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Show ! ml IMm IF39S Established trees and i ; bs too often are neglected S t comes to fertilizing w'Ttrue, many trees and hnibs are automatically fed ,Wi you fertilize your lawn . Zi flower or vegetable beds. '. fhe roots of these larger iiants often will find their into or below these beds. s THESE LARGE plants ; ' reive their fertilizer, but Retimes at the expense of J' the Plants we initially fed. FSr instance, if your lawn area is bordered by trees and Arubs you should consider fl 'ivjo additional fertilizer to U g lawn near these plants. 'If THE REASON of course, is that this one application of fertilizer has to feed both the :i't awn and the larger trees. But, if vou were to feed the t-, large plants on a regular ! t- basis, maybe your lawn would k, improve with less fertilizer than you apply now. noNT be fooled about trees "i and shrubs. You may say that the trunk of the tree or shrub t; is many feet from the lawn area. That's true, but if the branches hang over the lawn, si. ; those plants are stealing your lawn fertilizer, j, The actual feeding roots of "' trees and shrubs are along the "drip line." This is the term used to mark the outside e perimeter of the branches. In ip'" fact, all the feeding roots are ' on the outer perimeter under the ends of the branches. IF THIS is where the feeding feed-ing roots are located, this should be the place to apply your tree fertilizer. Forget the inner area next to the trunk You'll only be wasting good money on fertilizer that will go to waste. Trees should be fertilized regularly. Once a year is ideal. Use a general garden fertilizer and mix it with some peatmoss or sand-half and half. With a crowbar or pipe make holes in the lawn right under the very ends of the branches. Punch the holes two feet deep and two feet apart. Into each hole pour a half cup of the fertilizer mix. Then refill the hole with a mixture of half soil and half peat. This'li do it. THERE'S ANOTHER way which some people find easier. The same holes are made - and there could be quite a number for a large tree. Instead of using dry fertilizer fer-tilizer mixed with peatmoss, you can put a cupful of liquid fertilizer. This is the kind that is completely soluble in water and is always diluted. Then refill the holes with a peat -soil mixture. You may find the tree or shrub responding quite quickly to the liquid fertilizer treatment because all the nutrition is right there and available to the roots. All tree feeding should be done just before the tree starts into its most active growth - in the North this would be spring. In the deep South this may come at a different time. FEEDING JUST before a surge of growth is a good rule to follow with all plants. Because fertilizing may bring on a surge of new growth, be on the watch for insects. Soft, succulent growth is a mighty nice meal for many bugs. At the first sign of suspected damage, it would be wise to control them. When you get at them early, before they start to multiply, one application of an aerosol like Raid Rose and Flower Spray often will do the job. A FINAL point on fertilizing vegetables. The term "side dressing" is often used in instructions for growing vegetables. vege-tables. " This means an application of fertilizer that is spread along the sides of the plants - when they are half grown - and cultivated into the soil. How much? Let's say that it would be a sprinkling that you can just barely see on the surface of the ground. But be sure to mix it into the soil with your cultivator. This gets it down to the roots. Also you can "side dress" with a liquid fertilizer. Then you will be watering and feeding at the same time. |