From my roots upward, my entire system is tied to the sun. My need for nutrients is not constant; it ebbs and flows with the light. During the long, bright days of spring and summer, I am in a state of frantic activity. Every photon of light captured by my emerald leaves powers the creation of new branches and a dense canopy. This is my growth season, and this is when I am most hungry. Providing me with fertilizer during this period directly supports this vital expansion. As autumn arrives and daylight wanes, my metabolic processes slow. I am preparing for a period of rest, not active growth. Fertilizing me now would be confusing and potentially harmful, as it might push me to produce tender new growth that would be vulnerable to the cooler temperatures and weaker light. During winter, I am largely dormant; please let me rest. My roots are inactive and cannot absorb nutrients, which could then build up in the soil and damage me.
To understand what I need, you must understand what I am. As a broadleaf evergreen, my pride and joy is my foliage. I dedicate immense resources to maintaining a lush, vibrant, and healthy canopy. Therefore, the primary nutrient I crave is Nitrogen (N). Nitrogen is the fundamental building block of chlorophyll, the molecule that makes me green and allows me to perform photosynthesis. A fertilizer with a higher first number in the N-P-K ratio (e.g., 12-6-6 or 20-5-5) is ideal for supporting this leafy growth. However, I am a complex organism, and I need a balanced diet. The Phosphorus (P) is crucial for strong root development and overall energy transfer within my system, while Potassium (K) helps regulate my internal functions and improves my resilience to disease and environmental stress. A slow-release, granular fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants or evergreens is often the best choice, as it provides a steady, gentle supply of nutrients that mimics a natural soil environment.
The way you deliver my food is as important as the food itself. My root system is extensive but relatively shallow. Applying fertilizer directly against my trunk can cause "fertilizer burn," damaging the delicate tissues that transport water and nutrients. The correct method is to scatter the granules evenly on the soil surface, starting a few inches from the trunk and extending out to the "drip line"—the area directly under the outermost reach of my branches, which is roughly where my finest feeder roots are located. After applying the fertilizer, a deep, thorough watering is essential. This action serves two purposes: it begins to dissolve the granules, making the nutrients available to my roots, and it washes any stray particles off my foliage and onto the soil where they belong, preventing leaf scorch. Always ensure I am well-hydrated before and after feeding; applying fertilizer to dry soil can shock my root system.
More food is not always better. Over-fertilizing me can be far more dangerous than under-fertilizing. An excess of salts from synthetic fertilizers can draw water out of my roots, effectively causing me to dehydrate. Signs of this distress include the browning or yellowing of leaf tips and margins, and in severe cases, leaf drop and stunted growth. If you see a white, crusty buildup on the soil surface, that is a clear sign of salt accumulation. If you suspect over-fertilization, you can help me by leaching the soil—applying a large amount of water to flush the excess salts down and away from my root zone. Remember, I am adapted to find nutrients in the soil; your supplemental feeding is a boost, not my sole source of sustenance. When in doubt, err on the side of a weaker solution or skipping a feeding altogether.
