Fertilization for Pine Seedlings

[Jarred525]

Anyone have recommendations for fertilization of pine seedlings? I have heard that fertilizer tabs work well. If anyone has recommendations for tabs they have used, please let me know.

I used triple 13 fertilizer (small handful spread in vicinity of each tree). Last year was my first year planting and I had 20% of my seedlings make it (I guess not bad given the bad drought).


Thanks,

Jarred

 

[birddoginQ]

you are probably on track with the triple thirteen. Alot of times seedling mortality can be attributed to planting error as well as the drought and other conditions. Making sure you get good contact with those roots is imperitive. How did you plant them? Are these the V. pine you planted?

 

[Jarred525]

These are Virginia pine. My technique is to take a single row plow and lay out my rows with 10ft spacing. I do not dig too deep of a trench. The main reason I do this is that allows me to bushhog easily the first few years until the trees are established as I can see the rows. I have also found a better success rate doing this rather than simply just laying out rows and planting trees (not sure why). After trenching my rows, I simply go through and plant the trees with a KBC Bar (spade) at 10 ft spacing. Last year, I came back through and sprinkled Triple 13 in the vicinity of each (not too close to the tree to prevent burning it up).

 

[Jarred525]

Foggy54, do you use the 10 gram or 21 gram tablets? Have you seen noticeable growth success using the tabs? Thanks.