Fertilizing over the winter....why not.

[Beng]

I know many people cease fertilization in the winter...why? In nature plants are fertilized naturally from migratory birds, animals, and such. While the fertilizer they receive in the winter may be less they're still fertilized year round. I know many people especially in cooler climates don't fertilize their bonsai in the winter. But if you've fertilized properly all year your trees will go dormant despite you adding fertilizer or not. I have always fertilized at half strength in the winter once a month rather then bi-weekly with something mild like fish seaweed. I also keep slow release pellets on my trees all winter. I did this when I was in NY and now here in CA. I'd like to hear what everyone else does and why?

 

[Paradox]

Because the trees are not actively growing in the winter so they don't need or use nutrients at that time. Just because the birds poop on and around the trees in the winter doesn't mean the trees are actually using the fertilizer. So, IMO, fertilizing in the winter when trees are dormant is a waste of fertilizer and money.

 

[GrimLore]

The only plants we fertilize at all in the Winter are the Tropicals that are kept indoors until Spring. They get a lot less when inside as they need less. Everything else that is allowed to rest for the Winter outdoors gets nothing but what nature provides as it is not needed.

Grimmy

 

[Beng]

Although they're not actively growing won't they still be storing some of the nutrients if provided during times when the roots aren't frozen over the winter?

 

[catfish chapstick]

I could swear that my crabapple grows roots in the winter. One year it was buried in snow for a long time and seemed to push roots right into the snow. Am I crazy? Is that even possible???

 

[wireme]

Conifers in the wild do have root growth during winter time even in the snowy mountains. Friends of mine did a study. A hole in the ground, plexiglass wall to observe roots. Winter time they had to dig through 4' of snow remove the hole cover, crawl into the hole and roots were actively growing all winter long. This was in the Alps.
Mp

 

[KennedyMarx]

I've been keeping the slow release pellets on the top of my soil on all of my trees. I've heard that the extra nitrogen in the winter will cause leggy growth in the spring, but I've also heard people say that claim is BS. Either way the plant has nutrients if it needs it and if not then it's no big loss. I'd rather err on the side of caution and get them as healthy and strong as can be. Plus at this stage most of my plants just need to grow out and get cut back so leggy growth isn't a problem.

 

[bonsaibp]

We fertilize all our evergreens all year. The deciduous tree I don't.

 

[dick benbow]

I don't think there is any doubt that tree roots grow in the winter. Last year when I ran out of protective greenhouse space, I slipped some buried into my vegetable garden and covered with
bark on the surface. In spring I was amazed at the number of fine roots that had pushed their way up into the bark.
I try and provide a low numbered organic fertilizer held in the corners of th pot in tea bags.

So much depends on the individual health of EACH tree in my decision making. here in the Pacific Northwest we have so much moisture that much of the fertilizer is quickly washed thru.

If I've noticed anything in the years that I have encaged in sharing on chatlines, locations and severities of winter have to be taken into consideration before adopting anyone else's system for your own.

 

[jk_lewis]

Yes. Trees grow roots (and trunk girth) in the winter. But they use nutrients stored in the trunks/roots to do it, then make it up in spring, summer and fall.

 

[edprocoat]

Yes. Trees grow roots (and trunk girth) in the winter. But they use nutrients stored in the trunks/roots to do it, then make it up in spring, summer and fall.

Not trying to be rude but is this your opinion or have you seen proof of this statement?

ed

 

[Anthony]

Hmm all the gum bumping and no one reads??
What is google for ?


http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02926.html

http://www.rhodoniagara.org/pdf/Tree_Roots_in_Winter.pdf

Good Day
Anthony

 

[edprocoat]

Hmm all the gum bumping and no one reads??
What is google for ?


http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02926.html

http://www.rhodoniagara.org/pdf/Tree_Roots_in_Winter.pdf

Good Day
Anthony

Comical, I disagree with the first link you provided and tend to agree with the second that says that roots grow when the weather allows and that the ability to take up water in the winter is what keeps the pine needles from becoming dessicated. It would follow that a tree taking up water in the winter would also take up the nutrients/fertilizer present in that water. I doubt they filter it out, so one must assume its the same as any thing you fertilize, it takes what it needs and ignores the rest just like the human body and the vitamins we take.

ed

 

[Anthony]

Page 201 scroll down -

http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/hardtoget/lyr/

An interesting read

http://www.ncsu.edu/project/treesofstrength/treefact.htm

Good Day
Anthony

* The growth of roots in winter, seems to depend heavily on the soil temperature, given as +2 deg.C and up to 35 deg.C
Mention of an early snow fall, that does not melt and is maintained for x time also promotes warmth for root growth.
Also depends on tree species and ability to adapt.

In other words the answer may lie in observation, from tree to tree in bonsai pot and ambient temperature with regards to in their individual soils.

