Will Fertilizing a Tree Help It Grow?

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Trees are an important element of an attractive landscape. They introduce a new color to enhance your home’s curb appeal while also creating shade and, therefore, lowering your home’s cooling costs during the summer.

But just because you plant a new tree, there’s no guarantee that it will grow and reach maturity.

When a sapling fails to grow, however, you should consider fertilizing it.

Yes, You Fertilizing Can Help a Tree Grow

Some people assume that fertilizer is intended strictly for use in flowerbeds, but this isn’t necessarily true. You can also use fertilizer around trees to encourage faster, healthier development.

From softwoods like pine and cedar to hardwoods like oak and hickory, all trees can benefit from nutrient-rich fertilizer.

If a tree in your landscape is struggling to grow, just one or two applications of fertilizer may be enough to stimulate its growth and promote maturity.

How Fertilizing Helps Trees Grow

Fertilizing helps trees grow by providing them with essential nutrients.

As with plants, flowers and shrubs, all trees need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to grow. Known as macronutrients, they are the primary ingredients used in fertilizer.

By applying fertilizer around the base of a tree, it will absorb these nutrients, thereby improving its health and encouraging faster growth.

In addition to the three aforementioned macronutrients, fertilizer may also contain various levels of iron, manganese and magnesium. Known as micronutrients, these nutrients aren’t as critical to a tree’s growth as macronutrients.

Nonetheless, they can still encourage an otherwise stressed young tree to grow faster.

When to Fertilize Trees

Try to wait until the mid- to late spring or fall to fertilize your trees.

During summer and winter, trees enter somewhat of a dormant state in which it absorbs only a small amount of nutrients from the soil. During mid- to late spring and fall, the complex root system of trees absorbs a greater amount of nutrients from the soil.

By waiting until this time of year to fertilize your trees, you’ll get greater value from your fertilizing efforts.

Choosing the Right Fertilizer for a Tree

Of course, you should choose the right type of fertilizer when using it to stimulate the growth of a tree.

Different trees require different ratios of nutrients. Therefore, you should choose a variety of fertilizer with an appropriate ratio of macronutrients and micronutrients for your respective tree species.

If you need help choosing a fertilize formula, visit a local tree nursery or gardening center and ask an employee for assistance.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

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