We need expert
opinion soon about what to use as fertilizer for Greenway grass, bushes,
and trees. Your advice please.
opinion soon about what to use as fertilizer for Greenway grass, bushes,
and trees. Your advice please.
Greenway
grass
grass
Q. What is the
range of N-P-K in cow manure that some landscapers use for grass?
range of N-P-K in cow manure that some landscapers use for grass?
A. It’s really
not fair to compare cow manure to a fertilizer because it really isn’t. They
are using it more as a top dressing than as a fertilizer application. Manures
vary in fertilizer content but are generally about 4% nitrogen and usually low
in phosphorus and potassium. You should not rely on cow manure as a fertilizer.
The fertilizer should be applied separately from a cow manure. An inexpensive
fertilizer for starting plants and getting root growth from seeds, seedlings or
newly planted trees and shrubs is 16-20-0 or DAP (18-46-0).
not fair to compare cow manure to a fertilizer because it really isn’t. They
are using it more as a top dressing than as a fertilizer application. Manures
vary in fertilizer content but are generally about 4% nitrogen and usually low
in phosphorus and potassium. You should not rely on cow manure as a fertilizer.
The fertilizer should be applied separately from a cow manure. An inexpensive
fertilizer for starting plants and getting root growth from seeds, seedlings or
newly planted trees and shrubs is 16-20-0 or DAP (18-46-0).
Q. What inorganic
fertilizer would you recommend and the amount/acre?
fertilizer would you recommend and the amount/acre?
A. For
turfgrass you should never apply more than 1 pound of nitrogen every 1000 ft.²
or 43 pounds of nitrogen per acre. In my opinion, this is excessive and should
be closer to 1/2 pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet or 22 pounds of
nitrogen per acre. This would be for inexpensive, quick release agricultural
nitrogen fertilizers. If you are applying more expensive horticultural
fertilizers that contains slow release nitrogen, then you can bump it up. How
much to bump it up depends on what percentage of the nitrogen is slow release
in the fertilizer.
turfgrass you should never apply more than 1 pound of nitrogen every 1000 ft.²
or 43 pounds of nitrogen per acre. In my opinion, this is excessive and should
be closer to 1/2 pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet or 22 pounds of
nitrogen per acre. This would be for inexpensive, quick release agricultural
nitrogen fertilizers. If you are applying more expensive horticultural
fertilizers that contains slow release nitrogen, then you can bump it up. How
much to bump it up depends on what percentage of the nitrogen is slow release
in the fertilizer.
Q. Use 10-10-10
at 500lbs/acre maybe?
at 500lbs/acre maybe?
A. The
fertilizer you mention has 10% nitrogen. It is not a good turfgrass fertilizer
but it’s fine for trees and shrubs. In fact, turfgrass fertilizers are fine for
trees and shrubs as well. The best turfgrass fertilizers are in the ratio of
3-1-2 or 4-1-2. An example would be 21-7-14, a 3-1-2 fertilizer. To apply 1
pound of nitrogen requires 10 pounds of fertilizer. Using your fertilizer you
would apply 430 pounds of the fertilizer to get 43 pounds of applied nitrogen.
Like I said, I think this is excessive and you will not see the difference once
you exceed three quarters of a pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet or
about 33 pounds of nitrogen per acre. In fact, if you apply 1 pound of nitrogen
per thousand square feet it will push turfgrass growth quite rapidly.
fertilizer you mention has 10% nitrogen. It is not a good turfgrass fertilizer
but it’s fine for trees and shrubs. In fact, turfgrass fertilizers are fine for
trees and shrubs as well. The best turfgrass fertilizers are in the ratio of
3-1-2 or 4-1-2. An example would be 21-7-14, a 3-1-2 fertilizer. To apply 1
pound of nitrogen requires 10 pounds of fertilizer. Using your fertilizer you
would apply 430 pounds of the fertilizer to get 43 pounds of applied nitrogen.
