How to Feed the Roots of Dogwood Trees

A landscape tree that holds a special place in the heart of many southern homeowners is the flowering dogwood. Found throughout the forests of the southern United States, the dogwood is used as an understory and foundation tree in many landscapes. The dogwood produces a showy white or pink bloom in late March and then produces red fruit in the late summer and fall that is consumed by birds. Fertilizer should be applied to the root system to help with flower, leaf and fruit production.

Gloves
12-4-8 fertilizer
Measuring cup
Watering hose

Instructions

- 1
  Put on a pair of work gloves to protect your hands when you spread fertilizer onto the roots of a dogwood tree.
- 2
  Determine the amount of fertilizer to be applied based on the age and size of the tree. Allow a 6-foot or smaller dogwood to establish itself for one year before you apply fertilizer.
- 3
  Measure 1/4 cup of a 12-4-8 analysis fertilizer with a measuring cup. Use 1/4 of the fertilizer on younger dogwoods that have been established for at least two or three years. Sprinkle the fertilizer evenly onto the ground. Begin applying fertilizer at the drip line, or edge of the branches, and work back toward the trunk.
- 4
  Measure 1/2 lb. of 12-4-8 fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter for trees established in an area for more than five years. For example, measure 2 pounds of fertilizer for a dogwood tree with a trunk diameter of 4 inches. Apply the fertilizer in a 100-square-foot area around the tree for good root absorption.
- 5
  Water the fertilizer into the ground to help with absorption by the root system. Apply water from a hose using a spray or rain setting to prevent runoff.

What to Do if a Mango Tree Does Not Produce Fruit

The Name of a Plant That Resembles the Palm Tree

Landscaping Trees