Question
Cherry Laurel Images
I purchased a Cherry Laurel 2 years ago that had suffered wind damage at its
nursery. It also had rust colored bark and leaves from the local water supply.
It's made a recovery in my yard. The bark is back to an ashy gray. The leaves
are green The tree is growing about a foot per year.
The problem is it never flowers or produces fruit. Is it possible for this
species to become infertile due to its previous trauma?
AnswerSounds like it needs fertilizer but not a nitrogen type fertilizer.
Whenever you see a fertilizer product, it will have three numbers prominently listed on the package, usually on the front. These numbers are very important and tell a great deal about what this fertilizer will do.
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P, K) are what the numbers refer to. They are always listed in this order. It is the percentage within that package of each component.
For example, a common type of all-purpose fertilizer is referred to as 10-10-10. This is a balanced blend of equal portions of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. If you purchased a 50-pound bag, five pounds (or 10 percent) would be nitrogen, five pounds would be phosphorus and five pounds would be potassium. The remaining 70 percent is simply filler, or inert ingredients, which are there mostly to help disperse the chemicals.
A common way of describing the purpose behind each chemical is to think "up, down and all around."
Applying this simple phrase will help you remember that nitrogen, the first chemical listed, helps with plant growth above ground. Nitrogen promotes the green leafy growth of foliage and provides the necessary ingredients to produce lush green lawns. Lawn fertilizers frequently have a high first number for this purpose.
Phosphorus, the middle number, is very effective at establishing growth below ground, in the form of healthy root systems. It is also the component most responsible for flower blooms and fruit production. You'll notice that fertilizers designed for flower production, or starter-type fertilizers for your lawn, have a high middle number.
Potassium, the last number listed, is considered important for overall plant health. This is primarily due to its ability to help build strong cells within the plant tissue. In turn, the plants withstand various stresses, such as heat, cold, pests and diseases. For example, winterizer fertilizers will have a high component of potassium.
When shopping for fertilizers, be mindful of their intended use. Fertilizers that have equal numbers can generally be used as an all-purpose fertilizer. If you had only one product to work with, 10-10-10 would be my recommendation.
To promote good fruit or flower production, look for a middle number that is higher than the first. Otherwise, your plants will be stimulated to put out lots of nice green foliage, often at the expense of fruit or flower production. Instead, you want the energy and nutrition of the plant to go towards the desired result _ flowers or fruit _ so a higher middle number is a more appropriate choice.
Finally, whenever you apply fertilizers, don't assume that more is better. You can burn plants by over fertilizing, and damage the surrounding soil as well. Instead, err on the side of less is better. If your soil is rich in organic matter, it should have all the nutrition plants need.
I would check with your local nursery and ask for a fertilizer for flowering plants. and use about a cup full per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good.
