Schuster , C.F., Extension Educator, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension
Gill, S.A., Regional Extension Specialist, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, Central Maryland Research and Education Center

ABSTRACT

Nursery managers, arborist and landscape managers play an important role in creating and maintaining a healthy environment in urban and community forests. Determining the correct amount of nitrogen fertilizer to be applied to maintain the health of the trees and be environmentally conscious is the question most nursery managers, arborist and landscape managers are asking. Ongoing research being completed in Maryland is starting to provide answers to these questions. A 2-year field trail was conducted at Ruppert Nursery, Laytonsville, Maryland on nursery plants to determine optimum fertilization rates for Acer rubrum (American red maple). A manager'''s goal is to increase caliper size rapidly and sell the plants into the market place. The quicker the plant material reaches a specified trunk caliper (usually 2"-6" caliper is the market goal) the production field can be turned to another crop. The primary objective of this trial is to determine the appropriate nitrogen fertilizer rate to optimize tree growth and not increase the potential of nutrient loss and pollution.
PDF version

---