Tree Nutrients and Fertilization
This disclaimer emphasizes that the content on the page is purely for informational purposes and should not be considered as professional advice. It states that West Omaha Tree Service will not be held responsible for any damages caused by individuals who rely on the information provided on the site. The disclaimer strongly recommends hiring an arborist or landscape professional for tasks such as applying nutrients or fertilizer to trees, highlighting the importance of expertise and training in these activities. The purpose of fertilizing is to provide the tree with essential elements it may be lacking in a timely manner. Be careful when identifying the nutrients the tree is lacking, as falsely identifying them may result in damage to the tree during fertilization. It is also important to use the correct amount of fertilizer for the specific tree. Different options are available for applying fertilizer to a tree, including broadcast, sub-surface, foliar, and trunk applications. In this page, I will provide further details on these different application methods.
Fertilizer application methods.
Broadcast
Broadcast fertilizer application is a common method used for applying fertilizer to trees. It involves spreading the fertilizer evenly over the surface of the soil, covering as much of the root zone as possible. This method is best suited for trees that have minimal or no dense vegetation, such as turf grass, growing underneath them.When using the broadcast method, it is important to consider the potential for the fertilizer to be captured by any understory vegetation present. Dense vegetation, like turf grass, can absorb some of the fertilizer, reducing its effectiveness for the trees. Therefore, it is important to choose trees with little or no negative understory when using this method.The fertilizer used for broadcast application can be in either dry or liquid form. Dry fertilizers are typically granular or powdered and are spread using a spreader or by hand. Liquid fertilizers, on the other hand, are mixed with water and applied using a sprayer or irrigation system.Overall, the broadcast method of fertilizer application is a practical and efficient way to provide nutrients to trees. However, it is important to consider the presence of dense understory vegetation and choose the appropriate fertilizer formulation for optimal results.Sub-surface
Using a sub-surface application method, liquid or dry formula is applied 6-12″ underneath the soil surface. This application method is used on dense vegetative understory. The intent is to get the fertilizer at a depth to where it most benefits the tree and not the vegetative understory. Individual application sites are typically arranged in a grid.Foliar
Using a foliar application method, the application is sprayed onto the foliage of the tree. The foliage application method should be used when soil applications were unsuccessful.Trunk Injection
Tree injections are often used to correct micronutrient deficiencies (e.g. iron). Tree injections get inserted into the bottom of the trunk and feed into the vascular system. The injection sites are placed in fixed intervals. The disadvantage of tree injections are that they cause minimal injury to the trunk, therefor it is usually not recommended for annual treatment.
Organic Fertilizer
Organic fertilizer essentially comes from a once living organism. Some examples of organic fertilizer are compost, manure, fish meal, bone meal, treated sewage, bat guano. Organic fertilizer is generally a slower release fertilizer that typically contains less amounts of essential elements than inorganic fertilizers.Inorganic Fertilizer
Inorganic fertilizer is synthetic plant providing manufactured material combining essential elements and minerals. Depending on how the product was formulated it can be either fast release or slow release. Inorganic fertilizers typically contain higher amounts of essential elements.
Soil PH
Soil Ph levels are important for a tree to be able to use essential elements from the ground. Just because a tree has a nutrient deficiency doesn’t mean that the nutrient it needs isn’t already in the soil. If the ph level is out of range certain nutrients may not be available for uptake. Knowing the ph levels is recommended when determining what type of tree to choose for the planting site. Tree selection for the specific ph levels will help the tree grow healthy, and vigorous, while spending less money in the long run for nutrient deficiencies.Soil PH Level Preferences for trees
- Apple / 5.0-6.5
- Ash / 6.0-7.5
- Birch / 5.0-6.5
- Chestnut /5.0-6.5
- Crab Apple / 6.0-7.5
- Dogwood / 5.0-7.0
- Box Elder / 6.0-8.0
- Balsam Fir / 5.0-6.0
- Douglas Fir / 6.0-7.0
- Hemlock / 5.0-6.0
- Juniper / 5.0-6.0
- Sugar Maple / 6.0-7.5
- White Oak / 5.0-6.5
- Red Pine / 5.0-6.0
- White Pine / 4.5-6.0
- Spruce / 5.0-6.0
- Black Walnut / 6.0-8.0
- Willow / 6.0-8.0
West Omaha, Omaha, Elkhorn, Gretna, Millard, Chalco Bellevue, Papillion, Nebraska.
Services Include: Tree Removal, Tree Trimming, Stump Removal/Grinding, Snow Removal.