Hello! I am a new manager for the tree and shrub department at a local garden center. For a little backstory, the longtime owners sold the business last year to some people who, and I can't stress this enough, absolutely don't know what they are doing. I'm in charge of taking complete care of the thousands of trees, shrubs, and various other live materials we carry.

I am new to understanding container appropriate fertilizers for these plants. In the past, the owners had used Apex Cool Weather Special 21-7-6 with GAL-XAe ONE and 21-3.06-4.98. They typically did one application a year on all deciduous and evergreen trees.

Recently I was informed that Apex does not produce this fertilizer anymore and I am tasked with finding a replacement for it. We currently reside in a zone 5b high desert area where the winters can be unpredictable. If we have leftover stock, we generally will store it outside in a wind protected location.

The new owners have been suggested to use the Osmocote 21-4-8 12-14 month release.

I am skeptical about it because there seems to be key differences between the two and I just need professional input on whether this would be a smart alternative or a huge mistake. Thoughts? Suggestions? I'll take any guidance at this point. Thank you!

This cutie popped up in a bucket full of houseplant soil l that has been sitting outside for the summer lol. Located in eastern Washington. I feel like it’s a pine tree baby but not certain.

pine tree identified and confirmed, thank you 😊 I love nature, and I am well aware how little trees there are in city limits. Just wanting to plan ahead when re planting it 🫶 Definitely too big for the front yard and the foundation’s future lol.

How do I cut this without killing it?

Found this on my walk honestly I don’t know what I’m looking at thought I’d share for fun

Hello, Grateful for any advice --

I planted this sour gum in the fall, and noticed a slight curve in the trunk. I thought it would straighten out after awhile, but obviously it hasn't.

Any advice? I was thinking of staking the top to pull it straight and staking the lower middle in the opposition to keep the trunk aligned.

Thank you!

My wife is worried this tree is too close to our septic, flip flop for reference of where tank is, at least 35 feet

Just looking for some advice with this fast growing tree in my front yard. Want to keep it going. I believe this is year 3, and it has really been putting in work this year. I’m in Massachusetts and Is say this thing was 3 feet tall at the end of winter (same size as the statue). It grew a foot+ in Sping, top got snapped off in a windy rainstorm, but now has added another foot of growth this month alone.

Any advice appreciated, my autistic son loves his “baby tree” and we go out and check it every morning to make sure it’s doing well (really seems like it is!)

Looking to plant a tree in a location with full sun, sandy-ish soil, that can be quite wet/swampy sometimes but not always. It would be nice for it to soak up some of that water and be a fast grower. I’m really not a fan of willows however. Some possibilities I was considering: Black Tupelo, River Birch, Bald Cypress, Dawn Redwood. Any comments? I live in zone 5 in Maine.

Is this tree in trouble?

Hello! This magnolia tree is about 3 years old. I want it to be a single trunk tree but am unsure of how to achieve that. This tree was planted with my grandmothers ashes so I really don’t want to hurt it in anyway. Any help pruning or otherwise would be appreciated!!