Fertilizing trees in fall

8 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I have a few questions on fertilizing in fall. I have read loads of articles that say it’s beneficial to fertilize your trees after their leaves fall so they can utilize the nutrients for their roots and are able to do great in the spring. Does anyone have a good explanation on what type to use and when exactly? I have just heard that you should use a slow release and not a soluble solution so it doesn’t encourage growth that can dieback. Any more suggestions?

Featured Answer

Embothrium

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Fall root growth occurs after winter stem buds are set but while leaves are still present. With there being little, if any root elongation during winter - when cold climate adapted woody plants essentially hibernate.

Ask at an independent garden center for suitable products, there shouldn't be much difference between what would be used on a tree in autumn and earlier in the year. As always the main thing would instead be identifying which particular nutrients are lacking and selecting a product that provides those. While avoiding ones that have significant amounts of nutrients not needing to be supplemented. Phosphorus for instance probably being the leading example of an often included nutrient that is chronically over-applied. With only certain parts of North America - such as rainy outer coastal strips with very sandy soils - having much of a need for phosphorus applications.

Slow release fertilizers tend to be used during the warm part of the year. Soluble fertilizers are best used on container plants. There is nothing about them being soluble that automatically means ill timed new top growth will be promoted by their use particularly. And northern adapted trees have their annual cycles regulated more by things like day length and temperature than what nutrient levels are present. With trees that have already gotten to the point that all of their current crop of leaves are on the ground not bursting into tender new foliage growth merely because they have been fertilized.

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Comments (7)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Let's start at the beginning...........where are you (geographic location), what kind of trees, how long have they been planted and why do you think they need to be fertilized?
User
8 years ago
Yes, have your soil tested before you add anything to it. Your trees and soil may not need anything and putting excess amounts of nutrients on that they don't need can actually be detrimental to the tree and harmful to the environment. Especially phosphorus and nitrogen.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
where are you ...???

what kind of trees ....????

are they in pots??

how old/large are they???

why do you think they need fert???

ken
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
where did my answer go
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
unless they are in pots .... imo .. trees NEVER need to be fert'd ... and anyone who tells you otherwise.. is probably trying to sell you fertilizer ...

trees in pots do need fert .... but i would not do it in fall .. you want pots going dormant for winter.. not putting out heavy lush growth ...

if something is lacking from your soil.. based on a soil test.. that would be an amendment issue.. and not fert ...

ken

ps: if you fert your lawn .. the trees get more than enough.. of what they really dont need ...
Plant Love
Original Author
8 years ago
Truthfully I feel like my soil is a little depleted because I reused a clay/top soil mix from another yard due to financial constraints when we moved here. I fertilized the trees last year and they all grew extremely well and had nice large leaves. This year, I didn't fertilize and almost nothing grew and leaves are smaller on all the different trees...

I have a weeping willow, prairie splendor maple (crimson king) and crimson sunset maple that I want to fertilize. All the trees are between 10-15ft and about 2" caliper. I am in a borderline zone 3b or 4 in the prairies. We had a fairly hot summer with loads of days above 80 and 90f which is not typical for us. Normally we have more days around 75 but this year was abnormal. We had a good amount of rain too so they aren't lacking.