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By DIANE RELF
Extension Consumer Horticulturist
Many homeowners recognize the value of fertilizing trees and shrubs in their landscapes, yet they become confused when confronted with the variety of fertilizers available.
Also confusing can be directions that give application rates in pounds of nutrient per acre when only one tree is to be fertilized.
Compressed fertilizer spikes, tablets and briquettes have been attractive to these gardens because they simplify the process. A premeasured amount of fertilizer is formed into a larger dispensing unit that can be applied according to homeowner’s directions on a “so many per plant” or “so many per certain number of square feet” basis.
Cost More, But Are
Easier To Use
What consumers need to be aware of is the trade off in increased price when using convenience fertilizers. While convenience fertilizers are easier and less time consuming to apply, the same amount of fertilizer is almost always less expensive if purchased in bulk as a granular material.
At a local garden center, one of the best known convenience fertilizers is selling for an average of $4.50 for five spikes or $10 for 12 spikes, a range of 83 cents to 90 cents per spike. Its label says it is 16-8-8, (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium), so based on the 16 percent nitrogen, and the fact that each spike weighs approximately 5.2 ounces, the .8ounces of nitrogen per spike makes the cost of the actual nitrogen approximately $1.04 per ounce or $16.64 per pound.
By comparison, in a common granular 10-10-10 fertilizer which would have 10 percent nitrogen or five pounds of nitrogen in a 50-pound bag. based on an average price of $9 for a 50-pound bag, an ounce of acutal nitrogen costs approximately 11 cents per ounce or $1.80 per pound. Based on these prices a consumer pays a price 10 times higher for the same amount of nitrogen fertilizer when buring the spike’s convenience.
Understand the Root System
To Use Fertilizer
qp Recent studies show that plant roots typically extend far beyond the drip line. Since most of these roots are fine feeder roots that absorb water and nitrients for the plant, fertilization should not be confined within the drip-line. The “2 inches below soil level” recommended for spikes would place them right in the major area of root concentration.
Broadcasting fertilizer on the soil surface under trees and shrubs has been shown to be as effective as deeper placement. Though grass roots do get a large portion of the fertilizer, there generally is an adequate amount left for trees.
If a homeowner routinely tests the soil and applies the amount of fertilizer needed for good grass growth, additional fertilizer for.
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