Tried the half-inch drill bit trick for deep root feeding and it saved my back

I used to spend all day hauling that heavy root feeder around the big oaks in my client's yards in Richmond. My shoulders would be killing me by noon. A old timer at the supply house told me to just drill a half-inch hole about 12 inches deep every few feet around the drip line and pour the fertilizer mix straight in. I thought he was pulling my leg but I tried it on a row of stubborn maples last spring. It worked way better than I expected and took half the time. The trees perked up faster than the ones I did with the regular probe too. Has anyone else ditched the fancy tools for something this simple and had it work out?

2 comments

2 Comments

kim_brown13d ago

I mean the half-inch bit is great for getting the mix down deep but what about soil compaction around those holes? I tried this on a clay-heavy lot in Henrico last fall and the holes just turned into mud pits after a couple rains. The fertilizer ended up pooling on top instead of spreading out underground. Did you have any trouble with that or is your soil sandy enough that it drains okay?

the_wesley12d agoTop Commenter

Yeah clay soil is a real pain, I feel your frustration on that one.