 1 pound of nitrogen. How to Fertilize Evergreens. Use a plant food that contains timed-release fertilizer for feeding that lasts many weeks. Extension is expanding its online education and resources to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions. I think the jury is out on whether or not your evergreens need an acidified fertilizer such as Miracid. Avoid getting fertilizer on foliage. All my other plants kept growing, but the two I gave the 10-10-10 to first looked stunned, then wilted and are now about to expire. Plants cannot distinguish between different brands or marketing formulations of fertilizers. And like many state labs, this lab didn't offer an organic option out of the box; you have to ask for that up front or search through their website. You’ll often hear that perennials such as fruit trees, berry bushes, and ornamental specimens should receive a dose of 10-10-10 fertilizer in the early spring. I just can't wrap my head around the idea of 'feeding' a tree. In this specific case, our listener's soil tested a little low in nutrients so the lab recommended a common form of chemical fertilizer that they knew would be easy for him to find. Also, these stakes are a great general-purpose fertilizer for most plants. This organic all-purpose fertilizer has also been around for thousands of years and it works great, but it takes weeks to make, and the mixture must have time to rot before you can use it. The grass will also utilize phosphorus and potassium, but perhaps not as heavily as the nitrogen available. A mulch ring around a plant will protect the stem / trunk from being damaged by lawnmowers and trimmers. There are fertilizers made for each color that you can find at most garden centers. Overview & Benefits . Covering the bark of a tree with chipped wood makes just as much sense as the ashtrays that used to be next to every hospital bed in America. However, because each spike contains only a small amount of fertilizer, they are not cost-effective compared to granular products. (Note: Don't go crazy looking for these exact numbers; they're just a guideline. These granules will slowly release nutrients every time soil is watered. Before you fertilize, learn about the optimal type of fertilizer for these tough evergreens. The type of fertilizer that you are going to apply depends on the soil. A warmup in the fall, a freeze in late spring, or abnormally cold winters can all have damaging effects. One fertilizer application during the winter is usually recommended. It depends on the color. © Use Mississippi State University Office of Agricultural Communications recommends balanced fertilizers, like 10-10-10 fertilizers, for garden beds with varied plants in them. When an evergreen does require fertilizer, it is essential that the fertilizer is absorbed into the soil and then absorbed from the soil by the plant. A 10-10-10 fertilizer has a balanced ratio of these three essential nutrients. We'll get to that. If a plant is nutrient-stressed, a slow or timed-release fertilizer can be applied in late summer up until late fall. © 2020 by Gardens Alive! The 10-10-10 and 13-13-13 garden fertilizer is cheaper than "lawn fertilizer" and I would put it down at a pretty light rate, just to get some nutrients down. Fertilizer won't help there. The granules will work their way down to the soil surface. Never fertilize drought-stressed plants as fertilizer can burn stressed tree roots or push the plant to put on new growth when it does not have the energy. The bottom line is that these labs are essential for testing soils for lead and other contaminants; and they're a great low cost way to learn the pH of your soil and information about various nutrients. You are trying to grow evergreens in a less than ideal site, such as very sandy or heavy clay soil. Also, evergreens prefer acidic soil, meaning it has a pH level below 7. Big dividends in future seasons are the added reward. Evergreens grow best in acid soils and some nutrients may be unavailable to the tree if the soil is too alkaline. Using these guidelines for making the holes, the following gives you a short-cut to determine how much fertilizer to place in each. 0.0. The Grounds Guys can advise whether an early-winter or late-winter application is better suited to your lawn and garden needs. 4851212. The mulch ring should start at the root flare (where the main tree roots point out away from the trunk) and continue out from the tree trunk at about three or four inches deep. Turf grass is grown for its lush green leaf blades, so nitrogen nutrients are often more important to creating a dense, fast-growing lawn. This type of injury occurs when temperatures fluctuate abnormally during the fall, winter, and spring. Fertilizer doesn’t work if the plants aren’t at their best stage to grow. (This does not, however, apply to non-chemical herbicides like corn gluten meal—which would actually provide a gentle and healthy feeding to any trees growing in or very close to the lawn.). Then water the area. You will get notification once new article is posted. There are specially formulated fertilizers for conifers, or you can use an all-purpose fertilizer such as a 10-10-10. For instance a spruce that measures 5 feet across would cover 25 square feet. trademarks are registered trademarks of Gardens Alive! Applying liquid fertilizer through a root feeder is another option on all but heavy, poorly drained soil. In many landscapes, evergreens also benefit from fertilizer you apply to the lawn. Make holes about 8 to 12 inches deep. Like all landscape plants, evergreens require nutrients to grow well. Most of the Land Grant Universities that handle soil tests for their individual states were established with fees collected on fertilizer sales, and many still have a pro-chemical bias. Cottonseed meal is an organic fertilizer that's well-suited to evergreens' needs for acidic soil. evergreens TYPES OF FERTILIZERS SLOW RELEASE Small granules are mixed directly into the top few inches of the soil. Twenty-one percent of 30 is 6.3, which means the bag contains 6.3 pounds of actual nitrogen. I'm thinking the fertilizer may give them a boost. George: "It was recommended by the lab at Penn State after they ran a soil test for me.". How could a "fertilizer" be the end of these plants? The three numbers on the fertilizer bag represent the percentage of N-P-K, A fertilizer analysis of 10-8-15 means the fertilizer has 10 percent nitrogen, 8 percent phosphorous, and 15 percent potassium. Fertilizer should never be applied directly to a new planting hole. This can help evergreens tolerate winter and emerge healthier in the spring. And even then I'm not quite sure what kind of information you'd get in response. Is 10-10-10 Fertilizer Good for a Lawn?. Deborah Brown and Julie Weisenhorn, Extension educator, Gary Johnson, Extension forester and Beth Jarvis, horticulturist. All my other plants kept growing, but the two I gave the 10-10-10 to first looked stunned, then wilted and are now about to expire. A. Fortunately, I learned something rece… Nancy Turner. Once all this calculation is done it’s time to head to the store and buy your fertilizer 10 10 10. