New tree planted in July...nursery said put root stimulater on it at least once a month...said it wouldn't hurt my yr old trees to do same. Is this good advice?

I'm kinda worried about "stimulating" roots now since the growing season is ending. So...I need advice please.

Thank you.

Well, couple of things here:

The growing season is far from over. Many trees go through another growth spurt above ground (branches, leaves, etc) as soon as summer cools down to fall. A lot of root growth happen then too.

Roots will grow, albeit more slowly, even in the dead of winter. That's why I always say plant in fall, so you get the whole season to grow top and bottom, then all winter it roots some more and by spring, the tree wakes up to a much stronger root system.

Honestly summer would be my last choice for planting a tree, due to weather stress. But it's not impossible to do. Just keep them well watered all the way through fall and even now and again in winter.

As to root stimulators, that's well and goood as long as they are not synthetic chemical junk. Howard had this to say on the topic:

'The ?toxic chemicals are just fine? boys recommend these high phosphate synthetic fertilizers regularly for tree planting and transplanting but at the same time they advise against using high or even medium level phosphorus fertilizers elsewhere. The alleged reason is that the north Texas black and white soils are already too high in phosphorus. They go so far as to advise avoiding all compost, manure products and other fertilizers with phosphorus. I haven?t figured out yet why the high phosphorus ?root stimulators? are OK. Should we avoid high phosphorus fertilizers or not?

The answer is to avoid synthetic fertilizers in general. This whole ?phosphorus is a problem? question is primarily for chemical fertilizer programs. Organic products and healthy organic soils buffer the chemical imbalance problems.

All organic products stimulate the life in the soil. That?s why they work so well. But the only root stimulator that you need for new trees is compost tea. It is naturally buffered, slow release and loaded with microbes and trace minerals.'

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Shepherd of the Trees
It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields we know so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.

Do not use non-organic commercial products labeled as root stimulators. They are sold as such at Lowes & Home Depot and other places. Use COMPOST TEA as suggested in the previous post or concentrated seaweed extract which is available most anywhere. SEAWEED EXTRACT is better in my experience. Roots can be stimulated year round which is why a lot of plants are planted inthe dormant season; it gets the roots established! Good Luck!

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The "soap" you use is normally chemicals, etc. Use real SOAP !!

This is fine...good advice...but being my age, alone, etc., it's difficult to find these products and then mix them. I live in Rockwall. It would be great if the things recommended where in more nurseries, including the garden centers at Home Depot and Lowes and all we had to do was delute with water and apply.

Don't misunderstand...I appreciate all of the advice I receive, but sometimes it's hard of an older person to do all of this.

You can find the liquid seaweed at any of the stores that sell the root stimulator. You use it the same way, dilute w/water & pour. Couldn't be easier.

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The "soap" you use is normally chemicals, etc. Use real SOAP !!