Like I said, I think this is excessive and you will not see the difference once
you exceed three quarters of a pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet or
about 33 pounds of nitrogen per acre. In fact, if you apply 1 pound of nitrogen
per thousand square feet it will push turfgrass growth quite rapidly.
Q. How many times
per year and which month(s)?
per year and which month(s)?
A. For tall
fescue turfgrass I would apply nitrogen four times a year; Labor Day, Memorial
Day, Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. During the hot summer months I would
always make sure you do not exceed 1/2 pound of nitrogen per thousand square
feet or you could end up with some burning if people are not careful. If you
are using mulching mowers you can skip the Fourth of July application. If you
are using mulching mowers you should never exceed 1/2 pound of nitrogen per
thousand square feet in a single application.
fescue turfgrass I would apply nitrogen four times a year; Labor Day, Memorial
Day, Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. During the hot summer months I would
always make sure you do not exceed 1/2 pound of nitrogen per thousand square
feet or you could end up with some burning if people are not careful. If you
are using mulching mowers you can skip the Fourth of July application. If you
are using mulching mowers you should never exceed 1/2 pound of nitrogen per
thousand square feet in a single application.
Q. Should a
roller of punchers be used immediately after fertilizing?
roller of punchers be used immediately after fertilizing?
A.I assume you
mean aeration. Core aeration can be done any time of the year and does not
really relate to a fertilizer application. The only exception might be when you
are applying a high phosphorus
fertilizer.
mean aeration. Core aeration can be done any time of the year and does not
really relate to a fertilizer application. The only exception might be when you
are applying a high phosphorus
fertilizer.
Q. Should organic
fertilizer (cow manure) even be used to fertilize grass?
fertilizer (cow manure) even be used to fertilize grass?
A. Cow manure
is not a fertilizer.
is not a fertilizer.
Bushes
Q. What inorganic
fertilizer (N-P-K) would you recommend and the amount/bush?
fertilizer (N-P-K) would you recommend and the amount/bush?
A. Turfgrass fertilizers in the ratio I
mention above are good for most trees and shrubs. You would apply this
fertilizer in the very early spring or late winter. The amount to apply is
similar to the amount you would apply to turfgrass but is calculated under the
canopy area of trees and shrubs. A small tree that occupies 100 ft.² of canopy
space would get 1/10 of a pound of nitrogen. A tree that had 1000 ft.² under
its canopy would get 1 pound of nitrogen. The driver of growth for trees,
shrubs and turfgrass is nitrogen.
mention above are good for most trees and shrubs. You would apply this
fertilizer in the very early spring or late winter. The amount to apply is
similar to the amount you would apply to turfgrass but is calculated under the
canopy area of trees and shrubs. A small tree that occupies 100 ft.² of canopy
space would get 1/10 of a pound of nitrogen. A tree that had 1000 ft.² under
its canopy would get 1 pound of nitrogen. The driver of growth for trees,
shrubs and turfgrass is nitrogen.
Q. Applied dry,
or liquid, in the gravel around bushes?
or liquid, in the gravel around bushes?
A. Dry
fertilizers are applied near the irrigation source. If trees and shrubs are
irrigated by sprinklers, then you distribute the fertilizer so that the
sprinklers pushed the water into the rootzone. If these are drip irrigated, it
is applied in the soil next to the drip emitters and the water carries a
fertilizer into the rootzone. If you are applying a liquid fertilizer to the
foliage obviously you have to wait for the foliage to appear in the spring to
make an application. If this is a liquid fertilizer applied to the soil and
make the application close to the drip emitters within a few inches under the
mulch or under the turfgrass. Never apply a fertilizer to trees and shrubs deeper
than about six or 8 inches. Fertilizer spikes are convenient but expensive.
