Fertilizing Evergreens in Winter

Evergreens in Winter

Gardening is a simple and nice hobby. If you are not familiar and this is your first step with gardening then you might find it a bit difficult. But, fear not as it doesn\’t last forever. You will get a grasps of gardening in no time. Overall, gardening is a very enjoying activity, which you will truly appreciate as soon as you know what you\’re doing.

Plants are grown in different seasons, depending on what plants we\’re talking about. During the winter season, evergreens plants such as pines, junipers and hollies offer colors and attractiveness to your landscape. Plus, the evergreens need little care as they usually fertilize their own soil by dropping leaves or needles that contain nutrients. However, evergreens still need winter boost of fertilizer and care from you. Here are the steps on how to fertilize evergreens in winter.

You will need:

  1. Shovel
  2. Mature compost
  3. Garden rake
  4. Evergreen fertilizer spikes

Steps:

  1. First, check your tree to find the longest branch. Find the spot on the ground that corresponds with the end of this branch as this marks where the fertilizer should be applied. This is the place where most of the new root growth happens and where the fertilizer will function the best.
  2. Then, drive an evergreen fertilizer spike into the ground every 4 feet along the edge of your tree\’s drip line. You can find those in most garden stores.
  3. The function of these spikes is that they release the fertilizer very slowly into the soil. You can use the spikes before the first frost or in mid October. The fertilizer will release slowly throughout the winter.
  4. Next, mulch each evergreen with a 2 to 3 inch layer of mature compost. Start inside the drip line and drop handfuls of compost in a circular band to about 1 foot from the evergreens base.
  5. The compost\’s natural nutrients will help to promote winter root growth and help to support new growth in the spring. The soil will be kept warm by the mulch especially during the cold winters.
  6. Then, rake the mulch smoothly with a garden rake. Make sure that the layer is even all the way around. You don\’t have to water the evergreens.
  7. Late season growth can happen by excess root stimulation and prevent the evergreens from going dormant soon enough.

Gardening is a fun activity to do, but there\’s a lot that we have to know before we plunge into this nice hobby. There are many things to learn about gardening. If you fancied evergreen plants then now you know how to fertilize them well before planting. By following the steps above, you will be able to fertilize evergreen plants well. Fertilizing is important to ensure the plants grow well during their growth season.

Image Credit:

Flickr CC

Additional Reading:

Ask Ciscoe: Oh, la, la! Your Gardening Questions Answered

Introductory Horticulture