Did Fertilizer kill my Maples?

21 years ago

2 years ago I bought 2 eight foot maples and planted them. They grew well. The following spring they came back even more healthy and vigorous. I bought some of those tree fertilizer-pound-in-the-ground things and followed the directions. Pounded them in about 30" away from trunk. 2 weeks later my trees began to turn yellow and then died. The stakes said they were formulated for maples...as well as other shrubs and trees. My lilacs loved them! Right away I dug the fertilizer stakes out of the ground but it was too late. This spring I notice some sprigs coming up from the root balls so the trees weren't completely killed afterall...but believe me when I say they looked completely dead! Did the fertilizer stakes do this or was it just a coincidence, do you think?

Featured Answer

Greenthumb

21 years ago

No. Roots are most active in the fall, in woody plants.

The reason: in the fall, the air is cool, but the ground is still very warm from the summer heat. Root growth continues even after there has been a killing frost.

In the spring, the exact opposite is true: the air is warm, but the ground is still very cold/cool from the winter cold and so the roots don't do a lot of growing in the spring.

Fertilizer will not stimulate root growth; generally, fertilizer will stimulate the growth of more foliage, especially if there is a lot of nitrogen in the fertilizer.

No one ever fertilizes the trees in a forest and they do just fine. We, as humans, want to control everything and that is not in the best interest of the tree. Trying to force the tree to do something (grow) that it's not prepared to do is detrimental to the tree.

Patience....

(OK, I'll get off of my soap box now (:o)
Mike

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Comments (6)

dghays
21 years ago
The only other question would be the amount of spikes used. I would think a tree of that size in the ground for two years would take a bunch of fertilizer to kill it. How much rain/watering occurred after you put in the spikes?
Greenthumb
21 years ago
DO NOT FERTILIZE ANY PLANT UNLESS A SOIL TEST INDICATES THAT FERTILIZATION IS NEEDED! There is usually more than enough fertility in most soils for any tree or shrub that you plant.

And if you do find out that fertilization is needed, DO NOT USE FERTILIZER SPIKES! Fertilizer spikes are too much fertilizer in too small of an area. Just because you can buy fertilizer spikes, doesn't mean that you should use fertilizer spikes.

Instead, use a granular fertilizer, in the formulation indicated/required by the soil test, and spread it evenly under the tree.

Most newly planted trees and shrubs are establishing their root system for the first few years and may not grow much. That's normal. The plants have been fed a rich diet while potted at the nursery and the root system is usually fairly small for the amount of top growth the plant has. After planting, the tree needs to develop its root system to be able to support the top-growth of the plant. Trying to force the tree to produce more top-growth than the root system can handle, is just asking for trouble.

For an established tree, you would want to spread the fertilizer evenly under the tree and extending slightly beyond the tree's drip line. Again, there is probably no need to fertilize an established tree unless there is visually something wrong with the tree.
My .02
Mike
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Cirrus57
21 years ago
Wouldn't you want to fertilize to stimulate root growth after a transplant?
Glen Means
10 years ago
I did the same thing with my creeping evergreens and it killed them off. wasn't sure if that was it so tested another stake on a small evergreen which was doing poorly but thought I'd try, well it is dying off quickly now after the stake. Even though the directions say it is for your plant it is too much fertilizer in one area--beware!!
Olychick
10 years ago
I killed a vine maple and a gorgeous Mountain Hemlock with those spikes (I believe - no other reason they would have died that i know of). Ugh... live and learn. Or actually they die and I learn.