Posted by Brent Wilson on 10/five/2016 to Fertilizing & Watering Tips


Chaste trees, scientifically known asVitex agnus-castus, are beautiful flowering trees that are exceptionally easy to grow and care for. With proper pruning they will repeat flower into early on fall.

Here's a breakup of what you lot need to know regarding feeding, pruning and watering celibate copse...

Fertilizing A Chaste Tree

Chaste copse are light feeders however benefit from fertilization.

When to fertilize a Chaste Tree?

I fertilize my chaste copse in late winter or very early spring.

What type of fertilizer?

When feeding my celibate copse, I utilise a slow-release shrub and tree fertilizer at rates recommended on the production label. Alternatively, you can feed with mild, organic institute food.  Avert the utilise of 10-10-10 and other similar quick-release fertilizers every bit this can cause excessive foliage growth.

To conserve moisture throughout the growing flavour and suppress weed growth, I likewise always utilise a i to 2" layer of cured, shredded or chipped wood mulch or pino straw around the tree in late winter. As the mulch decomposes it volition add vital nutrients to the soil that your chaste tree will capeesh.

Note: Avert the use of freshly chipped wood for mulch until it has cured in a pile for at least 6 months, a twelvemonth is amend. Avert placing or piling mulch directly against the base of operations of your plant as this could cause the bark to rot.

How much fertilizer?

This will depend of course on the size of the tree y'all are fertilizing and the blazon of fertilizer. Regardingslow-release shrub and tree fertilizers, you'll find application instructions on the package label.

Where to spread the fertilizer?

The root system of a chaste tree might grow ii to 3 feet deep but the bulk of the feeder roots responsible for absorbing nutrients are in the superlative 12 to xviii inches of soil. Spreading fertilizer on the soil surface is sufficient to reach these feeder roots.

Spread fertilizer evenly effectually each tree, beginning a couple feet from its trunk, and so i pes beyond the drip line (branch perimeter) for every 5 anxiety in tree superlative.

Notation:  If the soil is compacted or subject field to excessive water runoff, the fertilizer tin be applied in a serial of holes 6 to 8 inches deep in the same area with about five holes per one inch of trunk bore.

Soil pH

Soil pH is a measurement of the alkalinity or acidity of soil and is measured on a scale of 1-14, with 7 as the neutral mark. Whatsoever measurement below 7 indicates acid soil weather, and anything above 7 indicates alkaline.

Chaste trees adopt a moderately acrid to neutral soil ranging from six.0 to 7.0 on the pH scale.  In one case you know the soil pH, if necessary, you can arrange it to run into the needs of your Vitex.

Testing Soil pH

If you're unsure about the pH of your soil, and whether or not it's suitable for growing celibate trees, it'due south a expert idea to test the soil pH in the planting surface area. You tin quickly test soil pH with a inexpensive soil test kit or pH tester probe.

To raise the pH (brand more element of group i) you tin can add pelletized limestone to the soil. To lower the pH (make more acid) you tin use Soil Sulfur, Aluminum Sulfate, or Chelated Atomic number 26. Adding organic compost to the soil or using compost equally mulch can as well help to increment acidity and maintain acid soil conditions.

How To H2o A Chaste Tree

Chaste trees prefer a moist but well-drained soil. That said, when established they are more than tolerant of dry or moisture periods.

Here's some helpful watering tips...

Summer Watering

At planting time

Water deeply at planting fourth dimension, making certain the soil around the root brawl and the root ball itself is moist all the fashion down to its base of operations. And then, each day thereafter, check the soil moisture and only provide water if the soil has stale out somewhat or is just lightly damp. Later on several days of checking soil moisture you should plant how many days yous can wait between waterings. Now you'll have a watering schedule. If there's a good soaking rain you lot tin can count this as a watering.

Note: Before removing your chaste tree from it'south plant nursery pot and planting, it is beneficial to soak the root brawl.

During the first growing season

After planting a chaste tree in the footing, especially during the hotter summer months, the trend is to recollect it has to be watered every day in guild to abound roots and become established in its new home. Still, in boilerplate garden soil y'all should non take to water your newly planted chaste tree every day. More often than not, this causes constantly moisture soil conditions that can lead to root rot. In the absenteeism of sufficient rainfall water only every bit needed to go along the root ball and surrounding soil damp to moist. Keep in mind that deep soaking less oft is much ameliorate than splashing but a lilliputian water around the tree every day. Deep soaking promotes deep root growth and tin reduce water loss past evaporation.

Thereafter

When established, chaste trees are quite drought tolerant. I rarely h2o mine except to provide an occasional deep soaking in an extended summer drought. If during a drought leaves start to fall from your chaste tree this is an indicator your tree could use a skilful deep soaking.

Wintertime Watering

During the cooler wintertime months chaste copse won't crave as much attention to watering. Provide water merely if necessary to go on the soil damp.

At planting time

When planted during the winter, deep soak the soil and the root brawl after planting. Then check the soil moisture every few days until you lot've determined how many days or weeks go past until the soil has dried and water is needed. With average rainfall you may not demand to water copse once again until leap or summer.

Notation:  If you have an automated irrigation organisation it'due south best to cut it off during the winter, but running it manually on occasion and but when and if necessary. Provide water during the winter simply if there'due south been a prolonged period of dry weather.

How & When To Prune A Celibate Tree

Celibate trees practice not require pruning however respond very well to information technology. You can prune your chaste tree to command size or for shaping purposes, and too to encourage echo flowering using a type of pruning called deadheading.

Maintenance pruning

Damaged or dead branches or stems should be removed when they occur. Make your cutting across the point of breakage or expressionless part.

For controlling size or shaping

Extensive, heavy pruning to reduce the size of a chaste tree should be done in tardily wintertime, before new growth has begun to emerge. At this time, you can cut branches to a desired length or to a signal where they intersect another branch. If yous are only shortening a branch, cut just to a higher place a twig or bud. Keep in listen that new growth will have off in the management of the twig or bud. If you are removing an entire branch see the analogy below for where to make you cut.

Note: There is really no need to use wound paint or tar afterwards making a cut. Trees will heal themselves.

For tree forming

Chaste trees can be grown as a shrub or pruned to form a tree. I unremarkably look until a chaste tree is 4 to five feet tall before starting the tree forming procedure. Tree forming is quite straightforward. In late winter, before new growth begins to emerge, merely remove lower limbs and branches to desired height. Run into illustration below for where to make cuts on larger branches.

Notation: I remove lower branches to a summit that allows people to walk under the tree. That said, earlier removing a branch take time to study where it goes. Make sure that its removal won't spoil the shape of the canopy. Depending on the size of a co-operative, you'll apply bypass hand pruners, lopping pruners, or a tree saw to remove branches.

Tip:If you have any reservations nearly pruning a mature celibate tree phone call your a local arborist. Pruning mature trees may require special equipment, preparation, and expertise. An arborist can provide a variety of services to assist in performing the job safely and reducing risk of personal injury and damage to your property. They are also able to determine what type of pruning is necessary to maintain or improve the health, appearance, and safe of your trees.

Deadheading

After the first flowering bike in belatedly bound or early on summer, spent flower stems can be snipped off before they commencement to form seeds. To remove a spent blossom from your celibate tree, simple use bypass pruners to make your cut at the base of operations of the blossom stem. If you allow your chaste tree to abound to full size, deadheading becomes impractical.

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