Nutrients Used by Cedar Trees

Potassium

• Potassium helps plants utilize other nutrients for making energy more efficiently during photosynthesis. Potassium also helps cedar trees retain water inside the leaves, while controlling how much water the tree absorbs through its leaves. A cedar with potassium deficiency may have weak roots, branches or trunk, ill-formed roots, discolored leaves, problems with pests and disease and trouble tolerating cold weather. Provide your cedars with potassium by working organic fertilizer such as well-rotted compost into the soil.

Nitrogen

• Nitrogen helps cedars grow strong branches and trunks while producing healthy leaves. Nitrogen is important in protein development within the tree, helping cedars fight off disease and making their overall health stronger. Nitrogen is found in organic materials, such as decaying plant or animal matter. Compost tea adds nitrogen into the soil. Too little nitrogen produces discolored leaves and weak, spindly looking trees, while too much nitrogen creates more foliage and weak trunks along with insect problems.

Phosphorus

• Phosphorus aids root growth and development, leaf production and photosynthesis. Proper phosphorus levels encourage faster cedar growth and encourage reproduction. Like potassium, phosphorus aids in efficient water usage and respiration. Cedars lacking in phosphorus are slow to mature, developing at a stunted pace. Phosphorus is available in organic fertilizer such as bone meal.

Calcium

• Calcium for cedars makes them structurally strong. Calcium helps cedars produce strong cell walls, creating stronger trunks, limbs and leaves. This nutrient also aids in efficient nutrient transport throughout the cedar tree. Calcium loss makes cedars more prone to disease or insect attack. Calcium is found naturally in the minerals surrounding cedar roots in the soil.