What About Feeding Your Trees?
Take a lesson from the plant. The onset of winter or the coming of spring the tree prepares for what is coming. To ready itself for winter, the tree stores its sugars (food supply) in the roots. This is Natures way of protecting the plant against damage caused by wind etc. In the spring, and the Maple is the best example of this, the tree sends those sugars into the body parts of the tree to give a boost and start growth again.
So, would it not be better to assist the tree, with a feeding of the feeder roots (found around the drip line of the tree - the outside edge of the foliage) or as I was told many years ago, "for every inch in diameter - go 1 foot in each direction" in other words, if the trunk -(about 2 ft. above the ground)- is 5 inches in diameter, the drip line should be about 5 feet in each direction of the trunk. This would give you a ring around the tree of 10 - 11 feet. [1 inch = approx. 2.5 cm. 1 foot = approx. 30 cm.]
Put a hole about the size of your little or middle finger, about 18 to 24 inches apart around the drip line. Mix a medium solution of a natural fertilizer or plant food and pour around the drip line filling the holes. A second application should be applied about 14 days later. Do this spring and fall. This will assist the tree in getting ready for winter by storing extra nutrition in the roots. This will also assist the tree with nutrients for the upcoming season. Just like you and I, a little snack in between isn't wasted. So a couple of light feedings throughout the season would not be wasted.
On a different note… I agree with those that say trees in the forest "do not get extra feedings, and seem to do very well." Let's look at the differences. A tree in the forest has been looked after by nature. Always attempting to balance the soil. Soil with high humus levels and good tilith. A tree in your yard is in foreign territory. In many cases these trees are started in a container with a special nutrient mix, moisture and in some cases temperature control.
They are then set into a location that may or may not have sufficient nutrients etc. and in some cases placed in soil that in many cases is nothing more than waste fill. It is then feed and watered for the first few weeks and then expected to do well on its own. The tree is then stressed from the time it is planted, and is expected to do well.
We have a tendency to take care of our lawns, flowers and gardens and not bother with trees.
To answer the question "What About Feeding Your Tree's ?"
For what it's worth ------ that's my opinion
Harold