Subject: Re: Fertilizing a 100 years old sugar maple?
From: <don@bio-organics.com>
Organization: Internet Access of Ventura County 805.383.3500
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 16:34:34 +0000
Message-ID: <MOD$970924.23299@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$970923.29264@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
dhs wrote:
>
> I have two sugar maples which are 100 years old in front of my house.
> Because of the road and a driveway, each tree has only roots under a
> quarter of its foliage. Despite that, they have survived. The foliage is
> not as dense as on a healthy tree, is it rather light in color, and the
> trees receive a lot of salt in the winter, as they are along the road. The
> town arborist suggests that I fertilize the trees. The way to do it is to
> make narrow holes in the soil (in order to not disturb the roots to much)
> and poor in some granular 10-6-4 with 50% organic matter, and water. I
> would like to use something organic, but obviousely, I cannot use manure in
> these small holes, and I cannot make much bigger holes. Is there an organic
> way to do this?
>
> Thanks for your help Lisa
There is a wonderful pelleted fish-based organic fertilizer made by
BioGro in Oregon. It is mostly the ground-up scraps of ocean fish after
the filets are removed, plus it has fish bone meal, feather meal, blood
meal, alfalfa meal, and natural sulfate of potash. You can get it in
either 9-3-5 or 7-7-2 formulas (the 9-3-5 was developed at Oregon
State's turf research facility for golf courses).
This is a very gradual-release fertilizer that won't burn roots or harm
beneficial soil organisms. Commercial orchardists are even putting it
in the planting holes of their bareroot trees. Your old maple should
love it.
If you can't find it at local stores yet, we mail-order the 7-7-2
product in either 5 lb. or 20 lb. packages. You could either E-mail me
or call our free order number 800-604-0444 for more information or a
sample.
(Not to be too commercial on this newsgroup, but I know this type of
good organic fertilizer is just not available many spots, and it would
be perfect for the situation described)
Don Chapman
Bio/Organics Supply Center
Camarillo CA
<http://www.bio-organics.com>