Deep root feeding

[tstex]

Hope everyone is well.  

Was not getting any traction in another forum topic, so maybe posting here will wk / thx 

Hello to All,

I have some 400-500 yr old massive live oaks, and some pecan trees that I would like to really give a boost to this spring, esp the pecan trees.  The pecan trees are from 80-10 yrs old.  All are around the fenced in area around the house that is surrounded by 100 acres of pastures and forest. 

Has anyone had success with using a [Rosses] root-feeder, and if so, here are a few questions:

• Make and model you have used w success
• A few sentences on best process/procedure to use
• What chemical types and quantities to use

The soil in the area is about 4-5ft of sandy loam, then clay.  Ground surface is St Augustine or Bahia grass, some areas have sheds/slabs that cover the drip lines, have an irrigation system I can run and water is from a well w an exact 7.0 pH.  

If there is any additional information you need [or would like to provide], pls let me know?

Thank you in-advance for your help and suggestions.

Best,
tstex

[Southside]

Just out of curiosity - what makes you think that a tree that has lived 100-500 years all by itself is going to benefit from injecting some new fangled chemical concoction down into its roots? 

[Jeff]

Good question. In fact, if I was a tree, I'd laugh. 

[Don P]

I wasn't sure I was the only one who felt that way. Alex Shigo wrote about his observations with "feeding" trees. He felt the bugs could see or smell the fake growth and would attack. He suggested well aged compost and don't overdo it. Go carefully 

[tstex]

Very fair questions. 

First, we had a horrible 5-6 mo drought w 47 days of triple digit heat; some 108 degrees.  None of the larger oaks were under irrigation.    The county extension agent stated injecting some iron would really help the oaks.

Next, the two Lg pecan trees were under irrigation, and I've lost 2-3 really big scaffolding branches.  Stimulating the collars of the cut areas is supposed to encourage growth from these areas to help fill in what's been lost of them last 2-4 yrs.  Hope this helps

[Jeff]

Unless you are into the climate change chase theory,  and think that is the root cause,those trees have probably already experienced and dealt with on  thier own similar periods of time.  Live oaks do have a life span. If you have 400-500 year old trees they are in their senior years now.  

[Southside]

Just my own opinion and based on personal experience.  The extension folks are good people, educated, and well meaning, but they live in academia where studies must be paid for and funny how often those studies reveal that the latest and greatest amendment works miracles, it's just a coincidence that it happens to be made by the party that paid for the grant.  They don't do for a living.  The USDA and by proxy extension service brought us K-31 fescue, the beauty of bio-solids, and how much broiler litter one needs to mix into your TMR daily ration (I still have the books), leading to the mad cow outbreak,  so I would tread carefully.  

[Don P]

Cool, it was still there.
If you are interested in understanding what is going on in a tree, Dr Shigo focused on old trees and their ills, this series of articles is good. I couldn't find the exact quote but this article, especially if you just scroll to the bottom and start by reading "Chlorosis", I think there are some connections.
treedictionary.com/DICT2003/shigo/CHEM.html

This is the main menu
treedictionary.com/DICT2003/shigo/

I happened across a couple of his self-shot videos while looking for the articles.  Off to the theater