How to Deep Root Fertilize Your Own Trees and Save Money

Save yourself some money. Deep root fertilize your own trees and shrubs.

Deep root fertilization of trees and shrubs involves applying a tree and shrub fertilizer in multiple locations under tree and shrub canopies. You can do this yourself with a good quality tree and shrub fertilizer and a shovel and knowing where to apply it and how deep.

It's not rocket science
You just have to remember a couple of things:

• apply the fertilizer no deeper than 12 inches
• apply the fertilizer where there is water

Desert Landscapes
Roots of trees and shrubs only grow where there is water. This means you're going to find the highest concentration of roots near drip emitters. The highest number of roots means more uptake of fertilizer by the plant. There is no need to apply fertilizer in dry areas between drip emitters.

Never apply fertilizer closer than 18 inches of the trunk of a tree or shrub.
In desert landscapes, make sure the fertilizer is applied within 18 inches of a drip emitter. The easiest way to figure this out is to run the irrigation system through a cycle and push a shovel into the soil to see if it is moist. Push the shovel into the soil the depth of a shovel, push the shovel forward and drop 1/4  cup of fertilizer in the hole and push it closed with your foot. Do two locations around each emitter. For small trees do this at one emitter.

Lawn Landscapes
Trees and shrubs growing in lawns makes it easier to apply fertilizers. The lawn grasses have improved the soil and it is constantly moist. Fertilizers can be applied anywhere in the lawn under the canopy of the trees and shrubs.

The fertilizer MUST be applied deep enough so it does not damage the lawn but not so deep that it bypasses tree and shrub roots. If the fertilizer is applied near the surface the lawn will be damaged at those spots by the high salt content of the fertilizer. (Fertilizers are salts).

Push the shovel 8 to 12 inches deep into the lawn. Push the shovel forward and drop 1/4 cup of fertilizer behind the shovel and into the hole. Close the hole by pushing the hole closed with your foot.

Space the fertilizer applications in concentric rings around the plant but no closer than 18 inches from the trunk or trunks. There should be a minimum of four application holes for small plants. Larger plants should have more, spaced about four feet apart under the canopy.

Iron sensitve plants? Dont forget to apply iron EDDHA chelate at the same time.

Viragrow Delivers!