skip to main content

Fertilizer for arborvitae and skip laurels

4 years ago

Hi there,

I’m looking for suggestions for fertilizer for arborvitae and skip laurels. I had been using hollytone it someone suggested plant tone instead. I was just at Lowe’s and they were out of plant tone, but they had a generic 10-10-10 fertilizer for less than half the cost. Should I go with this generic fertilizer, plant tone, or something else.

Thank you!

Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
Do they need fertilizing? Have you had a soil test done? Almost any evergreen shrub or tree will benefit from the Hollytone but they can also benefit from the 10-10-10 (considered an all-purpose fertilizer) provided they need to be fertilized at all. And only a soil test can tell you that. One is just organically derived; the other is a synthetic product.

And if you determine a need to fertilize, wait until after the first hard frost if you plan to do it at this time of year. Or wait until spring and the beginning flush of new growth.
harpua728
Original Author
4 years ago
I haven't done a soil test, but was told to do a slow release fertilizer towards mid/late-Oct (here in NY).
Related Discussions
Skip Laurel Care
Q
Comments (13)
Almost two years ago I planted four 4'tall Skip Laurels. The one I planted on the westside along a privacy fence line and under the eastside of an oak tree is doing great and flowers nicely. I did hand water some potted trees, under that oak tree, almost daily during our drought all last summer. Such watering is most likely what provided enough moisture for that Laurel even though I did not concentrate on watering it as much as I focused on watering the potted trees. My other three Skip laurels were planted farther north along the same fence line and the ground sloped slightly for proper water drainage. The problem I encountered was that two of those got too much water from my neighbor's improperly draining backyard rain or yard watering runoff. All three continued to struggle that first season, but by the next Spring I clearly could see two of them were in trouble and needed to be raised. I actually raised all three of those which were planted slightly closer together. I had to baby all of those raised ones with hand watering almost every day, but the one with the worst root damage from previously sitting in too much water, prior to my raising them, still died. This last fall, I replace that one, and even though we have had a dry winter; I did not have to water it much, and it is doing fine. But still this spring those three do not look like they are going to bloom as nicely as the one farther up the fence line and is planted under my mature oak tree. Hopefully if this summer I baby the three elevated ones, they will get the chance to establish a better root system and finally catch up with the other one.
...See More
Drooping Skip Laurels
Q
Comments (7)
As someone who has fought several rounds with schip laurels, I'll share my experiences. After mine struggled, I moved all but one of mine and they are now doing much better. In my experience, two of the things that have been mentioned in this thread are very important to these shrubs. Make sure they are planted high. Glad to see you raised them up, 2 inches above ground level sounds pretty good. Actually, the more I plant, the more I learn to plant everything high. Secondly, you don't want them dry and suffering, but you absolutely don't want them sitting wet. Over-watering can be as bad as under-watering. Give them some break between watering, but as mentioned, the only way to know how much to give them in your conditions is to check the soil.
...See More
Emerald Green Arborvitae / Brown Tips
Q
Comments (7)
Thuja are a titch more demanding than most trees in the fertilization department, being fast-growing, but don't generally require a specific fertilization. But it's certainly an option if the OP would want to. In my case, I pushed mine from three feet to twenty in eight years to cover a particularly obnoxious neighbor, but that was an exception to the general rules... Although I'd recommend a low-powered organic one and in smaller amounts due to the lower amount of space available and on the lower end of the pH scale due to the preferences of the family to begin with. As I think on it, pH can be an issue, but most Thuja adjust well and aren't that particular about it. Still, as noted, excessive salt additions not only add sodium but boost the pH toward the alkaline. Which can cause some spotty browning. It's not of any concern, and the standard fix (yellow sulfur) is generally ineffective. But it's another possibility. And the only way to be sure is, again, a formal soil test. The home ones aren't accurate enough to be sure. Off the cuff, a small amount of Holly-Tone or Milorganite (fairly neutral, but does contain plenty of iron sulfate, which is acidic and the sulfates happily locate calcium, magnesium, and sodium and bind to them and remove them as highly soluble salts) wouldn't be taken amiss. But, of course, it's absolutely optional. If all this were me? I'd be out there with a fine clippers removing the brown tips. Because I'm seriously that picky. Been there, done that on my Green Giants.
...See More
Emerald Green Arborvitae in Clay?
Q
Comments (6)
dig another hole.. and perk your soil ... this will give you some great info for the future ....https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffcm&q=perk+your+soil&ia=web the stone in bottom.. probably doesnt do anything.. but wont hurt ... worms will either stay or go .. no harm though ... great time of year to plant .. day heat should be lessening.. night heat easily dissipated ... this is a tree.. things happen in tree time ... so dont have high expectations of SEEING much of anything happening anytime soon ... water properly.. deeply and infrequently ... let it near dry in between drying ... this time of year ... there usually isnt the heat to dry the soil.. down at root level .. even in your zone ... so dont love it to death by watering too much ... and just skip watering if there is any significant rain .. keep checking ... i would prefer you learn to use a finger.. rather than a gizmo .. for the long run.. so use both until you dont need the gizmo ... the next important period.. would be when the heat starts building next summer ... then we would be concerned with the watering again ... its in transplant shock due to the whole process... its not hungry.. no fert .. clay is usually very fertile ... one thing you didnt mention ... were the roots badly circling the pot??? to repeat.. dont try to kill it with too much love.. just relax.. water it properly ... .. ken
...See More
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
Fertilizing when there is no need is not productive.....in fact, it can be counterproductive. One doesn't fertilize established plants unless a need is known and the only way you will know that is by having a soil test done. IOW, routine fertilization for something other than a lawn is generally not advised.

