We all want tremendous growth and health from the trees and shrubs in our landscapes. And now is the time to make sure your trees have the nutrients they need for a good growing season. Fertilizer provides nutrients needed to boost plant, shrub, and tree growth. There are several ways to go about fertilizing your trees and shrubs. There are granular surface fertilizers as well as liquid fertilizers. At AA Tex Lawn, we prefer to push liquid fertilizer into the soil around the drip line of the tree. This is known as deep root feeding.
Deep root feeding is a process by which we inject fertilizer directly into the ground at the root zone of the tree or shrub using a root feeder tool attached to a spray hose. It not only puts the product at the root zone (where it is most effective) but also aerifies the soil and stimulates root growth. With the hard clay soil that we have in the piedmont section of North Carolina, absorption of granular fertilizers into the root system of the tree can sometimes be hindered by compaction of the soil… particularly in times of drought or reduced rainfall. This is where deep root feeding comes in. The fertilizer is released directly into the root zone. In addition, the holes left from deep root feeding allow additional water to reach the roots of the tree or shrub. The benefits to the tree are numerous.
Deep root feeding is a standard process for tree care, but we have adopted it to use on ornamental trees and shrubs, too.
No matter whether you prefer to use a granular or liquid fertilizer, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Applying too much fertilizer can be harmful for your trees whereas applying too little is ineffectual. Or just let a professional handle it for you. Contact our office if you have any questions or if you'd like us to help you with the process. We should begin our deep root feeding in the late January/February timeframe.
Thanks,
The AA Tex Lawn Team
