Fertilizer Facts There are a few basics that you need to know about fertilizer. Usu-

ally when you go to purchase a bag of fertilizer, you will see three

numbers representing N-P-K. What do these numbers and letters

mean?

"N" is the first number and it represents the percentage of nitrogen in

the fertilizer mix. Nitrogen is important because it promotes the

growth of the foliage or, as in the case of your lawn, blades of grass.

“P” The second number stands for phosphorus which is percentage

of Phosphorus which is what stimulates root growth in plants.

Thirdly you have the "K" which stands for potassium. Potassium is

important for proper cell function and overall plant health.

Cool fall temperatures can make many plants appear dead or dor-

mant, but actually there is a lot going on under the ground. Now is

when the roots are growing. Fertilizer that is high in phosphorus is

just what you need to promote strong, healthy roots now as well as

for beautiful plants in the spring.

When temperatures drop to 40 degrees, plants are stimulated to pro-

duce higher concentrations of amino acids, sugars and other things

that help the plant resist freezing. Fertilizing in the fall will help

plants to be more winter hardy when temperatures drop.

Fall is the best time to nourish plants and

lawns after a hot and dry summer

Fall Newsletter 2015 Why it is best

to fertilize

again in the

fall?

If you want a

beautiful,

healthy garden

in the spring,

consider fall fer-

tilization of gar-

den plants. Fall

is really the ideal

time for feeding

your garden. If

you do it right, it

will be well

worth the effort

of adding it to

your fall garden.

Contact Us

10 Whitney Rd

Mahwah, N.J. 07430

(201)891-7775

262 Valley Rd

Wayne, N.J. 07470

(973)686-0577

Check Our Website

www.cedarhillnursery.com

For Established

Plants:

Feed acid-loving

plants twice yearly -

Spring and Fall. Use

half the recommended

rate in the Fall appli-

cation. If the area to

be fed is mulched, it is

preferable to remove

the mulch, feed and

then restore the

mulch on top of the

plant food. If this is

not possible, double

all recommended

feeding rates.

Established Plants

In general, feed trees

and shrubs twice a

year - Spring and

Fall. Feed flowers

and vegetables once

per month through

the growing season.

Sprinkle 1 cup of

Plant-tone around

the drip-line of the

plant (forming a cir-

cle under the plant's

outer leaves). For

trees and shrubs, use

1 cup for each foot of

branch spread

(diameter of plant).

September and October

is the time to plant bulbs

for a spring display that

will chase away the last

of winter's chill. They

also need phosphorus

applied at the level of

the roots to help them

get established before

winter sets in. Fall fertil-

izing while you are plant-

ing the bulbs is the most

effective way to go. Mix

rich compost with the

soil to give your spring

bulbs plenty of food to

carry them until spring.

Be sure you plant your

bulbs in a hole that is

roughly four times

deeper than the height

of the bulb.

This premium plant food

from the classic name in

garden goodness is for-

mulated specifically for

bulbs and tubers. Espoma

Bulb Tone contains bone

meal and other organics

to meet the special nutri-

tional needs of these

plants, and has an NPK of

3-5-3.

Espoma Bulb Tone also

contains Bio-tone®, a pro-

prietary blend of benefi-

cial microbes that biologi-

cally enhances the food to

ensure superior growth.

This is Espoma's unique

recipe for safely and effi-

ciently growing healthy

bulbs every time!

Fall Fertilization of Garden Plants

Different plants have different needs, so what fertilizer should you choose

for your plants in the fall? Take a look at a few that will provide special

care in the fall.

Fall Décor Mums Gourds Cornstalks Hay Bales Cabbage

Kale Pumpkins Millet Ornamental Peppers

F a l l N e w s l e t t e r 2 0 1 5

The best Maple trees with fall color

Hedge Maple Acer campestre Yellow or golden

Amur Maple Acer ginnala Yellow to deep red

Paperback Maple Acer griseum

Green, red-brown to bright

red

Bigleaf Maple Acer macrophyllum Yellow to gold

Fernleaf Fullmoon Maple

Acer japonicum

‘Aconitifolium’

Yellow to gold

Japanese Maple Acer palmatum

Yellow bronze, purple or

red

Crimson King Maple

Acer platanoides

'Crimson King'

Reddish-orange

Planetree Maple Acer pseudoplatanus Dingy brown to yellow

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Green-yellow, yellow and

red

Silver Maple Acer saccharinum Green-yellow

Sugar Maple Acer saccharum Orange-yellow

Fall supplies

P a g e 4 F a l l n e w s l e t t e r 2 0 1 5

Leaf tarps Shovels

Spring Rakes Burlap

Leaf barrels Topsoil

Grass seed Tree Kits

Starter Fertilizer Arbor Tie

Pelletized Lime Wheelbarrows

Penn Mulch Hay Mulch /Salt hay

Treekote" gives the job a

neat, finished

appearance while

helping protect the

exposed area from

insects and fungi, which

can cause disease and

decay.

• Protects your shrubs,

bushes, vines & trees

from decay, insects and

fungi.

• Apply to fresh pruned

areas.

• Shields tree wounds.

• Withstands all weather:

hot, cold, wet & dry.

• For patching damaged

areas of trees & shrubs.

The reason for wrapping the trees is to protect them from

sunburn (aka sun scald, see photo below). During the

spring and summer season, the tree is exposed to the sun

primarily from above. When winter sets in, the sun is

lower in the sky and shines directly on the trunk, making

the immature bark subject to burning. Will sunscald kill

your tree? The answer to that is yes! It is possible that

severe sunscald can damage the tree so badly that it will

need to be replaced. Another issue that may arise with a

wound caused by sunscald, would be weakening the tree,

setting it up for insect infestations. All in all, it is a good

idea to wrap your trees. It’s like cheap insurance