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Do not exceed this rate. Foliage color, lack of flowering or overall vigor can be signs of when fertilizer is needed. Sign up today and be the first to know when a new article is posted and when there are special offers too! Feeding your evergreen trees can help them be what evergreens should be: gorgeous, strong, and vibrantly coloured. Recipe #2—Homemade Fish Emulsion Fertilizer. At ten inches high, tomato plants are still babies. And no plant uses equal amounts of these three nutrients! Nitrogen is a mobile nutrient that leaches through soil and needs to be replenished most often. Before you find the best fertilizer for arborvitae you should examine the soil and whether it is rich in nutrients. The plant has suffered significant damage from insects or disease. Landscape fabric is recommended under non-organic mulches such as rock and shredded rubber to prevent these materials from working their way into the soil. In the forest, needles and twigs accumulate on the ground and return nutrients to the soil (natural fertilizer). Fertilizer spikes are a convenient and simple way to fertilize evergreens, and are effective when used in sufficient quantities. As most of you know, by law all fertilizers must have three numbers on the label—their NPK rating. Divide the amount of fertilizer needed, and place it equally into each hole. Plus, it goes right to their roots so that they can better absorb the good stuff! Thoroughly soak the area where you will fertilize to soften the soil so it's easier to make holes. I suspect that the powerful chemical salts in that 10-10-10 just "burned" them up. A great way to ensure consistent nutrition, however heavy feeding plants and new transplants will require an additional dose of a water soluble fertilizer. Mature or slow-growing evergreens require about 1 pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of soil surface every two to four years. So, if you have fertilizer on hand for acid-loving plants, use it. 10-10-10 fertilizer is one of the most popular fertilizers.. Commercial arborists have been warning for years that piling mulch up against the trunk—so-called 'decorative mulching'—is the biggest cause of tree problems and premature death. Mulch gives a landscape a “finished” look. Although other formulations are beneficial, a well-balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 is a simple way to fertilize vegetables, trees, fruits and flowers. 10-10-10 may not make sense to a sustainable advocate like me, but it is widely available. Regents of the University of Minnesota. Liquid fertilizer leaches through sandy soil quickly, and may need to be applied several times throughout spring and early summer. And trees? That's because Nitrogen gets used up fast, but Phosphorus and Potassium persist in the soil for several years, so there's no need to keep adding high amounts of them every time you fertilize. But first we asked George where he got the advice to give chemical fertilizer to an ailing tree. If your tree is mulched, spread the fertilizer right over the mulch and water in well. The best time to fertilize your evergreens is before new growth expands, around early April in Minnesota, up to about mid-July. This slow release fertilizer is also suitable for growing vegetables and fruits, to increase yields Test results will also provide information about your soil's pH (7.0 is neutral, less than 7.0 is acidic, and higher than 7.0 is alkaline). Stakes are packaged in a big 40-Pack box, and feature high food values of 10-10-10 for evergreens. However, any mulching material will do. Well-rotted manure or seasoned compost will add a small amount of nutrients as they break down further. Fertilizer can be applied until mid-July, but any later may cause late growth that would be damaged by frost. If growth rate and needle color are normal for a particular variety, fertilization is not necessary. Any higher rate would burn the grass it was spread onto, even if it were watered immediately after application. Research has shown that a truly balanced fertilizer for flowering plants would have a ratio of 3-1-2; so a 6-2-4 on a label would indicate a perfectly balanced fertilizer for fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, cukes and squash; and if the ingredients are all natural, it would be doubly ideal. If there was ever a poster child for "just give it a little compost", it'd be a tree. A “complete” fertilizer — one that supplies the macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) — is often recommended. Again, this method of fertilizing, though convenient, is more costly than applying standard granular fertilizer. But what if there isn't any mulch on the trunk? What Type of Fertilizer for Arborvitae? Reply. Adding the fertilizer later may spur late-developing growth that cannot harden by winter. Opt for a complete fertilizer, like a 16-4-8, 12-6-6, or 12-4-8, unless your soil’s phosphorus and … Ornamentals, Trees and 10-10-10 Fertilizer. Needles are not a healthy green color, or are shorter than normal. A fertilizer analysis of 10-8-15 means the fertilizer has 10 percent nitrogen, 8 percent phosphorous, and 15 percent potassium. Blue needs one that provides a more acidic soil. I had a bit left over afterward and sprinkled some around two ten-inch high cherry tomato plants as an experiment. The best time to fertilize evergreens is in spring, just as new growth appears. See. It is not unusual for newly transplanted evergreens to exhibit slow growth until they're re-established. Osmocote comes with a composition of 14% nitrogen, 14% phosphorous and 14% potassium, so giving balanced requirements to the plants, ensuring good top growth and a strong root system.