Urea 46-0-0

rrc300 u · Apr 22, 2017

Went to the local farm supply and got a couple bags. I used it around my Christmas tree patch spread a small amount around the edge of each trees circle of limbs. I know you guys will want to know how much per acre but how I spread it I have no idea of that calculation. I put about a 6" wide band around each tree and the pellets were 3/4 of an inch apart. The whole reason for adding was the trees are starting to be a yellow color. I read in a tree growing book that nitrogen will put the green back in the needles. I'm dealing with about 700 of them.

Now for the question. is this a good amount of fertilizer or have I over or under dosed it. Thanks for any input.

Larry EC-OH · Apr 22, 2017

I'm guessing this is more of a pH problem that a fertility problem. Have you had the soil tested?
more than likely you are above 7.0 and pines like 6.5 or lower.

Ray IN · Apr 22, 2017

I can show you how I would calculate how much to use. Lets say trees are in rows 10 ft wide. 43560 sq ft/10 ft equals 4356 ft of row to an acre. if trees are say every 8 ft in the row, then 544 trees to the acre. Lets say you want to apply 50 lb actual N/acre(about what I would use at one time for blackberry bushes, but maybe repeated for 100 lb for the year)so that would require 50/.46 = 109 lb urea per acre. So that is 109/544 = .2 lb per tree. That would be probably a half cup per tree, or maybe one handful.

But you need to find how much N is really recommended for Christmas trees, as I am just speculating. Also, ammonium sulfate would be good if the pH is too alkaline, because it supplies sulfur and it is an acidic fertilizer. Sometimes yellow is a sulfur deficiency such as in blueberries. Also, Nitrogen and sulfur work together and compliment each other since both are needed for protein production in the plant.

rrc300 u · Apr 22, 2017

I have not had the ground tested but being most pines like less than 7 I figured I might be ok. Pretty much any field around me gets lime on it regularly. This tree patch is an experiment at the recommendation from the guy across the road. I swear he tore out a rice paddy and put his trees in. I also read wet might be a problem. I have thought about a subsoiler between the rows. What I have read here that is a job for a dry day later in summer to crack the hardpan.

Ray IN · Apr 22, 2017

yes of course wet soil causes yellow color. Im not sure which species of pine is most tolerant to poor drainage, but some will do better than others. It is hard on most plants to be in low or wet soil.

mtf · Apr 22, 2017

Sounds like a little much. What size trees are they now? I would use less nitrogen to get more dense growth than top growth. If they get leggy you will have to shear to much. I grow some pines in container and the field, I want a semi-sheared look and usually don't have to shear at all.

For evergreens I use 12-6-6 three month for container, and super rainbow 12-12-12 for field stock. I have used ammonia nitrate, or calcium nitrate, @ 8 oz/ tree. I would never use urea for risk of burn.
Nathan

Russ from MN · Apr 22, 2017

I started using Jobe's tree spikes a few years ago, Menards had them almost free with the rebate. I am very happy with the results, the spruce trees are greener and thicker than the ones that didn't get the spikes. I followed their instructions fairly closely.

WESnIL · Apr 23, 2017

My memory says 1 ounce of fertilizer per foot of tree height. But that is with a mixed fertilizer like 12-12-12. With a high N fertilizer, like your urea, I would cut that rate in half for fear of too much N with its excess growth and those related problems. One must be careful with N application on evergreens, especially the pines. The firs and spruces can handle a little more but too much fertilizer means too much growth. That means more shearing but more importantly with excess growth one cuts off the nice terminal bud with the needed 3 or 4 or 5 laterals buds that one needs that the good Lord and Mother Nature gave us. Then one is stuck with one of the lateral buds taking over as the lateral. In my experience of growing Christmas trees I have rarely seen a better top from this top shearing than one left unsheared even if the length is marginally too much.

Urea 46-0-0

rrc300 u

Member

Larry EC-OH

Member

Ray IN

Member

rrc300 u

Member

Ray IN

Member

mtf

Member

Russ from MN

Well-known Member

WESnIL

Member

Similar threads