Q: Is this a good time to fertilize six-month old dogwood and redbud trees?

A: No. My general recommendation is to fertilize plants in early spring, before green growth begins. I think organic, slow-release fertilizers (Holly-Tone, Milorganite, E. B. Stone) work well for newly planted trees. After you apply fertilizer, scratch it into the soil with a rake and apply enough water to make the soil slightly soggy. The very best thing you can do for your young trees is to cover the soil underneath each one with mulch. Pine chips or pine straw deter weeds, preserve moisture, and reduce competition from lawn grass. Mulched trees grow almost twice as fast as those not mulched, even without added fertilizer.