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How often is ok to fertilize ash tree (autumn purple ash)

11 years ago

We are in the Denver metro area. Currently we have our autumn purple ash (planted in 2008) fertilized twice a year: one time with a deep root liquid, the other time with surface granules. Would it be helpful if we fertilize it more than twice a year and if so, how many times would be good? Thanks.

LD

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Comments (16)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
11 years ago
Hi Laurie.

Denver is just different than my area. What did your soil test show and are there any changes mid way vs at the end of your fertilizer cycle? If you know that it will tell us when you need to fertilize more.

Nice part of the country btw. Next time you are at Red Rock shake a fist at them folks sprinting up and down all them steps for me! Talk about cardio training.
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
11 years ago
What does your soil test tell your soil is lacking in?

You know, the free soil test you do once a year through your local cooperative extension office listed in the white pages by county?

I doubt the tree needs feeding ever.
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OK Mike, though Ash trees of your size are literally dirt cheap to self protect each April from EAB. $20 worth of generic drench for 20-25 year old tree like yours. Even if removal and replacement costs over $600 per tree, unfortunately structurally wise your untrained trees will require a lot of corrective pruning. By removing poorly attached limbs, and removing or slowing down any competing leaders. With the observation of adventitious trunk sprouts and prolific flower production, those cruddy round balls that stay on tree even in winter, because of an iconic aphid problem. Either local EAB have already begun damaging your trees, or they are already in poor health. Similar to declining trees mass production of seeds every year, signs that a tree is suffering traumatic event. And prolifically seeds in order to produce offspring to keep its family line going. By observing how each tree looses its leaves in fall, or if individual limbs loose leaves as early as August. 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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
boy i wish i were local.. i have a bag of fert in my car.. and will gladly come by and fert for you.. anytime you are willing to pay me...

IMHO ... trees NEVER need food..

only when a soil test indicates something lacking in the soil.. would a soil amendment be needed.. and that is NOT fert ..

and if you are paying to feed your trees [which dont need it].. i bet you also pay for lawn fert.. and if you fert the lawn.. there is no reason to then go fert the tree .. the tree will steal it from the lawn.. if it survives EAB ... of which mine died of...

is there EAB in CO???

in summation.. IMHO.. you are getting ripped off ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: apparently it hasnt made it there yet
lauriedutch
Original Author
11 years ago
We don't have proper soil here. We have hard clay ;-) Unfortunately, most trees where I live need help if you want them to thrive. The only trees that thrive in this horrible clay are cottonwood (Populus freemontii) and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia). Everyone I know has their trees fed/fertilized and also sprayed for insects.

Our trees don't receive any nutrients via a lawn either because we don't have any sod; our landscaping is 100% xeriscape.

If EAB refers to borers, yes we have borers here, and plenty of other harmful insects.

I would love to move back to a place that has normal soil someday. This climate and environment is extremely harsh on plants and trees.

Yes, Red Rocks is a great place for cardio exercise. Also extremely beautiful.

LD
famartin
11 years ago
IMHO, true xeriscaping should not include a water-loving eastern tree. Desert trees adapted to the lack of moisture should be all you plant.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
well there you go.. adding all kinds of facts you kinda left out ... kinda leaves us looking foolish .. lol .. so be it.. i am strong...

i dont know what to tell you..

but i would die to see a pic of your garden ... it sounds so alien.. any chance??

ken
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
11 years ago
Ken, Colorado is different. Heck, it starts west of Kansas City really.

Laurie, I was thinking on my way to work about my big white ash and what a paint it would be if I had to add a billion pounds of xyz to the soil to keep it alive.

Besides the cottonwoods I did not notice many big trees in Denver. A bunch of mediums perhaps though.

Regardless, to get the most bang for your buck add more fertilizer when the other stuff runs out and a soil test or someone with a decade experience living RIGHT there will tell you that.
wisconsitom
11 years ago
There's more than one species of borer, and more than one that affects ash. You most definitely don't have emerald ash borer in your area. And the fact that all your neighbors fertilize their trees and have them sprayed means nothing, except that apparently, a lot of bad horticulture goes on around there. Heroic efforts to keep an ill-suited species alive where it doesn't belong are not my cup of tea. Wouldn't it be much more interesting in the long run to work with well-adapted plants? And I cringe every time I see reference to "feeding" plants, giving them "plant food". Plants' number one characteristic is that they manufacture their own food. They do require certain minimum quantities of various mineral nutrients to be present in order to do this, but that stuff ain't food.

Aren't you glad I stopped by?

