Feeding Shrubs

I have 213 trees and shrubs in my yard all mulched with wood chips three yearsago. You've said the chips will use up the nitrogen needed by the trees andshrubs. How do I add extra nitrogen? Will a something like Miracle Gro lawnfertilizer that is high in nitrogen work?

I love your newsletter - its seems I learn something new every week.

Please help. Some of the shrubs and trees are not looking as healthy as theydid in years past.

Doug says

OK: let's clear up a note about nitrogen and mulch.

Mulch, by itself, will not be a major factor in depleting nitrogen UNLESS you turn it into the soil. If you let it sit on top of the soil, it will use up some of the nitrogen in the top interface layer (where the soil and mulch touch) but it won't use it up down at the root zone level.

A regular dose of compost in the spring will work wonders for all shrubs and flowers. And that's usually enough to keep them happy.

Lawn fertilizer should NOT be used on gardens because of the high nitrogen levels. Man, you'll either burn the heck out of those roots or the plants will grow so fast they'll winterburn next year out in your neck of the woods. (Alberta, Canada)

Click here if you have a question about feeding shrubs