Evening star., 1938-07-02
Trees Thrive
Best if Fed
Properly,
Balanced Mixture
Applied to Roots
Recommended.
BY THE MASTER GARDENER.

recommended.
BY THE MASTER GARDENER.
MUCH has been said and written
of late regarding the many bene.
fits to be derived from the feeding Of
trees, but, even 50, many gardeners
who have not heretofore been aware
OF the necessity Of feeding their trees
to preserve them and increase their
beauty, do not have a clear conception
OF the proper method of feeding. So
list below questions that are ire.
quently asked me about tree feeding,
1. What are the symptoms which de-.
note lack Of nourishment In the
soil?
Thin. scanty, foliage with under.
sized leaves of poor color; tins of
branches which have died back; pres.
ence OF many dead branches in the
trees. and short annual twig growth
are all symptoms which denote under.
nourishment. Also. If your trees fall
an easy prey to every bug, blight and
disease that comes along, it NAV be
That they are suffering from malnu-
triton.
z. What kind Of plant food shall
use?
BY all means use a complete, bal.
anced plant food Such a plant food
is Immediately available to the tree
and 1t furnishes nourishment that
makes for balanced, healthy growth.
3. When is the best time to feed:
Authorities agree that trees can Be
fed at any time during the year, unless
the ground is frozen. Il spring or
summer feeding Is not convenient, a
good time is late fall. after trees are
dormant.
4. Does feeding increase resistance to
insects and disease attacks: Also
resistance to drought:
A research worker in one Of our
leading midwest universities saws:
One Of the few points in the culture
OF trees and shrubs upon which all
authorities agree Is that adequate
fertilization and care will do much to
eliminate repair problems Whether
trees be newly planted or old and
established, this statement holds true.
The vigorous. healthy tree, with its
greater vitality. its increased recuper.
ative powers, its more active growth,
VIII be able to overcome and resist
certain insect and disease attacks and
be better able to heal over wounds
completely before decay sets in"
Another authority, an entomolosist
OF q leading eastern university, SAYS:
valuable trees should be fed proper
fertilizers to keep them in vigorous
condition and to prevent killing Of
branches in which bark beetles, that
help to spread disease, may breed"
Moreover. he says. strong, healthy.
vigorous trees are better able to With.
stand infection by disease.
A publication Of a prominent mid.
west botanical garden says: 1T Is
well known that the undernourished
tree most generally falls prey to the
ever-present enemies. The declining
tree cannot resist borer attacks; nor
can it withstand dry weather: nor can
1t sacrifice any more Of its few yellow
leaves during q caterpillar invasion.
A wel-fed tree will require much less
water than Its starving neighbors. To
the tree owner In the Middle West, this
last feature, always associated with
feeding. Is worth the expense involved
and cannot be overemphasised."
5. How can compute amount Of plant
food necessary to feed any given
In figuring the requirements Of q
tree. allow pound Of complete food to
each inch of circumference Of the
trunk, measuring the trunk 1 feet
above the ground.
6. What is the best method Of appli.
cation?
Since the main feeding roots of the
tree extend out in . circle equivalent
to the circle made by the drip of the
branches. this is the proper place to
apply the plant food. Make q series
Of holes. 2 inches in diameter and
about 10 inches deep, under the drip
Of the branches. in Mgzag fashion.
The holes can be made best with 4
ground auger but . crowbar or other
pointed devise can be satisfactorily
used. Fill the holes half full Of the
complete plant food and complete MI.
ing with soil
Not only shade trees, but the orna.
mental towering types as well a
fruit trees benefit greatly from feeding.