Plant Care

Routine Fertilize Crucial for Plant Health

Hanne | Jul 10, 2024

Supporting image for blog post: Routine Fertilize Crucial for Plant Health

        Our approach to the vitality of your landscape is very different in comparison to most of the Philadelphia-area plant health care companies. We value routine fertilization throughout most months of the growing season. In each of our 4, 8, or 12 visit programs, we assess and address the health and nutrient requirements of all of your valuable or specimen trees and prominent shrubs. Other companies only offer fertilization twice a year, and do not take into account specific soils, specimen requirements, or site considerations. For the remainder of the growing season, those companies are only coming out to spray insecticides or fungicides. Our comprehensive 4, 8, or 12 visit approach allows plants to be cared for when they need it most. For example, Boxwood should be fertilized in April, June and August. Each of our clients with Boxwood on their property receive fertilizer at these designated intervals.

Of course, if your property has not been receiving plant health care services at all, or if you have experienced a number of trees and shrubs die in rapid succession, you might consider a full property fertilization to jump start the process. Alternatively, you might choose to feed only certain trees and shrubs. The most important specimens to consider are those that are under stress or at risk, including:

  • Trees that are surrounded entirely by grass and lack the benefit of mulch
  • Trees and shrubs that are abutting paving, stone walkways, or foundation. This limits their root zone and therefore their ability to uptake adequate water and nutrients 
  • Trees that are vulnerable due to disease pressure, such as Red Oak and Pin Oak, which are threatened by Bacterial Leaf Scorch
  • Valuable specimen trees, memorial trees, or trees that were planted as a gift or special token

In the image below, a London Plane tree in Villanova is receiving a soil-injection of nutrients. You can see from the image that this is a mature tree that is surrounded by grass. You can also observe the fungal leaf spots, which may cause premature defoliation. In combination with a trunk-injected fungicide, we have done multiple repeat fertilizer applications for this tree over the last two years. We are thrilled to report the tree looks spectacular this year. The tree has a dense, green canopy and the fungal leaf spot is now under control. 

        The London Plane tree above received a low-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer application, but it is important to understand that not all fertilizers are created equal. We utilize a variety of fertilizer formulations to accommodate different tree and plant specimens and types of soil. We have found one fertilizer, in particular, to be outstanding in its capacity to vitalize and protect trees and shrubs. We use this fertilizer as a base, and then mix in additional nutrients as-needed based on your landscape's needs. Our base fertilizer is an innovative blend of seaweed extract, humic acid, and a special proprietary formulation, Hydretain, which is composed of hygroscopic and humectant components that attract moisture. In other words, by acting like tiny “water magnets,” Hydretain extracts humidity from the air and delivers it right to the root zone, which greatly reduces water stress and encourages root development. The seaweed extracts and humic acids provide valuable nutrition, organic matter, and microbial life to plant roots, encouraging robust development. When we use this product, we see a marked increase in plant vigor with established plants, and a wide decrease in transplant stress with new tree and shrub plantings. In the harsh summer conditions of our Philadelphia area, choosing to support a new planting with routine fertilizer treatments can be the difference between survival and failure. 

Hydretain® Crystal 200X Microscope footage

      For repeat flowering shrubs like Roses, we apply a high-nitrogen, rapid-release 16-16-16 fertilizer during each visit to encourage continual blooms throughout the season. This blend is also great for flowering annuals, both in pots and in the ground. But for some other plants in your landscape, like woody shrubs and ornamental trees, this wouldn't be the proper fertilizer to use. For that reason, we take pride in our licensed and knowledgeable spray technicians that understand the unique needs of each plant in your property. We consistently and appropriately replenish the appropriate nutrients in your soils all year long.

In the photo below, Hanne uses a foliar-applied, high-nitrogen fertilizer for newly planted flowering annuals and perennials. The Boxwood, Hydrangea and Southern Magnolia in this landscape bed received a different fertilizer blend! 

Champion Tree services properties of all types and sizes. With our 400-gallon tanks, there is no landscape too vast for our treatment team! The stressors and nutrient deficiencies that threaten the vitality of important trees and shrubs on your property can result in costly and time-consuming tree repairs, removals and replacements. Our integrated pest management trained technicians are your best partners in a proactive approach to managing the health of your landscape.

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