Question
QUESTION: I have two Green Giant Thujas a Blue Arrow Juniper and two Hollywood Junipers all planted last fall. The thujas are about 8ft.tall, the Hollywood Junipers and Blue Arrow are about 6ft tall. I would very much like to feed them with slow release fertilizer,(Lesco 14-14-14) especially the thujas, to encourage them to grow as quickly as possible. I have heard conflicting opinions about feeding. Some say don't feed the first year others say it is OK to do so, and some say feed twice, once at the end of March and once in September. What is your advice please, and what is the reason for NOT feeding?

ANSWER: The only thing you need to do is stop the fertilizing about 30 days before the first freeze. Depending where you are located this is around the first of September. Use about a 1 lb of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. You can actually cut this in half (1/2 lb) and fertilize every 45-60  days or so.  

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QUESTION: I should have phrased my question better Jim. I meant 'what is the reason for not feeding in the first year?'

Thanks.

Answer
The main reason for not feeding the first year is that too  fertilizer might burn the roots  and not allow the roots to get established. If the soil is fertile then wait until the second year but is the soil is sandy I would go ahead and fertilize this year.