Does sycamore fertilizer help? Sycamore trees need little maintenance from their owners. The tree can handle wind and snow loads well with its thick trunks and high branches. These trees are adaptable to different soil conditions, like clay, loam, and sandy soils. They get considered semi-dwarf trees since they do not grow huge but develop a conical shape with age.
Let’s learn more about sycamore fertilizer.
Do sycamore trees need fertilizer?
The answer is yes and no. Sycamore trees require fertilizing in the spring, just as other trees do. Sycamore trees are sometimes sold as “Fertilizer Trees” because they can be grown in areas without fertilizer.
Sycamores need lots of water during the summer months, but they also need fertilizer. It is because sycamores don’t make their food. Instead, they get their nutrients from the soil. A sycamore tree will require fertilizer if grown from seed or a cutting from an established tree to produce healthy leaves and blossoms.
It might be time for some fertilizer assistance:
- If you find that your sycamore tree lacks nutrients.
- Also, if your tree has difficulties developing leaves on its limbs.
Read about the problems of sycamore.
What is the best fertilizer for a sycamore tree?
The best fertilizer for a sycamore tree is an all-purpose organic fertilizer, such as one made from bone meal. Bone meal contains phosphorous, which is vital for the health of trees. If you plant a sycamore in a garden with some trees or shrubs, you should use the same type of fertilizer (organic) as those plants.
You should apply the fertilizer around your tree’s drip line. That is, where the water will drain away from it. If you don’t know where your tree’s drip line is, look at its leaves; it will be near the base of the trunk.
An organic product is preferable to granular or liquid fertilizer if you intend to fertilize your sycamore frequently. Fast-acting fertilizers may produce higher than usual rates of photosynthesis, which could lead to an overgrowth of tree branches and leaves and a decrease in fruit yield. They may also burn roots and foliage.
What type of fertilizer is used for a sycamore tree?
The type of fertilizer used for a sycamore tree depends on the amount of foliage and whether or not it is healthy. If you have an overgrown sycamore, you may need to fertilize it every month or so during the growing season.
There are three types of fertilizer that you can use on a sycamore tree. They include:
- Liquid fertilizer
- An organic, slow-release fertilizer
- Acidic soil chemical
Liquid fertilizer
These contain nutrients that are soluble in water, so they are easier to apply than dry fertilizers. They also have a longer shelf life than dry fertilizers, which means they can last longer between applications.1
An organic, slow-release fertilizer
Organic, slow-release fertilizers contain micronutrients that help trees grow and thrive. Organic, slow-release fertilizers are especially beneficial to trees whose roots can’t access the soil due to root rot.
Acidic soil chemical
These chemicals provide sulfur compounds, calcium and magnesium ions, phosphorous, and potassium sulfate. They help trees grow strong roots from the ground into the soil where they need them most for healthy growth and development.
When is the best time to fertilize a sycamore tree?
Sycamores are heavy feeders and require a lot of nitrogen-rich fertilizer during their first few years of growth. It can be applied every few weeks during the spring and fall until three years after planting. After this time period, you will only need to re-apply every other year.
How to apply fertilizer to a sycamore tree?
The first thing to do with any fertilizer is to read the label carefully. There are many different types of fertilizers, and each one works differently from another. Some fertilizers may be better for trees than others because they contain nutrients beneficial for plants but not for other types of plants like grass or flowers. Make sure you know what kind of fertilizer your tree needs before use.
How to apply fertilizer to a sycamore tree:
- Prune back old-growth branches and remove smaller ones if necessary for proper coverage of the trunk or limbs.
- Cut off all suckers and other unwanted growth on the trunk or branches.
- Remove any weeds growing around the tree. So they do not compete with the tree for nutrients.
- Measure your tree and find the root area on the trunk that is closest to the ground.
- Also, measure how deep you will dig down, then mark off the area with stakes or garden markers so that you don’t go over the same place twice.
- Spread the fertilizer around the trunk or limbs at least 18 inches (46 cm) from its base. It helps prevent the leaching of stored nutrients into the soil around trees through runoff water or snow melt during winter in areas where snow accumulates.
How do you look after a sycamore tree?
Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a tree surgeon to look after a sycamore tree. All you need is basic knowledge and some time.
Here are some tips on how to look after your sycamore:
- Watering
- Fertilizing
- Pruning
Watering
Sycamores love water and may need an extra dose during dry spells. Make sure that the soil is moist, but not sopping wet, as this will encourage fungal diseases.
Fertilizing
Apply a slow-release fertilizer once a year in spring when planting out or in autumn when making cuts for Christmas trees.
Pruning
Prune regularly to keep your sycamore looking good and healthy. The best time of year for pruning is late summer through autumn before new growth appears which will give you back more value for money in terms of shape, size, and appearance than waiting until next year’s growth has appeared again.
How much fertilizer do sycamore trees need?
Sycamore trees require at least an inch of nitrogen per year, which gets applied as a liquid fertilizer or granular fertilizer mixed with soil around the roots of the plant. Using too much nitrogen will cause leaf damage due to high levels of nitrates in the soil around your tree’s roots.
Find out how far sycamore roots spread.
Citations Used in this Article
- Sycamore – Pruning, Winter Care and Fertilizing – (hawkslandscape.com)