Question on fertilizer spikes

[JerseyRebel]

I just ordered fertilizer spikes for the trees around my yard. Around my trees I keep about a 4-6” base of mulch in a circle covering the drip line ensuring it isn’t butting up against the trunks. The directions of the spikes state to hammer them 2” below the ground surface. If I hammer them 2” below the surrounding mulch is that suffice for the nutrients to get to the root system? Thanks in advance for the information.

 

[Chuck]

It says 2 inches below Ground Surface, not Mulch Surface. Rake away the mulch to soil level and hammer the spikes in and then re-cover with the mulch.

 

[JerseyRebel]

It says 2 inches below Ground Surface, not Mulch Surface. Rake away the mulch to soil level and hammer the spikes in and then re-cover with the mulch.

Well this should be fun. I have 72 trees around the property. I was unsure because granular or liquid fertilizer goes ontop of the mulch and makes it’s way down to the roots. Not sure what the difference would be. Both spikes and granular are slow release delivering when they get wet over a period of time.

 

[Chuck]

Well this should be fun. I have 72 trees around the property. I was unsure because granular or liquid fertilizer goes ontop of the mulch and makes it’s way down to the roots. Not sure what the difference would be. Both spikes and granular are slow release delivering when they get wet over a period of time.

If that be the case I would just forget using spikes and go with the granular

 

[JerseyRebel]

If that be the case I would just forget using spikes and go with the granular

I already ordered all the spikes so I will use my cordless drill with my garden auger bit and put them in. I have a huge batch of a mix of milorganite, holly tone and epson salt in an entire garbage can I make every year. Twice a year I throw a solo cup of the mixture around the drip line ontop of the mulch, but I was trying to make my life a little easier. The cost of all that isn’t cheap either. I’ve been doing that mix for years but I guess I was thinking lazy and cheap by ordering the spikes. I’m eager to see if the spikes work as well as my concoction.