Always wait until the next spring following a new planting before ferritization. And skip the spikes - a highly inefficient method of applying fertilizer. If you already have them, then grind them up first and sprinkle the granules around the dripline and water in. Or just purchase a granulated fertilizer to begin with.

Thanks for the advice! And that's a good suggestion about the spikes (which I do already have); I'll grind them up!

if you fert your lawn ... there is no reason to double the fert by also ferting the tree .. the trees roots are under the lawn ...

and the odds of you ever putting a spike where a feeder root are low to nil ... total waste of money ...

and lastly .. NEVER fert a stressed plant .. and until fully established in a year or 3 ... your tree will be stressed .. length depending on how you take care of it ... and or planted it.. etc ...

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub