Fertilization and pest control are essential parts of tree care. In this article, you will learn what rules we follow when using organic or mineral nutrients and how we will fertilize your plants. We will also discuss the types of pests and how we fight them without harming people and pets.
Fertilization
The soil will be severely depleted when any plant is grown as it pulls nutrients from it. Moreover, the larger the harvest, the more fertilizer is needed for average growth. Soil fertility is restored naturally, but the rate is relatively low, so fertilizer is a significant aid to plant nutrition.
All fertilizers are divided into two types – organic and mineral.
Organic are those that are naturally occurring. These include peat, manure, humus, or compost.
Mineral fertilizers are artificially synthesized chemicals needed to replenish inorganic compounds in the soil. According to the central element in the composition, the following types of fertilizers exist nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. There are also complex nutrients that contain several major and minor ingredients necessary for plants.
There is still a fierce debate about which type of fertilizer is better. For example, it is generally accepted that the advantages of organic fertilizers are environmental friendliness and safety. However, this statement is not entirely true.
Often it is organic fertilizers that can cause plant diseases. It happens when they contain the remains of contaminated stems or leaves. Also, such fertilizers can contain eggs or helminths from the manure of sick animals.
Another problem with organic fertilizers is the difficulty in determining the exact chemical composition. For example, animal manure and poultry manure are of the same species but contain 0.5-0.7 and 4-6% nitrogen, respectively. Therefore, it is difficult to calculate the amount of fertilizer needed for a particular plant.
There are also disadvantages of mineral fertilizers. These include:
- damage to the environment during production;
- insufficient uptake by some plants;
- fertilizer buildup in the soil
- when they are washed out of the ground, they can get into the groundwater, harming them.
Therefore, the choice of fertilizer must be careful and individualized for each case. The experts at TheTreeDudes have the necessary experience to choose a fertilizer that will give your plants the nutrients they need and be completely safe.
In addition to extensive choice, there is also the complexity of the fertilization procedure since it includes several important points:
- Each type of plant requires an individual dosage of fertilizer;
- The frequency of feeding is also particular.
That is why it is best to turn to professionals when fertilizing plants.
Pest Control
The last thing you want to see on your site is numerous pests that threaten plant health and, in some cases, can even harm people or animals.
And the thought of various pests is most often unpleasant in itself. So getting rid of them is quite an important task that you should not put off even for a minute.
There are quite a few pests that can damage lawns, plants, or trees.
The largest of these are moles. They are considered the least nasty, but they do the most damage. Moles dig holes, joining them in long tunnels, and if plant or tree roots are encountered in their path, they destroy them. A plant with a damaged root system most often goes to die.
Although moles feed on insects that can harm plants, the damage they do is far more significant than the destruction of tiny pests. Therefore, you must deal with them.
Larvae are another big nuisance, mainly because they soon turn into beetles that can harm your plants. And the larvae do quite a bit of damage – they feed on the roots and leaves of the plants, which, as mentioned above, can lead to the death of the plant.
Numerous insects, such as mites and aphids, can also harm your plants. They feed on the leaves and stems, which causes damage and, if not dealt with promptly, will kill the plant.
For pest control, pesticides are most commonly used, resulting in the death of “unwanted guests.” However, they should be used with great caution, as an overdose can negatively affect the plant. Pesticides are not safe for humans and pets alike. If you wish to treat your trees and plants in a natural way, try using organic solutions.
Spraying is one of the most common ways of pesticide usage. You can spray from the plane, to cover larger areas, or spray one tree and soil around it.
But if you live in a residential area, where trees are close to roads and houses, you do not want pesticides to get to humans or animals. Most of them are quite harmful. That is when you should switch your approach.
Tree injection is one of the best solutions for treating trees in densely populated areas. Injecting will not only give you more control over pesticide dispersion, but it will also be easier to hit the spot and apply pesticides directly to infected areas of the trees.
Therefore, children and animals should always be protected from trees or plants treated with insecticides and avoid skin or respiratory contact with the product for a while.
Contacting a professional is the best option for protecting and treating your garden from pests. They will carefully inspect the source of the problem, select the right pest control product, carefully calculate the dosage and carry out the pest control work with high professionalism, ensuring high quality and safety.
