Your trees and shrubs are a valuable asset on your property. For that reason, you want to do what you can to keep them looking and performing their best.
Tree and shrub fertilization can help provide your plants with the nutrients that they tend to lack in suburban soil.
In the forest, trees are self-sustaining because of the nutrient-rich land they’re growing in. But in the suburban, residential landscape, the soil is typically depleted of many of the nutrients your plants need to thrive.
This is why tree fertilization (and shrub fertilization) is so important.
Tree and shrub fertilization ahead of the winter is especially critical as the timing will help set these plants up for success in the coming months.
In this article, we’ll dive more into why trees and shrubs should be fertilized before the winter.
Do I Need to Fertilize my Trees and Shrubs for the Winter?
If you want to set your trees and shrubs up for success, then you definitely want to consider a fall fertilization service.
If you’ve already signed up for one of our Plant Health Care programs, then you should know that fall fertilization is included in our Advanced program. But we can also offer tree and shrub fertilization as a standalone service.
Our fertilizer blend provides the proper nutrients that trees and shrubs need as they begin their winter dormancy. The nutrients are stored in the root system to provide the essentials that your trees and shrubs need to begin healthy growth in the spring.
In other words, when you fertilize your trees and shrubs ahead of the winter, you help set them up for a more successful spring. This is also a critical time as many of the essential nutrients have been depleted after a hot and stressful summer.
You’re also giving them a boost of nutrients right before having to deal with stressful weather conditions. The harsh winter can take a toll on trees and shrubs but tree fertilization will help prepare them for those conditions.
Which Species Require Tree and Shrub Fertilization?
All species of trees and shrubs can benefit from a fall fertilization service.
The only time that we would not recommend fall fertilization is within the first 12 to 18 months from new planting. That’s because the root system still needs time to establish itself.
While your tree would survive without fertilizer, it’s never going to thrive or perform its best. It might also be more susceptible to certain problems like insects and diseases down the road.
How is Tree and Shrub Fertilization Applied?
Our tree and shrub fertilizer is applied through deep root feeding. This deep root fertilization process involves using a soil probe to inject the products 6 to 8 inches below the surface.
When done this way, it makes the nutrients directly available to the feeding root structures of the plant.
In some cases, we also use granular tree fertilizer for smaller trees and shrubs.
Either way, this is a huge difference from what is used with DIY fertilizing tree spikes.
People sometimes ask us why they should invest in the deep root fertilization process when they can just buy tree spikes at the local hardware store. But those spikes do little to nothing for your trees.
For one, they use a quick-release fertilizer, meaning they are used up almost immediately.
But they are also hardly supplying much fertilizer. It is a truly minuscule amount compared to what a professional would apply with a deep root fertilization service.
The type of product is also different. A pro is fertilizing your trees and shrubs with a high-quality, commercial-grade fertilizer. This will help you get much better results than a store-bought tree spike.
Investing in Plant Health Care and Tree Care Services
Fertilization is one of many important services that are being performed as part of an overall Plant Health Care program. A tree care professional can help get you started with this service and set your trees up for success.
Tree care can be complicated and you want an expert on your side. In addition to professional services like fertilizing, they can also provide you with valuable recommendations that will help ensure your trees continue to perform optimally.
Professional advice on topics like watering can make a huge difference in the overall health of your trees.
Along with that, a professional can also offer other tree care services that will help you maintain your landscape’s best health.
At the end of the day, by choosing the best tree care service, you can let go of your worries and know that your trees are going to continue to perform their best because they’re being cared for by a pro.
If you’re interested in having your trees inspected to gain some peace of mind, contact us for a free consultation or give us a call at 610-365-4858 so we can answer your questions.
