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Show Now is the Time To Fertilize Shrubs Western homeowners who have not yet fertilized their trees and shrubs should do so now. This advice comes from the western office of the National Plant Food Institute in San Francisco. Horticulturists with California and other western state extension exten-sion services point out that fertilizer fer-tilizer applications induce early growth and put plantings in better condition for early maturity. matur-ity. Fertilization also can help bring new vigor to trees and shrubs injured by insects or disease, dis-ease, or which show a general lack of vigor in sparse foliage, yellow leaves or die-back. To determine how much fertilizer fer-tilizer to apply, first measure the trunk diameter at a point from one to three feet above the ground. University of California Agricultural Extension Service recommends using a fertilizer containing nitrogen and applying apply-ing one-tenth to two-tenths lbs. actual nitrogen per inch of tree trunk diameter. In other words, a tree six inches in diameter will require frohm 0.6 pound to 1.2 pounds of actual nitrogen. Spread the fertilizer under the area shaded byth limbs, or place in several holes about four in. deep, scattered under the limb spread. Fertilize border shrubs and lawns with a good lawn and garden gar-den fertilizer at a rate of two to four pounds per 100 square feet of ground surface. A summer fertilizer application will help strengthen plants for winter and stimulate lush evergreen foliage for the cooler season. Homeowners can obtain more specific fertilizer recommendations recommenda-tions for tree sand shrubs from local fertilizers dealers or nurserymen. |
