Tell me what fertilizer I need

   / Tell me what fertilizer I need #1  

1930

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Sep 9, 2018
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Location
Brandon/Ocala Florida
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Kubota B6100E Kubota L 2501 Kubota T1460
I know alot of you guys have spent your lives growing things.

I have 211 Holly trees that Ive planted in the ground on my property in Dunnellon. They will supposedly reach 25-30 feet height someday. At this point the tallest tree is approx 1 foot tall. Supposedly under the right conditions they can grow 2-3 feet per year, if they were 6-8 feet tall when I start building in a few years ( feb 2023 ) Id be very happy.

I have another 200 + here at the house ( in pots ) that I plan on nurturing more closely and then transplanting this fall.

I also have 50 Shumard Oak trees at the house, ( in pots ) supposedly they can have the same growth rate as the Holly trees under ideal/correct conditions. They average maybe 3-4 feet tall at this point and have pencil like trunks.

What can I do as far as fertilizer to give these plants a boost? I need a specific item to look for and purchase. Ive been told 20-20-20 but Ive also been told that this will burn the roots, Ive been told dont put anything directly at the base of the trunk, Ive also been told it matters not, Ive been told to only use water soluble for fastest results....told many different things.

Not looking to experiment if possible. Surely some of you guys can tell me what would work best ?

The 211 trees on my property I am able to water once a week when I visit the property. I have a 275 gallon IBC tote full of water on my trailer, pulled by my truck and a portable gen to operate the pump.

The other trees at my current home I have no limits.

Thanks
 

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   / Tell me what fertilizer I need #2  
10-10-10 is a good standby and one of the easiest to get, around here at least.
 
   / Tell me what fertilizer I need #3  
Do not fertilize. Plant back with the soil you took out of the hole you're putting them in.

Then just put a couple inches of mulch or just leaves around the tree, but not up against the tree itself. The mulch will provide slow fertilization as the worms work on it.

Chemical fertilizers will just kill the soil. You'll be stuck with using them because otherwise the soil is DEAD. Why kill it to begin with?

Ralph
 
   / Tell me what fertilizer I need #4  
First of all, you need to get a soil test done. The University of Florida will tell you how to take the soil sample, how to send it, where to send it, and will tell you what (if any) fertilizer you need and how much. This is really the only way you should be determining what to apply since you have many trees that you don't want to experiment on. Florida soils are different from the soils in the rest of the country so a soil test is better than us telling you what we think you should use. Once you get the test results, we can help from there.

Link to Florida soil test: Soil Testing - UF/IFAS Extension
 
   / Tell me what fertilizer I need
  • Thread Starter
#5  
10-10-10 is a good standby and one of the easiest to get, around here at least.

Cant multi quote for some reason

Ive heard 10 10 10 is as safe as can be

Im looking for safe steroids :)
 
   / Tell me what fertilizer I need
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Do not fertilize. Plant back with the soil you took out of the hole you're putting them in.

Then just put a couple inches of mulch or just leaves around the tree, but not up against the tree itself. The mulch will provide slow fertilization as the worms work on it.

Chemical fertilizers will just kill the soil. You'll be stuck with using them because otherwise the soil is DEAD. Why kill it to begin with?

Ralph
I did do this with the 211 plants, Ill have to post a pict. All of them have rings of mulch around them but Ive been told that my mulch ( because its mostly pine and a few oak trees ) is useless for providing any real benefits.
 
   / Tell me what fertilizer I need
  • Thread Starter
#7  
First of all, you need to get a soil test done. The University of Florida will tell you how to take the soil sample, how to send it, where to send it, and will tell you what (if any) fertilizer you need and how much. This is really the only way you should be determining what to apply since you have many trees that you don't want to experiment on. Florida soils are different from the soils in the rest of the country so a soil test is better than us telling you what we think you should use. Once you get the test results, we can help from there.

Link to Florida soil test: Soil Testing - UF/IFAS Extension

Your right, thanks for reminding me. I will get this done and report the results. In the meantime I will just continue watering

EDIT: Im sure now that I think of it that because of all the media frenzy getting the testing kit will not be possible right now. Should have got this done months ago
 
   / Tell me what fertilizer I need #8  
Cant multi quote for some reason

Ive heard 10 10 10 is as safe as can be

Im looking for safe steroids :)

I've never been able to multi quote. Maybe someone will tell us how or maybe the problem is in my tiny tablet.
 
   / Tell me what fertilizer I need #9  
I've never been able to multi quote. Maybe someone will tell us how or maybe the problem is in my tiny tablet.
For some reason it isn't working tonight. Usually, on each post you want to cite you would click on the little icon to the right of "Reply with quote", then click on that same "reply with quote".
 
   / Tell me what fertilizer I need #10  
Your right, thanks for reminding me. I will get this done and report the results. In the meantime I will just continue watering

Pretty sure it will come back saying you need everything but more sand.

I would mix some cow manure in with the soil you have then water it in good. When I use to plant trees and plants in Florida, I always did this before putting the plant in the hole. Then side dress it with this mixture once or twice a year.

If you do decide to use fertilizer, pick one with all the trace elements. But then PH becomes more important in order for the plants to absorb the nutrients.
 

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