The white pine tree is a popular ornamental tree that can be found in many yards. These trees are beautiful, but they also require special care and attention. White pines grow very fast and need to be fertilized regularly so they don’t become undernourished or sickly looking. White pine trees produce cones (contain the flowers) in April or May and then cones mature by autumn. The seeds from these cones can be harvested and planted as saplings, which will eventually become full-sized trees.
White pine trees are relatively easy to grow, but they do require some care and maintenance. If you want your tree to thrive and produce plenty of cones each year, then you’ll need to fertilize it with a fertilizer designed specifically for white pines. White pine trees can grow up to 200 feet tall, and they have a lifespan of about 300 years. White pine trees are evergreen, meaning that their needles remain green throughout the winter. These trees are native to Canada and the northern regions of the United States. They also grow in parts of Europe.
Why Use Fertilizer For White Pine Trees
The need to fertilize the white pine tree arises from the analysis of the soil situation. The soil test result will reveal the nutrient availability and suitability of the soil. This shows what type of fertilizer and in what quantity the fertilizer should be applied to the white pine tree.
Fertilizing the white pine tree is a great way to help it grow and thrive, but it’s easy for mistakes to be made when deciding which fertilizer is right for your trees. The main benefit of fertilizing any kind of tree is that it can help your plant stay healthy through the winter months. It also helps maintain an adequate nitrogen level throughout those cold months when some nutrients may be lacking from the soil due to harsh weather conditions or other factors like drought or flooding.
Fertilizers provide the white pine trees essential nutrients such as nitrogen for early development, phosphorus (which strengthens cell walls), and potassium (which improves root growth). These nutrients help protect against diseases by eliminating any signs of deficiency symptoms and help build better immunity and resistance again potential diseases.
Choice of Fertilizer For the White Pine Trees
While is it very important to apply fertilizer to the white pine tree, the type of fertilizer to apply also plays a key role in the utilization and performance of the tree. The best fertilizer for white pine trees is the one that provides the needed fertilizer at each growth stage of the tree in the right quantity and desired quality. The list below contains the choice of fertilizer to use on the white pine trees:
#1. Nitrogen-rich fertilizer
Nitrogen is a key component of chlorophyll, which is what gives plants their green color. It’s also necessary for photosynthesis and the production of amino acids. Without nitrogen, your white pine trees won’t be able to grow properly. The deficiency symptoms of nitrogen in the white pine tree are prominent at an early age. When the white pine tree lacks nitrogen, the leaves tend to show yellow coloration, and the young white pine tree appears stunted.
The best nitrogen-rich fertilizer for white pine trees contains either ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate as its main ingredient. Here are some recommended nitrogenous fertilizers for white pine trees:
Price: $32.28
Features:
- 5 palm spikes per selling unit
- Formulated with special micro-nutrients-sulfur, magnesium, iron, and zinc
- Additional nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium supplements other palm growing needs
- Bagged
Perfect Palm ® – Palm Tree Fertilizer in Easy-to-Carry Pail with Free Measuring Scoop (7 LB. Pail)
Price: $44.95
Features:
- The Only Palm Fertilizer Created By Actual Palm Tree Growers And Palm Specialists
- Highest Levels Of Nutrients Available For Palms
- For Use On All Palms
- Easy-To-Carry Pail is Refillable When Ordering Our Refill 40 LB. Bags (Bags Sold Separately on Amazon)
- Resealable Lid Prevents Tears, Spills, and Damage From Moisture
- Free Measuring Scoop Included
- Added Boron and Manganese
#2. Foliar organic fertilizer
Foliar organic fertilizer is applied to the leaves of your pine trees, and this type of fertilizer has proven to be very effective. This type of fertilizer is broken down by the leaves, which are then absorbed by the roots.
Foliar organic fertilizers are sprayed on the foliage of white pines just before or during leaf opening in early spring. They should be applied monthly during the first 12 months of growth. Recommended foliar organic fertilizer is listed below:
Fertilome (10635) Chelated Liquid Iron and Other Micronutrients (1 gal)
Price: $37.99
Features:
- Quick, economical and easy correction of iron deficiency (yellowing of foliage) in your plants.
- Nutritional spray adds other key micronutrients to your shrubs, lawns, tress, flowers & vegetables.
- Concentrate readily mixes with water. Should not be substituted for fertilizer.
- Apply 2 to 10 teaspoons per gallon depending on height of plant. See label for instruction.
