Conifer trees that have been pruned incorrectly?

Question

I had my conifers pruned last July by someone who didnt know wht they were doing and he cut them back to the wood and they appeared to be dead until now where I can see new shoots comming on the branches the trees are 7ft tall in a row of 20ft wide is there any feed you can recommend to promote growth.

Answer 1

Either they die or they will be OK... in a couple years. If you have new growth, that is promising. Just wait and fertilize them sparingly... they don't have any "leaves" to manufacture food. They could croak if you give them more food than they can process. You can toast them. Tons of water is a better idea, unless you have clay or something that gets water logged... then you get root rot.

Answer 2

Firestar is right on track in all her comments. Way to go! I myself would forego the stakes. The keys here are to feed the roots, irrigate properly, and protect against insects and disease. A weak tree, shrub, or plant is a target for the pests and in your case such is probable.
Conifers prefer an acid based fertilizer or additive. You need to apply the fertilizer outside the original drip line. use a spade and make a minor trench around the perimeter of what used to be ( 2inch is fine). Intial application would be a granular Acid Base Fert such as Miricle Gro. Even without the trench apply the fert outside the dripline so the feeder roots will have the ingredients.
If you use the trench, purchase some soaker hose as well.
Place it in the trench. You will need to water the roots at one inch a week (accounting for rainfall) Slow and deep once a week is better than daily watering. Fert now and again six weeks later. In the fall fert in Mid-Sept and arround Holloween.
Keep an eye on possible pest problems. New growth is tough to spray for. A Pesticide Soap such as Safer will help.
I personally use a solution of 1tblsp per gallon of Pure Ivory Liquid Dish Detergent and find it helpful. A terrible situation.
You can contact me at [e-mail] for additional info.

Answer 3

Conifers are evergreen trees so they are effectively active 12 months of the year. If you prune a conifer the branch that you prune will never grow again. The foliage will get bushy. To stop the growth cut of the top.

Answer 4

Many nurseries carry tree food stakes that can be driven in around the tree with a rubber hammer in the spring and fall. Your trees will make it. Some do die from a butcher job. Let them grow out a couple of years. So sorry that this happened. I've had it happened and found that my supervision is imperative. Good workers are hard to fine. Have a great week.

Answer 5

No, let the growth come out on it's own.....keeping them properly watered of course. Once the foliage has reached its mature size for this season, you can fertilize....lightly. You are very fortunate to have any new growth coming back. Still the plants may have suffered such a severe shock they never recover and gradually fade away as they use up their stored energy and are unable to make enough new energy to restock the reserves.

Answer 6

WalMart sells conniferous tree food spikes. Poke them in the ground around the drip line (where water dripps of of the needles.) following packaging instructions. They'll be fine.

Answer 7

Dont panic just water them as neccessary and wait! They are quite resourceful!

Answer 8

no hope once its been cut back to the trunk it will never grow back once a contract gardener always acontract gardener we never retire we love it to much

Answer 9

Don't feed them, let them make their own way back