Any Arborists Here? Have a question

asphaltgambler · 05-31-2019, 04:41 AM

I'm working on saving a mature Pin- Oak tree. It was damaged 2+ years ago from lightning and 1 part of the main trunk was destroyed.

I have planted fertilizer spikes @2 months ago when the weather was breaking. Recently I had a guy prune off all of the dead branches.

It seems to be doing better, more foliage than last year.

Question is do I add additional fertilizer spikes in July? If so what brand / kind / chemical makeup?

BTW, I live in northern Va and we get all 4 seasons. Late July / August is very hot, humid usually

KFC911 · 05-31-2019, 04:47 AM

Can ya post a pic? Not a tree guy....been around 'em and planted some. Willow Oaks fer the rest of y'all

.....

Pin Oaks all of MY life...

KFC911 · 05-31-2019, 05:01 AM

How mature? Now that I think about it...my dad planted a bunch when I was a kid....huge now. One was severely damaged mebbe 10 yrs ago...cut away the dead/damage....give mother nature time to do what you can't....fix it.
Now ya don't notice it....

Big azz trees....

I planted one the Fri before Mathew's straight line winds decided nope....sat it back...tied it up. Sooo....removed the lines a few months back....tree is mebbe 15' now....healthy ....
well...she was bent over at about 3' at a 90 degree angle....staked again...beotch

Hardy, big beautiful trees....

I have never fertilized trees...nature does.

asphaltgambler · 05-31-2019, 05:05 AM

asphaltgambler · 05-31-2019, 05:06 AM

Don't know age but would guess 30 + years

MBAtarga · 05-31-2019, 05:08 AM

Over fertilization will kill a healthy tree.
Google search - For all trees and shrubs:
If needed, the best time to fertilize is late April or early May, or late fall once plants are dormant. The recommended fertilizer should be spread evenly across the soil surface. The amount of actual nitrogen applied should be 3 pounds (lbs) per 1,000 square feet.

Do not assume trees damaged during storms will benefit from a fertilizer application. In most cases they will not, and the fertilizer will inhibit the tree's ability to recover. ... Trees generally don't need more than 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of root area per year.

KFC911 · 05-31-2019, 05:13 AM

Is that the way it is now and all the dead/damage removed? Just takes time....it'll recover imo. My dad's are probably 50 yrs old now.....sux when a huge one gets damaged. Ice storms usually do the most damage here...
Good luck!

KFC911 · 05-31-2019, 05:15 AM

Don't fertilize....that's a beautiful spread....mama nature's got this

drkshdw · 05-31-2019, 06:41 AM

You could maybe top the tree to get another 5 or 10 years out of it but IMHO it's too far gone to try and save.

And like others have said, trees don't need any more ferts than what you put on the grass. Just leaving the clippings on the lawn is enough to 'fertilize' a healthy mature tree.

Baz · Baz's Garage

I wouldn't use spikes.

Find a balanced ratio granular with a decent micro package and slow release technology and lightly broad cast that under the canopy footprint.

Then watch what happens - in other words, observe - what impact your feeding has on your tree.

If it results in new growth then you know you're on the right track with your feeding method.

How often to feed any living plant depends on different factors but I would say twice a year would be a good starting point in your case. Everything is up for adjustments depending on different factors though, like I said.

This is just my opinion.

You could always contact your extension office for their input, as well.

Nice looking tree. Thanks for your care of it. Best wishes going forward....

VincentVega · 05-31-2019, 08:15 AM

We used to fertilize trees in the fall, similar method to what Baz suggests.

How To Fertilize Shade Trees

vash · vash's Garage

i see company trucks driving around. they are full of this kelp derived fertilizer. they roll out onto the property and pump the stuff into the ground around the drip line of the tree.

i see them headed out to wineries all the time. perhaps this is how the "other half" fertilizes a tree..i just spread out granules.
but full dislosure, i am half tempted to change my user name to "dark-brn thumb".

asphaltgambler · 05-31-2019, 11:43 AM

Thanks all. The pix are from this morning. You can see from second pic that the area in the middle where there is lack of trunk / foliage was the 3rd main trunk that was felled after the storm 2 years ago.

I did have a couple of 'experts' give some free advice of which I have followed. 1 thing they agreed on was NOT to top it. That would kill it. Also all agreed to let tiny 'sucker' branches grow as long there were live leads.

I did put the spikes which are supposed to be slow releasing in circle under fringe of the canopy

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

call Ag. Ext. agent for your county - they are very helpful & it is your tax money