A live oak (Quercus virginiana) I planted about 3 yrs ago, now
about 7ft (2m) tall, was not completely uprooted, but slanted
to about 45 degrees, by Hurricane Isabel. I've reset and
staked the tree. I also gave it some superphosphate and
water. What else should I do? We have relatively warm
winters (at least until Jan 1 or so). Would it be helpful to
give it a little nitrogen, now or later? Or not until spring?

Mike Prager
Beaufort, NC (on the coast in zone 8a)
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Fertilizing a weak or damaged tree is never a good idea, in my opinion. If
the soil was fine to begin with (not lacking in NPK), if it were my tree the
most I would do now is lay down composted manure, mulch, and let it recover.

Dave

"Mike Prager" §§mprager@§alum.§mit.§edu wrote in message
...
A live oak (Quercus virginiana) I planted about 3 yrs ago, now
about 7ft (2m) tall, was not completely uprooted, but slanted
to about 45 degrees, by Hurricane Isabel. I've reset and
staked the tree. I also gave it some superphosphate and
water. What else should I do? We have relatively warm
winters (at least until Jan 1 or so). Would it be helpful to
give it a little nitrogen, now or later? Or not until spring?

Mike Prager
Beaufort, NC (on the coast in zone 8a)
(Remove symbols from email address to reply.)

I would not fertilize a stressed tree, or any plant for that matter, but since
you already have, and super phosphate is really toxic (IMO IMO IMO) to the soil,
I would say to "right" the tree and water it when dry. During the winter months
it should recover. Do not fertilize it any more.


On Mon, 22 Sep 2003 02:59:48 GMT, Mike Prager §§mprager@§alum.§mit.§edu
opined:

A live oak (Quercus virginiana) I planted about 3 yrs ago, now
about 7ft (2m) tall, was not completely uprooted, but slanted
to about 45 degrees, by Hurricane Isabel. I've reset and
staked the tree. I also gave it some superphosphate and
water. What else should I do? We have relatively warm
winters (at least until Jan 1 or so). Would it be helpful to
give it a little nitrogen, now or later? Or not until spring?

Mike Prager
Beaufort, NC (on the coast in zone 8a)
(Remove symbols from email address to reply.)

Mike Prager §§mprager@§alum.§mit.§edu wrote in message . ..
A live oak (Quercus virginiana) I planted about 3 yrs ago, now
about 7ft (2m) tall, was not completely uprooted, but slanted
to about 45 degrees, by Hurricane Isabel. I've reset and
staked the tree. I also gave it some superphosphate and
water. What else should I do? We have relatively warm
winters (at least until Jan 1 or so). Would it be helpful to
give it a little nitrogen, now or later? Or not until spring?


The only thing you did wrong was to fertilize it. You should have
waited until it resetablished itself.

Don't fertilize it until spring. It needs to redevelop its roots.


J. Del Col

On 22 Sep 2003 09:25:30 -0700, (J. Del
Col) wrote:

The only thing you did wrong was to fertilize it. You should have
waited until it resetablished itself.

Don't fertilize it until spring. It needs to redevelop its roots.

Thanks, all, for the suggestions. I thought phosphorus was
needed for, and would encourage, root formation. Our soil is
sandy and poor. Looks like the weight of the opinion so far
is against it, though.


Mike Prager
Beaufort, NC (on the coast in zone 8a)
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Sorry, not answering you just seeing if I can reply to te group as I'm not
able to post new message, again please accept my apology
"Mike Prager" §kill-spam§mprager@§alum.§mit.§edu wrote in message
...
On 22 Sep 2003 09:25:30 -0700, (J. Del
Col) wrote:

The only thing you did wrong was to fertilize it. You should have
waited until it resetablished itself.

Don't fertilize it until spring. It needs to redevelop its roots.

Thanks, all, for the suggestions. I thought phosphorus was
needed for, and would encourage, root formation. Our soil is
sandy and poor. Looks like the weight of the opinion so far
is against it, though.


Mike Prager
Beaufort, NC (on the coast in zone 8a)
(Remove spam traps from email address to reply.)

Well one problem solved
"Marsha" wrote in message
.. .
Sorry, not answering you just seeing if I can reply to te group as I'm not
able to post new message, again please accept my apology
"Mike Prager" §kill-spam§mprager@§alum.§mit.§edu wrote in message
...
On 22 Sep 2003 09:25:30 -0700, (J. Del
Col) wrote:

The only thing you did wrong was to fertilize it. You should have
waited until it resetablished itself.

Don't fertilize it until spring. It needs to redevelop its roots.

Thanks, all, for the suggestions. I thought phosphorus was
needed for, and would encourage, root formation. Our soil is
sandy and poor. Looks like the weight of the opinion so far
is against it, though.


Mike Prager
Beaufort, NC (on the coast in zone 8a)
(Remove spam traps from email address to reply.)