| Fall may have the slight edge
over the spring for fertilizing. But no matter when you
fertilize,
how can you know if you should fertilize at all?
If your
mature trees appear healthy and
have never been fertilized, don't start now. If it ain't broke, don't
fix
it! And don't fertilize simply because you think it's the
right thing
to do.
Instead,
look for signs of malnutrition.
Is the foliage light green and the annual shoot growth poor? Is there
an
excessive amount of dead wood on the tree? Is the foliage sparse? If
so,
the plant may benefit from some fertilizer application.
Fertilize
the trees in the fall after the
leaves drop or in
early spring before
the buds begin to swell but after the ground has thawed.
|
Source:
Dr.
Robert Gough, Montana State University Extension
Horticultural Specialist.
(406)
994-6523.
|
