Fertilizing Your Trees and Bushes

An extremely common question we receive is "What fertilizer should I apply to my trees or seedlings?"

Our official answer is this:

We do not provide recommendations on fertilizing seedling trees, as proper fertilization depends on many complex variables, including soil composition, tree species, local climate, and existing nutrient levels. When done incorrectly, fertilization can do more harm than good — in fact, over-fertilizing or using the wrong type of fertilizer is one of the fastest ways to damage or kill a young tree. For the health and success of your seedlings, we strongly recommend consulting with a local arborist or extension service who can assess your specific conditions and provide tailored guidance.

Our "more common sense / human" answer is this:

We actually don't know a ton about fertilizing trees.    We don't do it on the nursery side and don't do it much in our personal planting either.    I have absolutely nothing against it, it's just that I believe that the single three most critical items when raising a healthy tree or bush are below.    Fertilizing would be much further down the list.   Some people live by it, but I've killed more than my fair share of plants and trees with fertilizer in my life.

•  Proper planting - nice big hole with roots spread out.  

•  Water well the first year or two when it's dry.

•  Keep critters (mice, rabbits, deer) away so the tree can grow 

On the rare occasion when we do fertilize things we use a balanced fertilizer.  A 10-10-10 fertilizer provides a balanced supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential for healthy tree growth. It supports root development, foliage growth, and overall tree health. For trees, it can be beneficial in replenishing soil nutrients depleted during the growing season and promoting stronger root systems for winter resilience.  

I hate tree spikes and other things that concentrate the fertilizer in a small area.

As always - do your own research prior to applying any fertilizer.