uhmmmm .. can i link you to the same question ... asked last friday???

please review such.. and then we can answer any specific further issues ....

ken

PS: i have at least 6 strobus cultivars ... a dozen different picea pungens ... and 50 GGs .... on glacial sand ... NEVER FERTd any of them ....

Here is a link that might be useful: link

I read last week's thread...and I knew you would bring it up Ken! lol

I understand that fert should only be done if soil is lacking. That is why I took everyones advice here and did a soil test. One area where I planted had soil added to raise the lawn a bit, and it's lacking in some nutrients. I figured I would fert the first year or two until the roots go deep enough to hit the NATIVE soil that tested well.

With that being said - I am going to fertilize them because it will help compensate for the crap soil they dumped here before I moved in.

So will they actually use the nutrients this late in the season...or am I wasting my time?

My concern is the fertilizer this late in the year will force late growth which will be damaged in the winter.

Tread carefully or wait until spring.

I figured I would fert the first year or two until the roots go deep enough to hit the NATIVE soil that tested well.

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uhhmmm ... at least i am predictable.. lol ...

if you fert.. why in the world.. would it put roots deep to find the good soil???

riddle me that batman ...

leave them be.. and they will search out the good stuff... LIKE TREES ARE SUPPOSED TO DO ...

crikey man... they arent babies ... they are trees.. couple million years of evolution have given them the foresight to figure it all out by themselves. ... whats next.. you going to start a college fund.. for when they grow up???

i will yell ... SAVE YOUR MONEY TO SPEND ON MORE PLANTS.. THEY DONT NEED FERT ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: OMG .. this link is so stupid i cried ...

Fertilizing now is a waste. The trees will take up the fertilizer and use it much more efficiently when actively growing. I would wait until spring.

this link basically says everything that was said above.

Enjoy

Here is a link that might be useful: fertilize trees and shrubs

Good drainage is more important for most trees and shrubs than fertilizer. The wetter and heavier it is, the more I contour the planting area.
Mike

When you do fertilize, I would recommend a slow-release formulation. Many of the slow-release do not become "active" until the weather warms sufficiently, which reduces the chance of waste.

In general, though, working to properly mulch and create a humus layer beneath the tree would be a much more worthwhile endeavor. Heck, throw down some fertilizer, then cover with a little compost, then cover with a quality bark mulch.

Josh