Fertilizing Trees, Shrubs and Lawns

March is the magic month for fertilizing everything that you want to see grow, flourish, and bloom…

If you fertilize your lawn and garden plants during March...they will respond better then, than at any other time of the year.

For shrubs…

You should use about a quarter of a pound of a complete fertilizer per square yard of area covered by the plant. A quarter pound of fertilizer is equal to about a half cup and a complete fertilizer is one such as 8-8-8 .

Distribute the fertilizer around the plant, but don't let the fertilizer touch the stems of the plants and don't apply it in bands around the plant.

Trees need plant food, too.

Apply one pound of a complete fertilizer such as 8-8-8 or equivalent for every year of the tree's life. The fertilizer should be put in holes that are about eight to twelve inches deep. The holes should begin about four feet from the trunk of the tree and they should extend beyond the spread of the branches. The holes should be in series of rings around the tree. The rings should be about four feet apart and the holes should be about five feet apart.

Looking at lawns.

If you want lush dark green lawn grass, you're going to have to fertilize it. You will need to apply about 20 pounds of a complete fertilizer for every thousand square feet of lawn. Don't apply the fertilizer when the grass is wet. However, after you've distributed the fertilizer, water the lawn to wash the fertilizer into the soil and to keep it from burning the leaves of the grass.

For more information on fertilizing trees, shrubs, and lawns, contact your local County Extension Office.