I have planted about 1,200 spruce and fir trees in the past three years and I am looking for an easy way to fertilize them in the spring. I have a 300 gallon tank in my F-250 and would like to mix the fertilizer with water for easy application. Does anyone have experience with a product that would work on trees?
Tree Fertilizer
- Thread starter Karenz1
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Tororider
Veteran Member
For ease of use we are looking for something that can be poured over the trees without having to worry about burning the trees. My dad is the original poster.
forgeblast
Elite Member
look at forestry-suppliers.com they have some 18,3,6 and 15-8-4 arbor care products. the 15 is probably what you want to use. Its rate is 1 gallon and 50z per 100 gallons of water and can be folier or soil injected.
ToadHill
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As a retired arborist I can shed a little light on this subjest.
First do not fertilize and new plantings for the first year.
The best way to fertilize trees is with a "Deep root fert spike" this is a tool that you stick into the ground about 6" and under pressure 60 -80 psi you inject the fertilizer into the soil. I like to put in around 1 to 2 gallons per inch of diameter of the tree.
For new plantings I'd just give it one short shot and only fertilize the tree every other year. If you fert every year the feeder roots will not seek new ground and will tend to stay in a smaller area thus reducing the root zone as it matures.
Don't use tree spikes. the fertilizer in them is fine but as they give off their product it tends to go down and unless you have some feeder roots right under them, the product is wasted.
First do not fertilize and new plantings for the first year.
The best way to fertilize trees is with a "Deep root fert spike" this is a tool that you stick into the ground about 6" and under pressure 60 -80 psi you inject the fertilizer into the soil. I like to put in around 1 to 2 gallons per inch of diameter of the tree.
For new plantings I'd just give it one short shot and only fertilize the tree every other year. If you fert every year the feeder roots will not seek new ground and will tend to stay in a smaller area thus reducing the root zone as it matures.
Don't use tree spikes. the fertilizer in them is fine but as they give off their product it tends to go down and unless you have some feeder roots right under them, the product is wasted.
Tororider
Veteran Member
We have heard to fertilize every spring. In the past we have used dry slow release granules.
Toadhill, there is no type of fertilizer you would recommend using every year?
Toadhill, there is no type of fertilizer you would recommend using every year?
tulenutn2o
Platinum Member
I find that horse poo works wonders. Does not burn trees. Not sprayable though.
ToadHill
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If you fertilize every year then remember the feeder roots of a tree extend beyond the drip line and I'd fertilize out beyond that so the roots will stretch out to get the nutrients.
There are two ways to use granular fert, one is to drill small holes in the ground and fill with fert but that works just like spikes, The other is to spread the fert on the ground with a spreader but that also ferts the grass and you'll be mowing like mad for the rest of the summer. That is why I like the deep root liquid method.
Probably the best way is to let the leaves fall and rot on the ground, thus the tree provides it's own fertilizer. When leaves fall they release the nutrients stored in the cells as they rot. Some trees like Oak tend to hold the leaves well into winter and they "Suck" the nutrients out of the leaves while they are still on the tree, that's why Oak leaves do not make good compost.
There are two ways to use granular fert, one is to drill small holes in the ground and fill with fert but that works just like spikes, The other is to spread the fert on the ground with a spreader but that also ferts the grass and you'll be mowing like mad for the rest of the summer. That is why I like the deep root liquid method.
Probably the best way is to let the leaves fall and rot on the ground, thus the tree provides it's own fertilizer. When leaves fall they release the nutrients stored in the cells as they rot. Some trees like Oak tend to hold the leaves well into winter and they "Suck" the nutrients out of the leaves while they are still on the tree, that's why Oak leaves do not make good compost.
