When I started fertilizing mature trees, the internet did not exist.
At that time, my belief was "It is my money, I can waste it as I please",,
So I started fertilizing the trees on about 2 acres, maybe 20 or so trees, I never bothered to count.
Anyways, over 30 plus years, these trees have shown a remarkable increase in health, and size.
The trees are oak, poplar, hickory,, as well as apple, cherry, etc..
Not knowing what to do, and not having the internet, I simply over-fertilized at the drip ring of these trees.
BUT, I had one oak, planted near a driveway, along with some shrubs that we planted at the drip ring of the tree.
That oak sucked 100% of the nutrients, and moisture near those shrubs. The shrubs just could not compete, and they did not survive.
After seeing that, I decided that the tree was capable of seeking out moisture, and nutrients.
I decided I would take advantage of that in my fertilizing technique.
I used a bulb planting auger, it is a mini post hole digger, that digs a 3 inch diameter hole, powered by an electric drill.
My philosophy was, that if the tree liked the fertilizer it would seek it out. If it did not like it, it would avoid it.
On a tree that was 12" in diameter, or larger, I would drill up to a dozen holes, and fill the holes with a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10)
As far as results, when I simply added fertilizer on top of the soil, around the tree, I would see stimulated grass, and weed growth.
When I added fertilizer to the 6 inch deep bulb planter holes, almost zero grass growth improvement was seen.
So, either the nutrients were simply washed away into the soil, or the tree got the nutrients.
During those years, the trees that were fertilized by the bulb auger technique seem to have grown double the diameter increase, compared to surrounding untreated trees. So, I feel my fertilizer addition has helped the trees to thrive.
(I think part of my reason for believing the drilling technique would help was that I was basically duplicating the "Jobe's Tree Fertilizer Spikes" that was popular when I started this test)
One of the things I have seen over the past couple years that reenforces my theory is an abandoned compost pile.
That pile, over 20 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 4 feet high has sat for over 10 years.
I went out last week to reclaim some of the compost, and found the entire pile was filled with tree roots along the top 10 inches of material.
Below the top 10 inches, there were no roots. Those roots knew where the most moisture, and nutrients were.
The tree roots were not waiting for the nutrients to wash down, the roots were climbing up into the top of the pile.
I have two 50 pound bags of 19-19-19 fertilizer. Soon, I will get out, and drill holes, and supplement the trees near my home, again.
What are your feelings on fertilizing mature trees?? I know it would be a "hard sell" to customers to show the benefits.
I am not doing this for a customer, I am doing this for my personal enjoyment.
Share your fertilizing info with us.
At that time, my belief was "It is my money, I can waste it as I please",,
So I started fertilizing the trees on about 2 acres, maybe 20 or so trees, I never bothered to count.
Anyways, over 30 plus years, these trees have shown a remarkable increase in health, and size.
The trees are oak, poplar, hickory,, as well as apple, cherry, etc..
Not knowing what to do, and not having the internet, I simply over-fertilized at the drip ring of these trees.
BUT, I had one oak, planted near a driveway, along with some shrubs that we planted at the drip ring of the tree.
That oak sucked 100% of the nutrients, and moisture near those shrubs. The shrubs just could not compete, and they did not survive.
After seeing that, I decided that the tree was capable of seeking out moisture, and nutrients.
I decided I would take advantage of that in my fertilizing technique.
I used a bulb planting auger, it is a mini post hole digger, that digs a 3 inch diameter hole, powered by an electric drill.
My philosophy was, that if the tree liked the fertilizer it would seek it out. If it did not like it, it would avoid it.
On a tree that was 12" in diameter, or larger, I would drill up to a dozen holes, and fill the holes with a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10)
As far as results, when I simply added fertilizer on top of the soil, around the tree, I would see stimulated grass, and weed growth.
When I added fertilizer to the 6 inch deep bulb planter holes, almost zero grass growth improvement was seen.
So, either the nutrients were simply washed away into the soil, or the tree got the nutrients.
During those years, the trees that were fertilized by the bulb auger technique seem to have grown double the diameter increase, compared to surrounding untreated trees. So, I feel my fertilizer addition has helped the trees to thrive.
(I think part of my reason for believing the drilling technique would help was that I was basically duplicating the "Jobe's Tree Fertilizer Spikes" that was popular when I started this test)
One of the things I have seen over the past couple years that reenforces my theory is an abandoned compost pile.
That pile, over 20 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 4 feet high has sat for over 10 years.
I went out last week to reclaim some of the compost, and found the entire pile was filled with tree roots along the top 10 inches of material.
Below the top 10 inches, there were no roots. Those roots knew where the most moisture, and nutrients were.
The tree roots were not waiting for the nutrients to wash down, the roots were climbing up into the top of the pile.
I have two 50 pound bags of 19-19-19 fertilizer. Soon, I will get out, and drill holes, and supplement the trees near my home, again.
What are your feelings on fertilizing mature trees?? I know it would be a "hard sell" to customers to show the benefits.
I am not doing this for a customer, I am doing this for my personal enjoyment.
Share your fertilizing info with us.