Soil Management/ Fertility

One of the most important components of a properly designed plant health care program is regular fertilization and nutrient supplementation. Soil nutrient levels are usually extremely low in most urban landscape areas due to lack of naturally occurring organic matter, soil compaction and competition from turf grass. Fertilization is recommended as a basic treatment for the management of tree health. Additionally, plant stress due to temperature extremes, pollution and construction activities is significantly decreased by fertilization. Incorporation of organic material is accomplished by utilizing compost teas, humic acid, sea kelp and other organic materials. Healthy trees should be fertilized annually or biannually under normal circumstances, and semi-annually if conditions dictate or if soil testing reveals serious deficiencies. Trees that are in poor health (declining) or are severely weakened due to environmental or site (construction) stress should be fertilized as needed based on soil analysis. Soil fertility is improved when competition from turf is reduced and or eliminated. This is accomplished by establishing an area of mulch around the tree (out to the dripline if possible) and maintaining this area by regular and careful cultivation. This is a good way to incorporate organic material into the soil mix (usually performed with a pneumatic air tool) and improve soil fertility. All fertilization treatments are based on complete soil analysis and testing.