- Apply a thorough foliage spray to both sides of leaves. Mix 1 tablespoon per gallon of water.
#3. Slow-release organic fertilizer
Slow-release organic fertilizer is a good choice for trees that have deep roots. One of the benefits of applying a slow-releasing fertilizer is that they offer nutrients over an extended period of time. Trees with shallow root systems tend to burn when given too much fertilizer at once, so slow-release is best for these types of trees.
Often, slow-release fertilizers are used by people growing trees in poor soil because it helps them get more nutrients out of the dirt they’ve got. Slow-release organic fertilizer can be applied to white pine trees using the band placement method of fertilizer application every six months.
Hoffman 20505 Dehydrated Super Manure 4-2-3, 5 Pounds (Single Pack, Original Version)
Price: $20.90
Features:
- Slow releasing
- Last longer in the soil
- Perfect for tree crops
#4. Water-soluble synthetic fertilizer
Synthetic fertilizers are the most common type of fertilizer. They’re made from minerals and are fast-acting, meaning they can give your plants what they need when they need it. Synthetic fertilizers come in two forms:
- water-soluble (liquid, powder, or granule)
- slow-release
Water-soluble synthetic fertilizers include a wide variety of products such as Miracle Gro® Shake ‘N Feed® All Purpose Plant Food; Fox Farm Super Natural Organic Blossom Booster; Osmocote® 16-16-16 Water Soluble Fertilizer; Osmocote® 18-18-6 Water Soluble Fertilizer. They are best applied through irrigation water at the early growth stage of the white pine tree.
You can choose between any of the slow-release and fast-release fertilizers, and organic or synthetic formulas.
When To Apply Fertilizer For White Pine Trees
The best time to fertilize your white pine trees is when they are young. Fertilizing at this point will help grow the root system and increase the amount of energy that can be used by the tree. As the tree ages, it becomes more difficult for fertilizer to make a difference in its growth. Fertilizers can also be applied in fall or spring, depending on the type of fertilizer you use.
If you have newly planted white pines, it’s best to wait until after winter before applying any fertilizer. This gives them time to establish themselves before needing nutrients from outside sources. Once spring comes around again and new growth begins, then it’s time to start fertilizing. The most common way people fertilize their trees is by putting granules directly on top of the soil where they want them.
You may choose to apply fertilizer in the fall if you want more time for your tree’s roots to absorb it before winter sets in and freezes them up. Fertilizers applied during the fall will help strengthen root growth and prepare trees for better weather conditions next year.
If you chose to fertilize when temperatures are warmer, such as during springtime, there’s less risk of applying too much fertilizer than if done at any other time because soil temperatures are higher and water will evaporate more quickly from the earth after being absorbed by plant roots—meaning that not all nutrients will be lost through evaporation as they would during cooler months when rainfall may occur more often after fertilizing has already been completed.
How To Apply Fertilizer For White Pine Trees
The method of fertilizer application for white pine trees depends on the choice of fertilizer selected, the age of the white pine tree, and the time of application. Liquid fertilizers would be applied using the foliar method with the aid of a sprayer. Other forms of fertilizer are applied either through localized placement (band placement) or the side dressing method of fertilizer application. Always follow the guidelines provided by the manufacturer of the fertilizer before application of the fertilizer on white pine trees.
How Often To Apply Fertilizer For White Pine Trees
The fertilizer schedule for the white pine trees is age dependent. During the first 12 months of planting, fertilizers should be applied to white pine trees every month particularly when applying a foliar fertilizer. Slow-release fertilizers are applied to white pine trees every 6 months. Following the proper dosage of fertilizer helps to keep the tree healthy and prevent any negative effects of the fertilizer like soil toxicity, burning of the tree roots, and wilting.
Fertilizers should be applied during the cooler part of the day, usually early in the morning and late in the evening. Do not apply fertilizer if there is a sign of rain or in the afternoon. If it rains heavily while applying fertilizer or after applying fertilizer, the fertilizer becomes a waste due to runoff. The higher the temperature of the day when applying, the less effective the fertilizer becomes.
Final words
The best fertilizer for white pine trees is a slow-release fertilizer that contains high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The white pine tree is a tree crop that can live for a very long time, it needs a type of fertilizer that will last long in the soil. If your soil is deficient in magnesium, you can add that as well. Of course, slow-releasing fertilizers are not the only ones for pine trees. You could use other types of fertilizer and still have healthy plants.