Chemical tree fertilizers are commonly and popularly used to maintain healthy growth of trees by providing them with key nutrients necessary for their growth and development. However, there are some negatives associated with their use and downside risks that many who use them frequently are not aware of. Anyone using chemical tree fertilizers should be aware of these negatives in order to prevent any harm to themselves and the environment in the process.

One of the negative aspects of chemical tree fertilizers is that they contain high levels of synthetic nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium which are typically good for plant growth but can be harmful to human health as well as other animals with high exposure. Exposure to any element in significant quantities can lead to toxicity in the animal tissues and thus those applying chemical tree fertilizers should be aware of these risks in preventing overexposure. Hazards to wildlife and especially birds are also present if the fertilizers are applied in pellet form which can be mistaken for food by these animals and may be even sampled by children if not warned.

Another negative aspect of tree fertilizers that those applying them should be aware of is contamination of groundwater and wells as a pollutant that could ruin water supplies. As the chemicals leach through the soil towards the roots (which they are designed to do). Chemical tree fertilizers can end up in groundwater and leak into wells and municipal water supplies thus exposing humans and animals to potential toxic levels of contaminants. Some tree fertilizers contain many trace minerals such as copper or magnesium which are very toxic in animal tissues in high amounts. Because many who use chemical tree fertilizers do not adhere to the label requirements properly, they end up applying too much fertilizer which is bound to end up in local ecosystems.

Another source of potential concern is environmental effects caused by over-exposure to fertilizers. Ecological systems are largely balanced in terms of nutrient loads and adding additional amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to these systems often produces negative effects that magnify throughout ecological systems. For example, nitrogen and phosphorous in excess often cause nearby waterways to experience algal blooms which deplete available oxygen in the water, killing fish and other aquatic life as they literally choke to death from lack of oxygen. It also causes the over-domination of one species of plant over the other and can reduce diversity significantly in ecological systems that have been thrown out of balance in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Therefore, although cultivators get much benefit from using chemical tree fertilizers, it is best to use precaution by adhering strictly to label requirements in application and avoidance of over-application to prevent human exposure and environmental degradation.

BR Green’s organic tree fertilization program is applied deeply into the root system of your trees and shrubs, thus providing it with naturally occurring nutrients that are Earth, Pet, and People friendly. It is a clean, sustainable alternative to traditional tree and shrub fertilization services. Organic tree and shrub fertilization ensures drought resistance, prolonged health, and steady growth when applied to our program’s schedule. Quit poisoning the environment and transition your landscape to completely organic!