Fort Worth Tree Nutrition: A Key Factor in Your Tree’s Longevity

Trees, like all living things, need proper nutrition to survive and grow. In urban areas, such as Fort Worth, they often require extra nutrients in the form of fertilizer and deep root feeding to thrive in crowded and compacted soils. These applications can be critical for healthy tree growth and longevity. In this article, we explain the key components of Fort Worth tree nutrition and how they make for healthy trees.

Essential Tree Nutrients

Image via Flickr by Renate Dodell

The most important nutrients for tree health and longevity include:

• Calcium for healthy cell walls and water and nutrient movement.
• Magnesium for photosynthesis and protein synthesis.
• Nitrogen for photosynthesis, energy production, and protein synthesis.
• Phosphorus for energy, root development, and fruit and flower production.
• Potassium for protein synthesis, water regulation, and fruit and flower production.

These aren’t their only nutritional requirements. They also benefit from other trace minerals, including boron, iron, manganese, sulfur, and zinc. Trees have different nutrient requirements depending on their species, age, and soil conditions.

The Importance of Fertilization

If a tree isn’t receiving sufficient key nutrients naturally, it might need fertilization to continue growing and thriving. Signs of deficiencies in trees include slow growth, which might prompt nitrogen application, and yellowing or browning leaves, indicating a lack of trace minerals such as iron and manganese.

To accurately determine which nutrients a tree is lacking, however, property owners should have a dirt evaluation performed on soil samples collected from around the tree. A professional tree company can test the soil at the tree’s base, evaluate the results, and apply the appropriate soil conditioner and fertilizer at the ideal time of year to boost tree health and encourage growth.

Nutrition for Healthy Trees

There are two key steps certified arborists and tree professionals typically take to provide trees with the nutrition they need to remain healthy for years or decades to come. The first is deep root fertilization. Trees may be lacking nutrients, such as nitrogen, due to stressed conditions or undesirable soil pH levels. Conducting tests and applying the necessary deep root fertilizer once or twice a year can ensure they receive the nourishment they require.

The second step is soil conditioning, which is particularly important in areas such as Fort Worth that have clay- and sand-based soils. Conditioning adds organic matter to the dirt around the tree to combat compaction, improve the tree’s water and nutrient uptake, and promote root growth. In addition to these strategies, trees benefit from regular care, including watering, especially during dry spells, and applying mulch to boost soil quality and protect tree roots from the Texas heat.

Enjoy Long-Lasting Trees

Ensuring trees receive the nutrients they need to thrive in the required amounts and at the right times of year improves their chances of a long and fruitful life. If your trees are showing signs of poor growth or nutrient deficiencies, TreeNewal can help. Our team of certified arborists can assess your soil and provide your trees with the fertilizer and soil conditioning they need.