Fertilizing Your Trees - Organic Versus Inorganic

We all know that our trees need nutrients in order to thrive in their limited environments. If these trees were growing in our gardens, their far reaching roots would search out both water and nurients to keep themselves actively growing. Trees in pots cannot emulate this.

Few of us rely on the actual content of the soil to keep our trees healthy; instead we use a variety of fertilizers to provide what our soils lack. Our options run from slow release formulations, to lawn-type fertilizers, to instant dissolving mixes, to organic fish emulsions, to composted manure.

What advantage is there to using one of these over another?

At what strength should fertilizer be applied?

How often?

Should one switch from one type to another every time one fertilizes?

How do we recognize that our trees need fertilizer?

How do we recognize fertilizer burn?

What can be done if we have over-fertilized?