Simple, Surprising Tips for Tree Planting & Maintenance

(Page 2 of 2)

May/June 2007
Aubrey Vaughn 
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Q: Homeowners are often told to apply fertilizers to newly planted trees to promote their growth. You advise against this ? why?
A: Fertilization suppresses the natural defense systems. There's really strong evidence that the faster a tree grows, the lower the level of its defenses. Fertilization also makes trees more nutritious to insects. So insects feeding on fertilized trees grow faster, have higher survival rates, and lay more eggs. We found the same in our research of disease. Fertilization weakens the tree's defense response to diseases. Fertilization can even make the trees more susceptible to drought stress by decreasing the root/shoot ratio (by stimulating leaf growth, proportionally, more than root growth).


For tree planting tips and instructions, check out ' Home Landscaping,' from Mother Earth News magazine. The National Arbor Day Foundation will help you discover a wide selection of tree varieties, their specific growing needs and which trees grow best where.


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