- 1). Apply a granular time-release fertilizer in spring. The amount will vary with the size of the plant. Consult the packaging for instructions. Scratch the fertilizer into the top 2 inches of the soil around the tree fern with a garden hoe. Water the fertilizer in well until puddles form on the surface of the soil.
- 2). Water the tree frequently in summer. A large tree fern will need 1 or 2 gallons every other day. Don't apply it all at once or the water will run off. Give it small sips over the course of half an hour to allow it time to soak in. The water is important for more than just moisture. The tree fern is not salt tolerant and fertilizing builds salts up in soil. Frequent watering will help the salts leach out of the soil.
- 3). Fill a quart spray bottle with water and add 2 tsp. of a liquid seaweed fertilizer. This will ensure adequate nitrogen. Apply it as a foliar spray by misting the leaves until they drip. Use a liquid food once a month during the growing season of spring until the end of summer.
- 4). Spread a mulch around the base of the tree. Leave 2 inches at the trunk clear and spread out from there to the end of the drip line or foliage limits. Apply 2 or 3 inches of an organic mulch such as wood chips. This will help conserve moisture and gradually add organic matter to the soil as it rots in. It also offers protection to tender roots in winter.
- 5). Use a light 1-inch coating of composted manure around the periphery of the tree fern to feed the roots. Apply it from the drip line out 3 feet. The manure will add a natural source of nitrogen that is gentle and easy to break down. Manure can be used once a year in fall or early spring.
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