Sub-Surface Fertilization
Fertilizing landscape plants promotes their general health, vitality and helps make them more resistant to insect and disease attack. Also, vigorous shoot and root growth makes plants more tolerant of environmental stresses such as heat and drought. By fertilizing, we are adding essential elements such as Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potash and other micronutrients. Although plants produce their own food (sugars) through photosynthesis, we are providing them with nutrients not easily found in most urban landscapes.

There are many factors that can produce nutrient deficiency symptoms. These include excess or lack of soil moisture, soil compaction, root rot or canker diseases, insects such as aphids and scales. Fertilizing is a must to help insure a long healthy life for your trees and shrubs.

Sub-surface injection is the method of fertilization that Antietam offers from September through April. Calculating how much fertilizer a plant will need requires training and practice. There are established guidelines for fertilizing trees and shrubs. The rate, 3 lbs of slow release nitrogen per 1000 Sq. ft. of leaf area is recommended for trees and 2 lbs for shrubs. Trunk diameter, evergreen, deciduous (loses leaves) analysis of fertilizer, timing, Ph, pressure and gallons are all factors in fertilizing trees and shrubs.