Deep Root Fertilization

At Maier Forest and Tree, our fertilization program addresses the REAL problems with your trees and shrubs. The two greatest stresses on urban trees are soil compaction and water stress. Normal fertilizer will actually intensify these problems. Our root care program will solve these problems.

Urban soils are quite often compacted. This makes it difficult for water and oxygen to get to the tree root zone (3”-18” deep). When their roots don’t grow well, trees and shrubs don’t absorb water and nutrients well. They become drought stressed and under-nourished and are susceptible to many other secondary problems.

Our root care program adds several important ingredients to the soil.
1) First we add humates, a type of organic matter. Humates help prevent soil compaction and increase the soils ability to absorb and store water effectively. Humates are insoluble in water which allows them to be stored in the soil. Once in the soil, humates are a readily available source of many essential substances needed by trees and shrubs.

2) We also physically and chemically amend the soil to make it better suited for Mycorrhizal fungi and other beneficial soil organisms. Mycorrhizae increase a plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients. It helps to decompact soils by aggregating (clumping) soil particles. It also banks slow release nutrients into the soil. These substances have been shown to enhance the effectiveness of tree roots in their ability to absorb water and nutrient.

3) When needed, we also add micro- and macronutrients. However, these are not typically the limiting factor for creating healthy trees.

Our strategy for improving root development comes through our soil injection method of applying fertilizer. We don’t just inject fertilizer near the trunk of your tree. Rather we inject fertilizer throughout the root zone under the canopy of the tree. This allows the maximum effect on the health and growth of your tree’s roots.

For more information call our office at 507-286-TREE to talk to one of our Certified Arborists.