The main reason to fertilize trees and shrubs is to bolster their health so they are better prepared to fight off pests, disease, and environmental stresses. While fertilizer can't solve all of a tree's problems, it will go a long way to give it a fighting chance. Fertilizing your trees will produce faster, more vigorous growth. Remember, it is easier to keep a healthy plant healthy, than it is to try to rejuvenate a sick one.
There is an overall misunderstanding of fertilizers; what they are, what they do, why to use them, and when to use them.
First of all, fertilizers are not food. Plants make their own food through a process called photosynthesis, which utilizes the light from the sun, to create sugar from Carbon Dioxide and water. If you think plants are eating something, you're right, it's called sunlight.
Did you also know that the primary use of water, is for the transportation of nutrients from the roots, and that the majority of this same water evaporates from the foliage? This process is called transpiration.
Have you ever wondered why it seemed a little cooler under that big tree? Of coarse the shade helps, but one of the biggest factors is the cooling effect that water evaporating from the foliage has on the surrounding air.
To be healthy, plants require sixteen nutrients, that are essential to their ability to live. These sixteen elements are the same for all plants. When a plant is deprived of any of the sixteen, the plant will become sick and die. This of course, rarely happens, because most of these nutrients are already present in the soil. There are times however when some of these nutrients are not present in large enough quantities or are not available. This is where fertilizers come in.
Lawn fertilization is applied on the surface, and rarely reaches the root system of a tree. Furthermore, many lawn fertilizers actually contain a herbicide. These herbicides are targeted towards broad leafed plants (weeds) The big problem here is that trees are also broad leafed plants, and these herbicides can cause fatalities in trees. Another issue is timing; Pre-emergent herbicides should be applied when everything is dormant, while fertilizers are only effective when plants are growing.
Trees are targeted by many defoliating pests. These pests can completely strip a tree in a matter of days. A healthy tree, has the ability to replace this damage, as well as fight other fungal and disease problems.
Call Quality Tree Care today, we can help with all your tree fertilization needs.
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