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Plants grown using organic fertilizers are sometimes criticized for slow growth compared to their chemically grown counterparts. But this gap can be closed by improving the root system. Nutrient levels in soil using organic systems and fertilizers are typically low compared to chemical fertilizers. One root tip can absorb a given amount of nutrients in a day, week or month. If one root can be stimulated to branch and create 10 roots, then branching of those 10 to create 100 roots and beyond --- nutrient absorption is similarly improved.    Figure 1. When a seed germinates, the primary or taproot...

Who doesn’t love Fall?  Cooler weather, pumpkin patches, football and fire pits are a few of the first things that come to mind.  But what about updating your landscape by planting trees or shrubs?  What About Spring? Most people think of Spring as the best time to plant anything, but for trees and shrubs, there are a few reasons this may not be true:  Spring encourages new shoots and leaves to the top part of trees and plants. For a newly planted tree or shrub, this new growth hinders the establishment of the roots.  However, in the Fall, when the...