View Full Version : Can a fertilzer spike damage a small spruce tree?
Barmey
Jun 7, 2009, 05:58 AM
I replanted a small spruce in the front garden of the house. Decoritive type, will not grow higher then 4-6ft. After placing it in the garden I put a fertilizer spike about a foot away from the root. It is know turning brown almost have the tree. Could it have been the spike? This exact step happened to me once before the same way when I live in a previous place. Can I get it to recover? Its just starting to happen its been two weeks since I planted it.
tickle
Jun 7, 2009, 07:39 AM
I never have a problem with young trees when I use lots of water. Water in the hole I dig and lots of water after filling in the dirt around the tree. It could be shock. I never use fertilizer spikes.
Tick
ballengerb1
Jun 8, 2009, 08:23 AM
I agree, it is likely transplant shock and the spike just made it worse.
Barmey
Jun 12, 2009, 05:51 AM
But can I get it to recover?
Barmey
Jun 12, 2009, 05:52 AM
And I made a mistake its not spuce it is an evergreen
tickle
Jun 12, 2009, 05:56 AM
Barmey, I doubt it will recover, in spite of their endurance when mature, once they are damaged they don't come back that easily. Leave it in and see what happens.
Tick
treeguy1225
Jun 24, 2009, 06:58 PM
A spruce is a type of evergreen first off... secondly a fertilizer spike will not add to transplant shock symptoms... I do agree about the shock and it should be monitored to see how it does