Fertilization programs are important aids in encouraging vigorous and healthy growth in your trees. In addition, they can also help them formulate resistance to insects, pests, diseases and other baddies that can hinder your trees’ growth and development in the future. Long story, short – using fertilizer should be a vital part of any trees’ healthcare program.
You basically have two opportunities to fertilize your trees: fall and the spring. The reason for this is that trees are basically dormant and entering a transitional phase. In the spring – nutrients get turned into elements that are essential to a trees’ development – things like sugars, carbs and amino acids. In the fall, those nutrients are used for root growth with the ‘left overs’ stored in other tissues located throughout the tree so that they’re ready to go once the warm weather begins to hit on the other side of the winter.
Neither the fall or spring is a bad time to fertilize, but we generally err to the fall as being the best time. In the past, experts always leaned towards the spring – fearing that fall fertilization would leave the tree tissue too soft and vulnerable to the damaging elements of the winter. But with new developments in fertilizer and the right mix of elements– that’s no longer a problem. The application of elements like phosphorus and potassium protect against damaging winter weather and help keep a trees’ hardening process on schedule – while also allowing it to collect the nutrients from the fertilizer and store it away effectively for the winter.
And with those nutrients safely tucked away for the winter – by the time the spring comes – you’ll see more substantive, healthy, natural growth. There are even slow-release fertilizers that help trees pace their consumption through the fall without the usual nutrient dump that tends to occur as the summer months wind down. There are a variety of able-bodied solutions for you to consider and we’d recommend sitting down with a pro to discuss your options.
And just as important - the fall is your last time to give your tree the gulp of water it’ll need to stay healthy in the winter. Make sure you load up! Not only is it good for the tree, period – but it’ll also help the fertilizer become more effective.
If you’re interested in having one of our pros come and make a recommendation for your foliage, shoot us a call or send an email! Thanks for reading and we’ll see you soon!
Neither the fall or spring is a bad time to fertilize, but we generally err to the fall as being the best time. In the past, experts always leaned towards the spring – fearing that fall fertilization would leave the tree tissue too soft and vulnerable to the damaging elements of the winter. But with new developments in fertilizer and the right mix of elements– that’s no longer a problem. The application of elements like phosphorus and potassium protect against damaging winter weather and help keep a trees’ hardening process on schedule – while also allowing it to collect the nutrients from the fertilizer and store it away effectively for the winter.
And with those nutrients safely tucked away for the winter – by the time the spring comes – you’ll see more substantive, healthy, natural growth. There are even slow-release fertilizers that help trees pace their consumption through the fall without the usual nutrient dump that tends to occur as the summer months wind down. There are a variety of able-bodied solutions for you to consider and we’d recommend sitting down with a pro to discuss your options.
And just as important - the fall is your last time to give your tree the gulp of water it’ll need to stay healthy in the winter. Make sure you load up! Not only is it good for the tree, period – but it’ll also help the fertilizer become more effective.
If you’re interested in having one of our pros come and make a recommendation for your foliage, shoot us a call or send an email! Thanks for reading and we’ll see you soon!
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