a tree.. which are conifers.. which are commonly called evergreens ... can be 2 to 3 times as large .. underground .. as you see above ...

usually.. in suburbia ... if your plant is anywhere within 10 feet of your lawn.. and that is fert'd .. your plants will get whatever little they may need from the lawn ...

but the distance you note ... is because the usual place you find feeder roots... is way out at the tips of the roots ... etc ..

i cal this.. trying to love your plants to death.. they are not children.. and do NOT need to be fed ...

if in fact.. you find some deficiency ... then you can take action ..

but right now.. i am hoping you just arent creating a problem.. that doesnt exist ...

i would just throw them away.. if the cost of gas is more that what you paid for them ...

finally ... let say you did pound them into the soil ... what are the odds.. you put it anywhere near a feeder root.. eh ...

good old fashioned snake oil ... sold right near a bridge that is for sale.. lol ...

we all have been here.. laugh about it ...

ken

yea good point, I got them for free so I was hoping I could use them, but I get what your saying. thanks!

I wonder if you could throw them in water, let the disintegrate and then use it (diluted) for your annuals. I used them b4 I knew better and didn't notice root burn or lopsided growth anywhere. I also never found any leftover pieces that did not incorporate into soil. Nevertheless, I stopped using when my supply ran out and based on recommendations offered here.

Don't need to dissolve in water - just smash them up with a hammer and sprinkle on the soil surface at the dripline as a granular fertilizer. But they or any other fertilizer really are not needed for plants established in the ground unless a soil test or the plants themselves indicate a need.

'a tree.. which are conifers.. which are commonly called evergreens'

Ken, at the risk of beating a dead horse, broad leaved, evergreen trees do exist! Magnolia grandiflora and Ilex opaca are the two that come to mind immediately. And, there are many, many evergreen, broad leaved shrubs available. Not all evergreens are trees or conifers.