Spring Tree Fertilizer

Every year I am called out on trees that are struggling health wise and hear the customer say, "well I put spikes in all around the tree to fertilize it and help it."

Fertilizer can be the worse thing for Tree Health Care if you are using high nitrogen.

As a Certified Arborist I am held to ISA ANSI standards which is comprised of top Tree Care Professionals around the world with the latest University studies and research. ANSI has reduced the nitrogen recommendation by 60% a year. I try to help customers understand the reason for this by pointing out that an Oak tree grows slowly and  is strong,  Poplar tree grows fast and is weak. The faster the cell elongation which is a key to nitrogen the weaker the tree.

Nitrogen is NOT what makes a tree healthy. Correct soil around the drip line of the tree is what makes a tree healthy and the trees ability to absorb the minerals around that tree. This brings us to Mycorrhiza the living organisms in the soil that penetrates the roots of trees and transfers minerals for the sugars the photosynthesis process in the leaves have created. This is what makes a tree healthy and self sustaining.

Products such as Organic Tea and additives such as SAVE-A-TREE as pictured above creates this environment. Spikes, too much lawn fertilizer and nitrogen applications are not your first step this spring. Large tree wells with well aged composted material such as the indigenous leaves are best with the focus on building better soil directly around the tree.