ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 31, 1995 TAG: 9601030003
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: DEAR JOHN
SOURCE: JOHN ARBOGAST
Q: What is the proper way to fertilize trees? K.J., Collinsville
A: This answer assumes that you already know when to fertilize and that the trees you want to fertilize already are growing rather than ones you plan to plant.
Fertilizers can be applied to benefit trees by the indirect method of lawn fertilization for trees and shrubs located in a turf area, or by direct methods including:
The most cost-effective method; scatter the fertilizer on the soil or turf in the amount of twice the branch spread;
Subsurface application, which can be drilling holes which are filled with granular fertilizers, soil injection by a tree company, or using fertilizer stakes or spikes that are pounded into the ground;
Liquid fertilizer applied to the leaves, a method used to temporarily correct micronutrient deficiencies;
The potentially risky method used by tree companies of injecting and implanting nutrients into roots or trunks;
Fertigation, a method used by tree growers in which fertilizers are mixed in irrigation water.
Q: This past spring we planted a Norway and a red maple, each about 6 to 7 feet tall. This summer's periodical cicada (locust) attack hit them hard. I had to remove most of the Norway's branches and about half of its trunk. As for the red, I only had to remove branches; they didn't attack the trunk. Both trees continued to grow new replacement branches with leaves aggressively throughout the summer. Should I dig these trees up and start over?
My hope is that I can just leave them where they are and they'll eventually grow back to normal. K.P., Troutville
A: There's no clear-cut answer to this. Because 17-year locust damage occurs fairly early in the growing season and both trees seemed to recover well, which means that the roots were probably growing well and getting acclimated in their new locations, I suggest giving both trees one more year before removing them and starting again. You'll probably need to prune the recovering maples to thin out crowded shoots and give them a sturdy trunk and branch system.
Reader response
This from W.E. Clinton of Huddleston:
"This is about your article (of Nov. 26) regarding the control of slugs. Perhaps the following might be helpful."
"This past September while walking around the shrub area of my home, I almost overlooked a box turtle (woods turtle) in my path. Upon closer examination I noticed that he had consumed about half of a slug/snail. I returned about 10 minutes later and could not find a trace of either of them anywhere. I had a general idea of what these turtles ate but never thought of snails."
Gardeners' checklist
Jobs for early January:
Root cuttings from old potted geranium plants so you will have new vigorous plants to set out in May;
Review garden catalogs for new vegetable varieties with improved insect and/or disease resistance and also drought tolerance.
Send short questions about your lawn, garden, plants, or insects to Dear John, c/o the Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491. We need your mail, but this column can't reply to all letters. Those of wide appeal will be answered during the weeks that the subject is timely. Personal replies cannot be given. please don't send stamps, stamped envelopes, samples or pictures.
John Arbogast is the agricultural and natural resources extension agent for Roanoke.
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