Be conservative with fertilizer
Smart producers have been looking for more economical methods of supplying nutrients since fertilizer prices have gone up. There are no silver bullets to my knowledge but 4 ideas have surfaced. We actually advised against sidedressing last summer if rain was not predicted.
1-Cut your normal rates in half. We know most producers over fertilize by 2-3 times hoping to grow a bigger plant faster. Research has proven an ornamental can only benefit from so much; any more is wasted and begins to cause less growth.
2-Consider only fertilizing plentiful crops once this year to hold their growth down. No sense growing them to big for your market and equipment any sooner than necessary.
3-Soil test to determine if the available phosphorus and potassium levels are low, medium or high. A block that tests medium to high in available phosphorus and potassium can grow a crop of nursery with some added nitrogen; but a low testing soil will need additional nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Valuable available nutrients can be released from a soil that is too acidic by applying the correct amount of lime, but a soil test is necessary to determine the degree of acidity and thus the amount of lime needed for the specific crop. Dogwoods require and benefit from more acidity than maples require.
Soil tests are $6 each plus postage and about a week. Controlled release fertilizers for the field eliminate an application, reducing labor and equipment costs.
I can supply rates of various analysis per acre, per 1000 row feet, per 100 row feet and per plant. Apply no more than 50 pounds of actual Nitrogen per acre to all recent transplants, all shrubs, all conifers, dogwood and all Malus and Pyrus.
Apply no more than 75 pounds of actual Nitrogen per acre to all Shade trees after their first sidedressing. Apply late Feb. to benefit summer growth and apply late June to benefit the following spring growth.
Malus & Pyrus should receive the lower rate each spring to reduce the severity of fireblight.
For example, if using 13-13-13, a recently transplanted 6 foot shade tree liner would only need 2 teaspoons sprinkled over a 2 foot circle or 2 cups per 100 row feet. The same transplant during the beginning of the third year would need 4 Tablespoons scattered over 4 foot circle or 3 cups per 100 row feet. It doesn’t seem like enough, but it translates to 385 and 575 pounds per acre respectively. Let the research save you a few dollars.
4-Don’t leave a fertilizer containing nitrogen on the surface because some will be lost to the air until a rain dissolves it. Brands of fertilizer differ in how they bind or make the product.
Some grind the ingredients and bind them to particles of grit or corn cob. Others merely bind the ingredients together into prills. There is nothing left when they dissolve. Do not be concerned by seeing the carrier left behind. Uninformed producers might assume the fertilizer never dissolved when they see bits of limestone.
It pleased me last week to hear a local producer comment he had his planting done and had applied pre-emergent herbicide to it. The week-end rain activated it. That crop is laid by for nearly 3 months.
The Nursery Research Center trapped one Asian Ambrosia Beetle March 28. We may be near the point of emergence. I will let you know when they begin to trap serious numbers. You may wish to scout valuable stressed crops daily and be prepared to spray. Check your emails daily.
Many annual tasks need to be completed ASAP: re-establishing central leaders in shade trees, shaping of boxwoods, holly, Fosters; applying pre-emergence herbicides, spraying ryegrass with Envoy, Fusilade or Vantage; prune out black knot on plum & cherry; spot spray thistles with a solution of glyphosate; complete transplanting; plan frost protection for dogwood and other seedlings when they emerge; remove the tops (rootstocks) from budded crops; cut back 1-2 year old seedlings to produce straight trunks; record & post all pesticide applications; replace filters in respirators and tractor cabs (charcoal), etc. Request a task calendar for field or container. Modify it to suit your needs.