Fertilizing Urban Trees

This factsheet contains information on the best commercial formulation of fertilizer for urban areas.

Trees planted in an urban environment are subjected to a wide variety of stresses. For example a tree planted in a small green area between a sidewalk and a road or a building and a road can become restricted in its ability to gather the necessary amount of nutrients needed as the tree grows in size. Soil compaction resulting from vehicle traffic or excessive foot traffic over the roots of a tree can cause root damage which will also hinder its ability to collect nutrients. Or maybe some mechanical wounding agent - lawn mower, car, snowplow, etc. - has visually scared a tree causing an interruption in the movement of nutrients between the roots and the crown.