Fertilizer Question

[nurvbonsai]

hi,

I was under the impression that I could start fertilizing soon this spring but as of yesterday I had a different response from some club members. Unless I interpreted it incorrectly, some of them said the only time to really fertilize is in the fall so by spring time, the trees would’ve been in energy positive, storing the energy for spring of next year.

Can someone clarify?
Thanks

 

[Calnicky]

I fertilize starting right about now (late March). Everything is starting to wake up and I want my trees to have nutrition all growing season long. If you wait until fall, you'll end up with some very weak trees.

I've just started using the Rakuyu method (@Andrew Robson): micro dosing with MiracleGro. I am lucky enough to have underground cisterns that catch rain water. I pump that into two 50 gal. rain barrels and then add the MiracleGro (in solution so I get it all dissolved). Andrew uses 1/30 of the recommended dose on the box). That works out to about 2 tbsp per 50 gallons. As I say, I've just started using it, so I can't speak to results. But my previous haphazard method of fertilizing was leaving my trees in less than optimum condition.

Whatever you use, start now. Good growing!

 

[Paradox]

Depends on what species we are talking about and what stage of development they are in.

For trees in advanced development stages, ie trunk and nebari are at the point we want and we are doing branch development and refinement:

Some species we start fertilizer early in the spring, ie now. Ie: Japanese black pine, other 2 flush pines, junipers, azalea

Others we wait until spring growth is hardened off to prevent run away growth and prevent long internodes. Ie: Maples, mugo, scotts pine, Japanese white pine, other single flush pines.

Young trees in early development where we want lots of growth, start fertilizer in spring.

 

[Calnicky]

Young trees in early development where we want lots of growth, start fertilizer in spring.

That's me! I just like the process. If I get hold of a "finished" tree, I'm bored with it immediately.

 

[Paradox]

That's me! I just like the process. If I get hold of a "finished" tree, I'm bored with it immediately.

Perfectly fine. However "finished" does not mean "done".
A tree is never "finished" as your quotes imply that you are aware of. The focus of work changes as a tree develops.
Some would say a more developed tree actually requires more work to continue refinement and greater attention to detail keep it in that condition.

 

[nuttiest]

That's me! I just like the process. If I get hold of a "finished" tree, I'm bored with it immediately.

Me too - If it starts to look too done we can cut back to primaries

 

[nurvbonsai]

Depends on what species we are talking about and what stage of development they are in.

For trees in advanced development stages, ie trunk and nebari are at the point we want and we are doing branch development and refinement:

Some species we start fertilizer early in the spring, ie now. Ie: Japanese black pine, other 2 flush pines, junipers, azalea

Others we wait until spring growth is hardened off to prevent run away growth and prevent long internodes. Ie: Maples, mugo, scotts pine, Japanese white pine, other single flush pines.

Young trees in early development where we want lots of growth, start fertilizer in spring.

Primarily Junipers, Maple, Hornbeam, Redwood seedlings.

I was thinking of using oscomote.

 

[RoadManDenDron]

only time to really fertilize is in the fall so by spring time, the trees would’ve been in energy positive, storing the energy for spring of next year.

I do not think this is the case at all, I've never heard of anyone else doing this

 

[nurvbonsai]

Now comes the question.

 

[nurvbonsai]

Misunderstanding on my part, certainly.

I do not think this is the case at all, I've never heard of anyone else doing this

,

 

[Paradox]

Primarily Junipers, Maple, Hornbeam, Redwood seedlings.

I was thinking of using oscomote.

See my post above and determine what you have vs what I wrote.