Early spring is the right time to start fertilizing an oak, with one or two feedings a year kept inside the growing season. Late fall is the time to avoid, because feeding then can push tender growth that has no time to harden before winter.

Why do oaks need a slow, steady feeding?

Oaks do best on a balanced formula lower in nitrogen that supports slow, steady growth. Excess nitrogen pushes weak shoot growth, leaves the tree more open to pests, and lowers its tolerance to drought, cold, and disease, so a single heavy dose at any time of year works against an oak.

What should the early spring feeding be?

One 3.3 lb bag of TreeHelp Premium Fertilizer: Oak covers a mature oak, or two to three smaller or newly planted oaks, and its slow release nitrogen keeps feeding the tree through the growing season.

When does a second feeding go down?

A second feeding, when an oak needs one, stays within the growing season. Slow release is the safer choice then, since a fertilizer high in nitrogen applied in the middle or end of summer pushes weak growth that is vulnerable to winter damage.

How does the fertilizer reach an oak's roots?

To get each feeding below the grass roots near the drip line, the circle beneath the outer edge of the canopy, the TreeHelp Soil Drill bores holes in a grid around the tree from any standard electric drill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should an oak be pruned at the same time as its spring feeding?

No. Avoiding pruning during the growing season is part of preventing oak wilt, a serious fungal disease that causes wilting and leaf discoloration and can kill the tree.

Does a pin oak need its soil checked before feeding?

It helps. Pin oak is among the species most prone to iron chlorosis, a yellowing of the newest leaves while the veins stay green, which usually comes from soil with a pH above 7.0.

How does the start of spring shift by region?

By several months. Spring can begin in January or February in the southern United States and not until May or June in the north.

How long does one spring feeding last?

About one growing season for a granular fertilizer, which is why an oak is fed again the following spring.