Fortunately on my side, growth continues until say late November, and with the rain/ compost, no fertiliser is needed from June to November.
Repotting on the 2nd of January, renews the compost and by the end of February, mild fertilising can be restarted, into soil that is moist [ Uncle K's notes to IBC ]

I add -
The power of well designed compost !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[edprocoat]

Page 201 scroll down -

http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/hardtoget/lyr/

An interesting read

http://www.ncsu.edu/project/treesofstrength/treefact.htm

Good Day
Anthony

* The growth of roots in winter, seems to depend heavily on the soil temperature, given as +2 deg.C and up to 35 deg.C
Mention of an early snow fall, that does not melt and is maintained for x time also promotes warmth for root growth.
Also depends on tree species and ability to adapt.

In other words the answer may lie in observation, from tree to tree in bonsai pot and ambient temperature with regards to in their individual soils.

Fortunately on my side, growth continues until say late November, and with the rain/ compost, no fertiliser is needed from June to November.
Repotting on the 2nd of January, renews the compost and by the end of February, mild fertilising can be restarted, into soil that is moist [ Uncle K's notes to IBC ]

I add -
The power of well designed compost !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anthony, so I take it you are using this info as some some sort of guidepost for you Bonsai? I just thought you were posting this crap as a joke. You realize this is outdated material, most references 1964 or earlier, and totally useless in Bonsai culture, unless you want a Bonsai potted to contain " the root system is normally one and a half to two times as large as the crown diameter " or maybe you want your root systems to grow like this "This should be noted in practical fertilization of older trees, in which the highest concentration of absorbing fine roots occurs at some distance from the trunk "
not really Bonsai specific info, ya think? The italicized references are from the link you gave.

Anthony do you really mean to say you get dormancy in the West Indies in November? My tropicals as well as my Chinese Elms and Junipers grow all winter ( December to April ) that I spend in Central Florida, I would assume that materials that you could keep in the West Indies would grow year around too...

ed

 

[ChrisV]

Trees do indeed store energy and nutrients in the roots. When active grow in spring arrives the use that to boost the new growth out. Then we start fertilizing again so they can support new flushes of growth but also have enough after growing season to store up again.
Evergreens keep growing slowly that's why they need light in the winter, but they also store everything in the roots for the season to come.
Here in Europe we only fertilize from spring to autumn and evergreens from summer to autumn . Never in winter as they won't absorb it and need it, even if they are still slowly growing.

 

[Anthony]

Ed,

good to see you are reading. I was more interested in the bits on feeder roots and support roots, to see if anything was there for more maximization of branchlets.
You know you read and take what you need ?

Yes, we drop to the low 70's occasionally to a 69 deg.F from late November until Mid February.
Especially since the house shades the trees, and the site faces mostly North. Additionally there is a long line of canefields with a wind channel leading over the house.
Since the 70's part is from after 6 p.m. until 8 a.m., rainy season in the second peak month, and shorter days, there is a rest period, with no growth.

There is a minimum/maximum thermometer in the garden. Being 200 feet+ up does make a difference in temperature.
If we were up 3000 feet, we would be hitting 55 night to 75 deg.F day daily presently.

All of our temperature reports come from the airport which is at just above sea level and is always 2 to 5 deg.F hotter than San Fernando. Plus, we have a lower rainfall and are windy. That airport area is hot and humid, and with little breeze.
[now if I walked for less than 10 minutes and I could be 500 to 600' up, pity we are not like Venzuela or some of the more north West Indian isles and be 3000 to 6000+ feet up. Imagine what we could grow outdoors.]

Nothing as dramatic as frost or snow, but this time of the year does give one a chance to relax and enjoy Christmas [ which for us starts on the 6th of December until the 6th of January.]
Felice Navidad!
Good Day
Anthony

 

[october]

2 things. One, you do not want is excess fertilizer just building up. During the growing season pots are continually flushed out from watering. Trees are also using up the nutrients. Now although we are not watering nearly as much in winter which means we are not washing the pellets into the soil. There will still be unused fertilizer. Second, trees need rest. We give them fertilizer to help them grow or speed up growth. This is not really what we want in winter. Trees worked hard enough through the season, not it is their time to rest. In the cases with some pine growers. They fertilize well through the Fall so the tree has a good amount of stored reserves which will help the trees growth in Spring.

All in all, I don't think it will hurt as long as there is not a lot of build up. However, I am a big advocate of letting a tree completely rest during the winter.

Rob

 

[Dav4]

I was going to voice my opinion here, but I decided to link Brent's article instead. The article explains the role of fertilizer and it's effects on plants in depth, and really goes far in dispelling many of the misunderstandings people have concerning fertilizer. This article, along with all the other ones at his site, is a great read.

http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/fertiliz.htm

 

[jk_lewis]

Not trying to be rude but is this your opinion or have you seen proof of this statement?

ed

Part of my Master Gardening training.