A Word About Beech Trees

Beech leaf disease is decimating local beech trees, both European and American, especially the latter. Research from the University of Connecticut suggests fertilizing trees with kelp, fish emulsion, humates and potassium polyphosphate can help trees fight the disease and prolong their lives. Though some brands of potassium polyphosphate are OMRI-rated, it is not an organic fertilizer. Organic sources of potassium are kelp, greensand and wood ashes.

Last year, we applied 15 bags of basic organic granular fertilizer to half of our American beech grove. Though leaf disease was present on these trees, they had more leaves and kept them longer in the season than the unfertilized trees. This year, we’ll fertilize all the trees and see what results. We’ll fertilize the European beech hedge, too.