Liquid applications to the foliage last about 4 to 8 weeks. Dry fertilizers
applied to the soil last longer if that’s important.
fertilizers are applied near the irrigation source. If trees and shrubs are
irrigated by sprinklers, then you distribute the fertilizer so that the
sprinklers pushed the water into the rootzone. If these are drip irrigated, it
is applied in the soil next to the drip emitters and the water carries a
fertilizer into the rootzone. If you are applying a liquid fertilizer to the
foliage obviously you have to wait for the foliage to appear in the spring to
make an application. If this is a liquid fertilizer applied to the soil and
make the application close to the drip emitters within a few inches under the
mulch or under the turfgrass. Never apply a fertilizer to trees and shrubs deeper
than about six or 8 inches. Fertilizer spikes are convenient but expensive.
Liquid applications to the foliage last about 4 to 8 weeks. Dry fertilizers
applied to the soil last longer if that’s important.
Q. How many times
per year and which month(s)?
per year and which month(s)?
A. Most trees
and shrubs will require a single application of a fertilizer to the soil during
the months of December through about March. In a pinch you could go as late as
April. Some plants tend to get yellow due to iron chlorosis or a lack of
available iron. Usually a single application of an iron fertilizer that
contains the chelate EDDHA is enough to keep them from yellowing. If these
plants have been yellowing and are in poor condition for several years, this
will probably not work in correcting a severe problem. The iron fertilizer
should be applied at the same time as the other fertilizers, in early spring or
late winter.
and shrubs will require a single application of a fertilizer to the soil during
the months of December through about March. In a pinch you could go as late as
April. Some plants tend to get yellow due to iron chlorosis or a lack of
available iron. Usually a single application of an iron fertilizer that
contains the chelate EDDHA is enough to keep them from yellowing. If these
plants have been yellowing and are in poor condition for several years, this
will probably not work in correcting a severe problem. The iron fertilizer
should be applied at the same time as the other fertilizers, in early spring or
late winter.
Tall
trees
trees
Q. What inorganic
fertilizer (N-P-K) would you recommend and the amount/tree?
fertilizer (N-P-K) would you recommend and the amount/tree?
A. You can use a good turfgrass fertilizer
for most tall trees and shrubs. To be effective this fertilizer should be
applied close to a source of water for the trees so that it is washed into the
rootzone. It should not be applied deeper than 6 to 8 inches in the soil. Other
fertilizers in ratios like 1-1-1 are also okay but the high phosphorus of the
middle number is really not needed unless these are flowering trees.
for most tall trees and shrubs. To be effective this fertilizer should be
applied close to a source of water for the trees so that it is washed into the
rootzone. It should not be applied deeper than 6 to 8 inches in the soil. Other
fertilizers in ratios like 1-1-1 are also okay but the high phosphorus of the
middle number is really not needed unless these are flowering trees.
Q. Applied dry,
or liquid, near the end of branches around trees?
or liquid, near the end of branches around trees?
A. Fertilizer
is fertilizer whether it is applied dry or liquid. The amount of nitrogen
applied per tree is what is critical. Liquid fertilizers applied to the foliage
are short lived. Dry or liquid fertilizers applied to the soil last longer. For
this reason if you feed plants through the foliage you will have to do it more
often. If you feed plants through the soil as soil applications you would just
do it once a year in most cases for general purpose areas. You do not have to “deep
root” fertilize if it will cost more to do it.
is fertilizer whether it is applied dry or liquid. The amount of nitrogen
applied per tree is what is critical. Liquid fertilizers applied to the foliage
are short lived. Dry or liquid fertilizers applied to the soil last longer. For
this reason if you feed plants through the foliage you will have to do it more
often. If you feed plants through the soil as soil applications you would just
do it once a year in most cases for general purpose areas. You do not have to “deep
root” fertilize if it will cost more to do it.
Q. How many times
per year and which month(s)?
per year and which month(s)?
A. Once per
year is enough in the very early spring just before new growth or not long
after it begins.
year is enough in the very early spring just before new growth or not long
after it begins.