Homeowners sometimes don’t realize how important a good fertilization program is for their trees. A great time of year to start is in the fall so the trees are more prepared to enter the spring growing season healthy and vigorous. Especially coming out of the drought from 2011, the trees are still striving to recover and get their health back. How many trees have you seen while driving down the road with dead tops and multiple dead branches throughout the canopy? If you haven’t, just look up while driving down the road through your neighborhood and you will probably notice many trees still showing signs of drought stress.
Trees in the forest are fertilized naturally by leaf litter and other organic materials that break down, releasing their nutrients back into the soil. Additionally, most forested areas do not have a blanket of beautiful green grass growing around them absorbing many of the vital nutrients from the soil. Most landowners then haul off the grass clippings, rake away the dead leaves and clean up any other organic material that gets onto the lawn. Therefore, trees often do not get the nutrients they need in the correct amounts to be healthy and vigorous.
Liquid root feeding is the best method to fertilize trees as it puts the product into the ground beneath the layer of grass and directly to the trees rooting zone. The tree is then able to absorb the fertilizer and disperse it among itself to prepare for the upcoming growing season.
Do all trees need fertilization? The short answer is no, not all trees will benefit from fertilization. That is why it is important to have an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist come take a look at your trees and determine if fertilization is needed and customize a program specific for your property and individual trees.
Fall is a good time of year to look at insect control for your trees as well. Although most insects are not very active during the fall and winter, a good application of a systemic herbicide will aid the tree in defending itself from insect attacks once spring time gets here. Systemic insecticides can be applied to the soil or sprayed directly onto the trunk of a tree and then are absorbed by the tree. The product is then dispersed throughout the entire plant and will protect the tree from many damaging insects for up to a year. Once spring and summer arrive in our area it can be too late to apply a systemic insecticide due to the insect’s numbers growing very quickly.
Again, not sure if your trees can benefit from a fall insecticide program? Give us a call and have a Certified Arborist take a look at your trees and develop a program for your individual trees.
