Fertilizer suggestions.
The following are suggestions for fertilizing trees and shrubs
in the field and containers. These suggestions were given to me by a highly
respected grower. He has many years
of experience growing many thousand acres of nursery stock. Please use these
suggestions as guidelines and follow label
directions.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS.
DO A SOIL TEST BEFORE PLANTING.
Test for P, K, Ca, Mg, pH and trace elements
P should be at least 40
K should be at least 100
pH at least 6.0 to 7.0
Ca should be at least 65% of base saturation
Mg should be equal to 15% of base saturation
Add fertilizer to grow 150 bushel corn for your area
Incorporate fertilizer into the soil before planting trees
WITHOUT A SOIL TEST.
Use approximately a 2-1-1 ratio of N, P, K plus trace elements
Use water soluble fertilizer 16-8-8, 20-10-10, 24-8-12, or 13-13-13 if
others are
not available.
Slow release is too expensive for the field.
1st yr. - Apply 1/2 to 1 cup per tree, spread out to the edge of the
branches.
Do not dump at the base of the trunk - it will burn the tree.
2nd yr. - Apply 1-2 cups
3rd yr. - Apply up to 2 cups. See below for rate.
At start of 3rd yr. check growth of tree. Adjust fertilization as
below.
For ash, oak, locust
more than 24" of growth no fertilizer
18"- 24" growth 1/2 cup tree per tree
less than 18" growth 2 cups tree per tree
Crabapple and slower growing shades
more than 18" no fertilizer
12-18" 1/2 cup per tree
less than 18" 2 cups per tree
FERTILIZING CONTAINER TREES.
1st yr.
19-5-8 plus trace elements
12 lb. per cubic yr. and 1 lb. micro-max per cubic yd
2nd yr.
dress at recommended rate using 17-3-6
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