If you do determine a need to fertilize this season, the Hollytone or any organic fert will be slow release. Very slow release, as the soil organisms that convert the product into a plant usable form are pretty much inactive by then. The 10-10-10 will be fast acting.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
in 50 ears of gardening.. i have NEVER fertilized a shrub, conifer or tree ... and i work in sand ...

they are plants.. not children ... they do not need to be fed.. nor changed.. nor educated ...

that said.. there is little or no difference between those you mention.. except marketing budgets ... so if it really makes you happy ... and you dont mind spending money on such ..... go ahead.. just go very light .... since they really dont 'need it' ....

in theory.. using fert.. when there is no real need.. might be considered pollution ... but i say pshaw on those peeps ... lol .. the grandkids need a piece of chocolate.. even if their hippy parents dont approve ...

if i had a point.. i wonder if i ever got there... lol ...

ken

ps: its scary to think.. most the hippies are now 70 plus years old ... yikes ...

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Garden Myths to Debunk as You Dig This Fall and Rest Over Winter

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Termites hate wood mulch, don’t amend soil for trees, avoid gravel in planters — and more nuggets of garden wisdom

GARDENING GUIDES New Ways to Think About All That Mulch in the Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Before you go making a mountain out of a mulch hill, learn the facts about what your plants and soil really want

DECORATING GUIDES From Queasy Colors to Killer Tables: Your Worst Decorating Mistakes

Houzzers spill the beans about buying blunders, painting problems and DIY disasters

GARDENING GUIDES When and How to Plant a Tree, and Why You Should

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Trees add beauty while benefiting the environment. Learn the right way to plant one

SAVING WATER Houzz Call: Are You Letting Go of Your Lawn?

By Annie Thornton

Many facing a drought are swapping turf for less thirsty plantings. If you’re one of them, we’d like to hear about it

GARDENING GUIDES 9 Low-Growing Hedges That Make Good Neighbors

Define garden areas or borders without blocking the view, with these evergreen shrubs that take kindly to trimming

ARBOR DAY 10 Trees Landscape Designers Love

By Annie Thornton

In honor of Arbor Day, consider adding a beautiful and beneficial tree species favored by designers around the country

ARBOR DAY 8 Reasons to Plant a Great Tree

By June Scott Design

Beauty is its own reward, but the benefits of planting the right tree in the right place go way beyond looks

LANDSCAPE DESIGN A Stylish Low-Water, No-Fuss Landscape

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Courtyards for dining, relaxing and entertaining foster easy indoor-outdoor living for a family of four

PLANTING IDEAS How to Make Your Driveway Part of Your Garden

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Spruce up the borders along your drive to create a welcoming arrival to your home

Sponsored

Hoffman Exteriors LLC

Columbus Foremost Siding & Exterior Design Solutions

More Discussions

issue with Encore Azalea

0

Cutting Back Stems After Transplant With Plant Shock?

13

North American Source for Chaemelaucium uncinaturm?

5

Can I top off Kwanzan cherry tree with a single long branch

20

How do you know spring has arrived?

19