;^)
+oM
wisconsitom
11 years ago
There's more than one species of borer, and more than one that affects ash. You most definitely don't have emerald ash borer in your area. And the fact that all your neighbors fertilize their trees and have them sprayed means nothing, except that apparently, a lot of bad horticulture goes on around there. Heroic efforts to keep an ill-suited species alive where it doesn't belong are not my cup of tea. Wouldn't it be much more interesting in the long run to work with well-adapted plants? And I cringe every time I see reference to "feeding" plants, giving them "plant food". Plants' number one characteristic is that they manufacture their own food. They do require certain minimum quantities of various mineral nutrients to be present in order to do this, but that stuff ain't food.

Aren't you glad I stopped by?

;^)
+oM
lauriedutch
Original Author
11 years ago
There are several types of borers here. That's why I said we have borers (and didn't refer to a specific borer).

Ken, here is a link to a photo that includes the autumn purple ash tree in question {{gwi:386304}}

I think it's scrawny since there are very few nutrients in the clay. That's why I was asking about ways to help it thrive.

Per your request, here are a few more pics of our xeriscaping:

{{gwi:386306}}

{{gwi:386308}}

Stone bench and different colored mulches, stone and brise ("crusher fine") path:
{{gwi:386310}}

We also have a dry stream bed, a bridge and many more trees and shrubs.

LD
denninmi
11 years ago
Laurie, beautiful garden, you obviously are doing things "right".

Two applications of fertilizer a year sound about right to me.

One early in the season and a follow-up after the peak of growth but before the time period when it would promote late, tender growth. Here in Detroit, that translates to April and mid June to right about now at the latest. Denver is very similar overall, just a slightly longer frost-free period perhaps, so timeline is similar.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
i REALLY appreciate the pix .. thankx ...

i often say.. to peeps.. well. quit whining.. you still have a lot of useless grass left.. i think you took care of that.. lol ...

you said: I think it's scrawny

==>>> why do you say that?? .. it looks fine to me [for what that is worth] .. is there any chance.. that it is so foreign to you.. that it is simply doing what it is supposed to be doing.. and you are comparing it to other things ...

its been a long time since i got rid of mine ... and i can not bring them to mind... but one thing i am sure.. they 'looked' scrawnier than same sized oaks ...

so.. perhaps its your observation.. rather than the tree itself???

take care.. gorgeous yard..

ken
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
I think it's scrawny since there are very few nutrients in the clay

I'm going to conclude that "scrawniness" is a matter of opinion, as the ash looks fine to me :-) And without a soil test to confirm, it is erroneous to assume clay soils, just by definition, are lacking nutrients - clay soils are often very fertile, as nutrients tend to bind to the clay particles.

It is true that trees established in the landscape seldom need additional fertilization but that is certainly not an absolute. Depending on soil structure and composition and other growing conditions, available nutrients may become depleted or used up and need to be replaced. But it is not necessarily appropriate to place fertilizing (I too dislike the terminology "feeding" plants!) under any sort of routine program - you should fertilize only when you need to (determined by soil test) or when your plants indicate a need.
famartin
11 years ago
That tree looks fine.
treebarb Z5 Denver
11 years ago
We don't have EAB here yet, but we do have what are called lilac/ash borers. We have Phaenops gentilis, Chrysophana placida and Agrilus cyanescens.

Many non native trees do need help here, but you don't know specifically what to add without a soil test. Unfortunately, they are not free here, but the cost is nominal, maybe $25-30 depending on what you're testing for.

I would take soil samples from areas where you haven't fertilized. I just don't see wasting money on additives until you know what's missing from your soil, or what nutrients you already have enough of. I would also be extremely careful with fertilizing right now as we are in severe drought status. If you feel like you need to fertilize before you have soil test results, maybe do half strength.

Any problems you're seeing now are most likely drought related as we've had virtually no rain, horrific winds and weeks in the high 90 - 100+ degree temps. We have a 50% chance of rain this weekend, which would certainly help. We've had roughly 4.5" of precip. so far this year. Your soil ph is most likely in the 7 range, as mine is 7.9.

I have a Patmore ash, fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Patmore' planted 4-5 years ago and I've not ever fertilized it. It's doing fine. Your ash looks good to me. The native tree choices here are limited which is why we bring in non-natives. FWIW I don't have 10 years experience, just 5, but have planted and killed enough trees that maybe I'm not a newbie anymore, lol. I'm still learning and will be for life.

This is a tough place to learn the ropes, but you're doing great. I love your yard!

Barb
whaas_5a
11 years ago
Hopefully the answer was never. Ash are extremely adaptable and don't need anything but a proper planting and aftercare for establishment.

Unless you really have severe deficiancies that a soil test confirm.

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