Dogwood Tree Care Fertilizer

Liquid or dry organic fertilizers are gentle formulations that will feed the dogwood and surrounding soil over time but are compromised of all natural ingredients.

Dogwood tree care fertilizer. A dogwood tree planted in clay soil will eventually rot and die as it will hold water for too long. Nitrogen provides the basic structure. Be careful when fertilizing a young dogwood tree many newly planted trees are killed by applying too much fertilizer. For this reason it is often safest to hold off on fertilizing until your tree is in its second season.

It is best to let a newly planted dogwood grow on its own for the first year. Be sure to avoid the trunk of the tree as you scatter the fertilizer over the ground. Start this fertilization process with two pounds of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter. The soil quality shouldn t be too sandy nor should it be heavy clay.

Before you apply any fertilizer for dogwoods it is a good idea to test your soil and see what nutrients it lacks and if the ph is suited to your plant. Proper dogwood care will bring these lovely trees to their height of beauty. You can test the ph of your soil easily with a kit purchased at the nursery or online. Closely examine the leaves.

After the first year. Not all dogwood trees will require fertilizer but if you notice pale or sparse leaves or short twig growth all of those are signs that fertilization is necessary. Adding a generous amount of mulch will help retain the water and cut down on watering tasks. If the soil is not acidic you can use an acid lover s fertilizer suitable for such plants as rhododendron and holly.

Fertilize the tree with a water based fertilizer during spring and summer months. Dogwood is a species of deciduous flowering tree well known for its shallow spreading root systems and sensitivity to fertilizer and soil moisture. The abundance of nitrogen denoted by the first number reflects this element s importance to the tree. If you have an established dogwood that you feel would benefit from fertilization have your soil tested to determine the best course of action.

How to grow dogwood trees. Once established water the tree at least up to six inches. Water the tree regularly during the initial months and hot spells. Dogwood trees need well drained humus soil that is ideally slightly acidic.

Therefore when caring for dogwood trees this should be considered carefully before placement in the landscape. In their natural habitat dogwoods are understory trees which are generally surrounded or protected by other larger trees. Young trees are often killed by gardeners eager to boost growth with too much fertilizer.