• All plants have nutrient requirements. In a landscape setting, these nutrients are often missing or unavailable to the plants.
• Fertilization promotes healthy, vigorous plants showing good growth and color.
• Healthy plants are more resistant to insects and diseases.
• Lawn fertilizers will not give much help to your trees, as very few nutrients get past the grass roots.
• In an urban landscape there are usually many plants, including grass, surrounding your trees. This creates greater competition for what nutrients are in the soil already. Adding fertilizers gives the soil more nutrients, decreasing competition, and therefore stress.
  
  

What Nutrients do I Need in Utah?

• Nutrients are divided into two categories: macronutrients and micronutrients. In Utah, the soil is generally lacking sufficient levels of Nitrogen, one of the most important macronutrients.
• Deficiencies with other nutrients are not common, but are possible. Signs can be seen in the plants and treated as necessary. One that is common in Salt Lake is yellowing of leaves, with green veins, which is the result of the tree not taking up sufficient amounts of Iron. This and many other problems can be easily treated.
  
  

What is the Best method of Applying Fertilizer?

• Broadcast Application: This consists of evenly distributing fertilizer around the root zone of the plants. While easy to accomplish, you must water the fertilizer in after spreading. Also, there is a greater chance of the nutrients being absorbed by the grass, instead of the trees.
• Foliar Application: Spraying the leaves with the fertilizer desired. This method IS NOT effective for most nutrients, including Nitrogen, however it is adequate for some micronutrients.
• Soil Injection: This applies a liquid fertilizer directly to the root zone by using a soil probe and injecting to a depth of 6 – 12 inches. Using this method, there is a decreased chance of nutrients being absorbed by other plants.