How to Fertilize Hemlock

Evergreens, including hemlocks, do not normally need a lot of fertilizer. As long as your hemlocks are getting plenty of sunshine and water, fertilizer could actually do more harm than good. Unless your hemlock is losing its dark green color, do not fertilize your hemlock. However, a small dose of fertilizer, before winter, can help your hemlock survive the cold weather better.

Pitchfork
Fertilizer
Garden sprayer attachment

Instructions

- 1
  Take a pitchfork and poke a series of holes into the ground around your hemlocks. The main feeder roots are not near the trunk of the tree or shrub, so it's important to get the fertilizer down near them.
- 2
  Read the directions on a bag of general-purpose or evergreen-specific fertilizer and add the correct amount into a garden sprayer attachment. A basic 12-12-12 Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium fertilizer (NPK) is appropriate for hemlocks.
- 3
  Apply the fertilizer to the foliage and the area around the hemlocks after the first frost. Use only the amount recommended on the packaging so that you do not over-fertilize the plants. Over-fertilization kills trees and shrubs more often than under-fertilizing them.

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