Why Fertilize in Fall?
Late September through early October is a great time to fertilize your trees and shrubs because a good dose of nutrients will help them stay nourished, protect against diseases and support root development throughout the dormant months of winter. Fertilizing a plant or tree right before winter months will also support healthy new growth in the early spring as the nutrients stay present in the soil for the roots to absorb for several months. This year, we have experience extremely warm temps in fall which has put the trees under stress. When the temps change drastically from cold to warm (90 degrees in Septemeber!) they need a little energy boost.
Our Fertilizer
Here at Emerald Tree & Shrub Care, we have tried a plethora of different fertilizers and have to say, we found one product that can do the work of many. Biochemists at Growth Products have created the perfect mix of essential amino acids, sea kelp, humic acid, yucca extract, rooting hormones, fermented extracts, vitamins enzymes and more! They work together to boost each others beneficial properties and have proven to:
- Aid seed germination
- Improve rooting
- Feed beneficial soil microbes
- Improve plant physiology
- Reduce excess salinity in soils
- Improve a soil's nutrient holding capacity
- Reduce environmental stress
All of that AND it's 100% Organic.
How to Fertilize
The proper way to fertilize is to inject the formula directly into the ground where the feeder roots are located. Feeder roots can be found along the drip line of a tree, which is the circle that trims the width of the crown on the ground. Imagine the tree like an umbrella, the drip line is where all the water droplets will run off and meet the ground, this is where the maximum amount of nutrients will be absorbed. A needle like the one pictured below is hooked up to our fertilizer solution and inserted into the ground to feed the tree the necessary amount based on it's size. There are times when underground wiring or irrigation prevent us from doing a ground injection, and in those cases we will just give the drip like a nice hefty soak. The problem with a ground soak is that you can never be sure the nutrients reach the roots below. Sometimes the ground is compacted, or the roots are deep down and that is why we prefer to use a needle and inject our fertilization.
Interested in scheduling a fall fertilization appointment? Call us at 914-725-0441. Trust us, the temporary smell is well worth all the benefits your plants and trees will experience.
