How to Fertilize Trees - It's About Thyme

It's About Thyme

tel: 512-280-1192 Nov 26, 2010

Nursery notes: on sale this weekend: bulbs - 20 % off Choose

from a great selection including iris, daffodils, and the beautiful

saffron crocus. Plant now for some early spring color. Bay Trees

on sale 20% off - reduced price: $8.00 New shipments in:

Arizona and leyland cypress, blue point juniper and spartan

juniper - from $25 - $45.

DeAnne Pearson (above) gave an intriguing lecture on herbal

infusion last Sunday at the nursery. It was a popular event, and

DeAnne had a full house (see photo below). Thanks, everyone, for

joining us for the afternoon.

How to Craft a Seasonal Wreath.’ 2 p.m. next Sat. Dec. 4 , 5, and

the following weekend on Dec. 11 and 12. Presented by Diane
Winslow. At the end of class, everyone takes home their own beautiful

bay leaf wreath. Classes are filling up fast. Pre-registration required.
Fee: $35 Phone the nursery today to reserve your place in a class.

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It's the day after! Time for some turkey leftovers. Here are six

recipes to choose from:

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/turkey_leftovers/

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Save the Azaleas at the US National Arboretum In the summer

of 2011, the unbelievably beautiful azaleas at the National Arboretum
in Washington D.C. will be cut down and their stumps painted

with herbicide. Read more about this outrage in Washington Gardener

Blogspot: save azaleas

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How to Fertilize Trees

By Chris Winslow

Many of you already know that fall is the perfect time to plant trees.

The air temperature is cooling off while the ground remains warm.

But fall is also the perfect time to fertilize trees.

To do this, you need to pick a balanced fertilizer that contains nitrogen

(N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These three essential ‘macro-

nutrients’ are the building blocks of a healthy, vigorous tree.

Nitrogen builds new cell growth and is needed for overall plant

growth and development. Phosphorus helps roots develop. Potassium

makes their stems strong, and also helps with disease-resistance and

cold hardiness.

In addition gardeners need to choose fertilizers that contain ‘micro-

nutrients’ and beneficial bacteria. These are the elements that the tree

uses in lesser amounts than the macro, primary plant foods.

These micronutrients should include magnesium, iron, and sulfur.

Sulfur is very important as it helps to drop our alkaline pH, and

make nutrients such as iron (Fe) more available. This is essential for

trees that like a more acid pH.

A good choice for a fertilizer, and one that's popular with customers

of It's About Thyme, is called ‘Tree-Tone.’ It’s organic, contains all

these macro and micronutrients, and costs less than $9 for a 4 lb bag.

Feed small trees by spreading the right amount of fertilizer under and

slightly beyond the branch spread. Watering in will dissolve the

fertilizer and get it into the root zone.

A good fertilizer rate is 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet of canopy – the

area within the drip line of the tree. For larger trees, dig a series of
narrow holes that are 12 inch deep, 2-3 inches wide, and 2 – 3 feet apart.

These should be under the drip line of the tree. Put the correct amount

of fertilizer evenly in these holes and backfill with soil. Then water the

fertilized area thoroughly.

The best time to fertilize established trees is in the fall after the leaves

have dropped, and again in the spring when new growth appears.

Happy gardening everyone!