How to Fertilize for Commercial Landscape

Fertilizing for commercial landscapes is very important to the reputation of the business having the landscaping done and the landscaper himself. If an office has a poorly maintained lawn, it could reflect badly on the quality of service the company may show to the customer. Also, a beautifully groomed lawn is reassuring and inviting. To achieve this look, trees and shrubs may need to be fertilized to promote the health, growth and coloration of the vegetation.

Tape measure
Fertilizer
Calculator

Instructions

- 1
  Examine the trees and shrubs to determine where fertilizer is needed the most. Trees and shrubs with pale coloration or limited branch growth are ideal candidates for fertilization.
- 2
  Measure the diameter of newly planted trees with the tape measure. For each inch of trunk diameter, a 2-foot diameter of mulch should be spread around the tree. This promotes root establishment.
- 3
  Determine the canopy diameter of the tree by measuring from the edge line of the widest branch of one side of the tree to the edge line of the widest branch on the other side of the tree.
- 4
  Multiply the canopy diameter by 1.5 or 2 and divide that sum by two. Square the quotient and multiply it by 3.14 to determine the square footage or area around the tree.
- 5
  Obtain a fertilizer containing a nitrogen, phosphorus pentoxide and potassium oxide ratio of 15:5:10 or 15:5:15. This information can be found on the fertilizer bag.
- 6
  Determine how many pounds of fertilizer are needed by dividing the nitrogen number on the bag by 100. For example, a fertilizer bag with a nitrogen, phosphorus pentoxide and potassium oxide ratio of 15:5:10 will provide 6.6 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
- 7
  Pour the fertilizer into the fertilizer spreader and disperse the fertilizer around the tree. Apply 1 pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of area being covered.

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