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If you have a spruce tree, you should know how to properly fertilize it. Plan to fertilize in the early spring or late fall. Apply the fertilizer at a rate of one pound for every 3 feet of tree height. Till the soil near the base of the tree, taking care not to damage the roots. Dig holes in a circle around the tree.
What’s the best fertilizer for spruce trees?
Spruce trees do not have very high phosphorous needs and benefit most form an acidic fertilizer designed for evergreens or a high-nitrogen fertilizer with a formula like 12-6-4 or 10-8-6. Organic fertilizer options include compost, fish emulsion, cottonseed meal and alfalfa meal.
How much fertilizer does a spruce tree need?
For instance a spruce that measures 5 feet across would cover 25 square feet. A common “maintenance rate” of fertilizer is two to four pounds actual nitrogen per thousand square feet of soil surface, applied every two to four years. For mature, slower growing trees, one pound of actual nitrogen is probably enough.
Should I fertilize new spruce trees?
Newly planted evergreens respond very well to fertilizing. Either granular, liquid or stake type fertilizers can be used. Granular fertilizers can be worked into the soil around the plant at a rate of 2 lbs or 2 pints per 100 square feet of planting bed.
When should I fertilize my blue spruce trees?
The best time to fertilize a blue spruce tree is during the spring season prior to the flush of growth. Do not fertilize the tree in late summer as the tender new growth becomes susceptible to damage during the fall frost.
What is the best fertilizer for blue spruce trees?
Slow-release granular fertilizer is the best choice and should be used near the root zone. To prevent burning from the fertilizer, you want to add two inches of water around the trunk. These spruce trees do not need to be pruned.
Do evergreen trees need to be fertilized?
Generally speaking, evergreen trees don’t require as much fertilizing as their deciduous cousins. Fertilizer will help promote healthier, stronger trees and even propel them to grow a little faster. However, you have to make sure that you apply just enough fertilizer and at the right times.
Can you use Miracle Grow on spruce trees?
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE PLANTS. Fertilizing: We recommend you fertilize all your shrubs, evergreens, trees, groundcover, and perennials once every 3 weeks. We suggest you use Miracle-Gro, a water-soluble fertilizer, or Milorganite, a granular fertilizer.
Are coffee grounds good for spruce trees?
Will a homemade pine tree or evergreen tree fertilizer work? For example, adding coffee grounds or organic matter around your evergreens’ soil is a good place to start if you need to increase your soil’s acidity.
Is Miracle Grow good for evergreens?
If you have a variety of trees and shrubs in your garden, you can use an all-purpose plant food like Miracle-Gro® Shake n Feed® Flowering Trees & Shrubs Plant Food, which will feed for up to 3 months. Miracle-Gro® also has tree spikes specially formulated for evergreens and fruit and citrus trees.
Do evergreens need nitrogen?
In general, evergreens need 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of soil surface every two to four years to maintain growth. Mature or slow-growing evergreens require about 1 pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of soil surface every two to four years.
Is Epsom salt good for evergreens?
According to the Epsom Salt Council, Epsom salt increases the production of chlorophyll and helps plants grow bushier. Use 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt for evergreen shrubs, and 2 tablespoons for evergreen trees.
Are spruce trees acid loving?
The first problem is acidic soil. Spruce and pine needles have a pH of about 4.5-5, over a full point lower than the optimum 6-6.5 range of most plants. To us 1-2 pH points may not seem like much, but to flora it’s a deal-breaker. A 50′ spruce tree requires a staggering amount of water.
How do you help spruce trees grow faster?
Sprinkle a fertilizer around the base of the tree. Use a 10-8-6 quick-release formulation during April, May, June or early July. Between July 15 and October 15, choose a slow-release 10-8-6 fertilizer instead, so that you do not encourage too much growth before winter.
Are evergreens acid loving plants?
Whether an evergreen plant prefers alkaline or acidic soil is dependent upon the variety; however, the majority of species do best with slightly acidic to acidic soils.
How do you take care of a spruce tree?
Spruce trees require full sun, adequate water and fertilizer to grow. Plant spruce trees as specimen trees or as an effective windbreak. With basic care, a spruce tree should thrive for years. Provide supplemental water for a spruce tree if less than 1 inch of rain falls within a one-week period.
How do I make my blue spruce more blue?
Apply a chelated iron-rich fertilizer if a blue spruce develops a yellow or yellow-green color. A shortage of iron will cause the needles of a blue spruce to lose their blue coloration. The fertilizer will replace the depleted iron and help the needles regain their blue color.
How do you keep a blue spruce healthy?
Light and Water Needs. Colorado blue spruce thrives in full sun but also grows in partial shade. Once established, the tree needs a medium amount of water, with a deep soaking every two or three weeks. Even though the tree likes the soil to remain moist, especially while it’s still young, it’s also tolerant of drought.
How do you keep blue spruce blue?
Instead, giving the tree the best care possible will give you the edge on keeping a blue spruce blue. First, be sure to give your tree a full sun location with good drainage in an appropriate hardiness zone. Next, give it sufficient water to keep the soil moist, plus an extra inch (2.5 cm.)Aug 31, 2020.
