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What Happens When You Overfertilize a Tree?

The correct amount of fertilization is beneficial for trees, but as with any plant, overfertilization of your trees can cause serious problems to their health. If you're worried you might overfertilize your trees, it's best to err on the side of caution -- less fertilization is better than too much. If you realize you've already overfertilized, you can take some action to prevent disaster.

  1. Fertilizer

    • Basic fertilizer consists of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Applying too much of this type of fertilizer leads to chemical burning effects. Organic fertilizers also are available and are less likely to cause problems with overfertilization, but these products may not be as effective at amending the soil. This is particularly true if you're dealing with highly depleted soil or soil that has excessive sand content.

    Application

    • To apply fertilizer, follow the package directions carefully. Greenwoods in Pennsylvania recommends applying lawn fertilizer over the root area of trees in spring or fall during the second year after planting. Spread 8 oz. of granular fertilizer over an area measuring 6 by 6 feet. If you feel you must fertilize a newly planted tree, sprinkle one tablespoon of fertilizer on the ground around the plant, but do not add any fertilizer to the planting hole, cautions Nurseryman.com. You also can buy tree fertilizer sticks at stores that sell lawn and garden care items. In all cases, water helps deliver the fertilizer to the roots.

    Overfertilization

    • Overfertilizing a tree can cause stunted growth and can make the leaves, flowers and fruit fall off. It can reduce the root area and increase the crown, making the tree more vulnerable to wind and storms. Adding too much fertilizer to tree roots can even kill the tree, especially if the plant is not mature.

    Prevention

    • To prevent overfertilization, don't use granular and fertilizer sticks together, advises Greenwood. Wait until the second year of planting to fertilize, and don't apply fertilizer during summer. Nurseryman.com recommends not fertilizing evergreens at all unless a loss of color indicates a shortage of nutrients.

    Solution

    • If you're concerned that you have applied too much fertilizer to tree roots, Greenwood offers a potential remedy. Add 1 cup of table sugar to a gallon of water and pour it around the tree to counteract some of the nitrogen. Water the tree as you usually would or allow rain to do the job if you expect rain within the next 24 hours.

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