North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Jerry Lehman <jwlehman@aol.com>]

Add organic spot  mulch generously around each tree at least to the drip line 
every year.


1st, keep in mind I tend to be agnostic. But I question this advice of 
fertilizing around the drip line. I have many tall trees on my 84 farm 
and I have a subsoiler. Also my Gardens are well beyond the drip line of 
many trees such as oak and Osage orange. I can tell you unequivocally 
that the roots extend well beyond the drip line, therefore I am agnostic 
about the common theory to fertilize around the drip line. Also keep in 
mind that the nourishment taken in by roots is done so at the growing 
tip and the roots for example 1 inch in diameter and greater are nothing 
but transportation vessels for the nourishment's the root tips absorb. 
Therefore my cautious conclusion is most of the nutrition as absorbed by 
the root systems extending beyond the drip line. Any arguments/discussion?

Jerry