Tree and Shrub Fertilization
Fertilizing your trees and shrubs is every bit as important as fertilizing your lawn. For those that reside amidst the grass you’re already fertilizing, they are likely getting adequate nutrients. But for outliers and separately contained plants, they need their own application to stay healthy.
Ryno Lawn Care follows a specific set of steps to ensure that your trees and shrubs are getting the right fertilizer, applied at the right time, to ensure robust growth in balanced soil conditions.
First, our experts will conduct a soil test to determine the pH. This informs them of any mineral deficiencies that need to be specifically addressed.
While fertilizer is not literally “plant food,” it does provide plants with the nutrients they need to complete photosynthesis. Soil testing is critical to determining exactly what mixture to use when applying fertilizer, so the right balance of minerals are provided.
Examining a plant’s growth patterns will indicate whether they are getting too much or too little of something, be it sunlight, water, or minerals.
Our specialists take a trained eye to the leaves, twigs, and branches, to make note of any problems. Again, this information is used to determine what minerals the plant needs.
If a plant’s growth pattern is delayed or seems anemic, the next step is to check for environmental causes.
Even with a good balance of minerals, there are other factors that can affect the plant’s development. For this reason, we check for lawn disease, insects, weeds, and impacted soil. If one of these issues is identified, we will treat it as needed in addition to fertilizing.
The age of a plant directly affects how much fertilizer it needs, and what type will be most beneficial to healthy growth. For instance, younger plants do well with a slow-release mixture that will feed their developing root system over the space of a couple of weeks.
If the home has a sapling or a freshly planted shrub, it is fairly easy to determine the age. But even if the homeowner does not know the exact ages of their shrubs and trees, our specialists can make an educated guess to inform appropriate fertilizing practices.
Once our landscaping experts have determined the specific needs of your trees and shrubs, they will choose the most effective fertilizing method.
Granular fertilizer is typically applied using a broadcaster or a drop spredder. Liquid fertilizer, which is more effective for addressing micronutrient deficiencies, may be applied directly to the plant’s leaves.
Finally, watering your yard and plants shortly after applying fertilizer is imperative to maximum absorption.
The pros at Ryno Lawn Care will either tell you how soon to water the area, or we will schedule a return appointment to irrigate the treated shrubs and trees.
