Oak tees,clover,nitrogen?

[Football Hunter]

We have several white oaks left in one of our food plots,thought fertilizing them in spring and summer would be beneficial to production in fall ,but have heard nitrogen is bad for clover,so what would you do?

 

[TAS]

Go out from the base of the tree to the edges of the limbs. Dig down with post hole diggers in about 8-10 spots (depending on how big the tree is) dig down a foot or so and pour in your fertilizer. It will get to the roots and not affect your clover.

 

[Football Hunter]

what would you use 10-10-10?

 

[TAS]

Yes that will work fine. Don't use straight nitrogen. Use about one pound per inch diameter of the tree. Its best if you do it while leaves and acorns are off the tree. It will take a year or two to notice a difference but to really see a difference do the same trees every year. Unless frost or a late freeze gets the acorns you will be impressed. Many more acorns and I swear the deer like them better. Fertilizing mast trees is an often overlooked great way to better your property for wildlife.

 

[Football Hunter]

Thanks I done it with persimmons and you can deffinatly tell the difference

 

[.300 WSM]

I don't "think" that nitrogen is bad for clover, but rather it serves no purpose to the clover(because clover makes it's own nitrogen) other than encouraging weeds and grasses to compete with it.

 

[TAS]

Yes, but it is much better to put in a hole to get enough fertilizer to the tree roots without burning up whatever is on the surface. Plus you won't have run off or all your fertilizer going to the weeds.