Tried fertilizing my client's old oak with a drill and root spikes, now half the canopy is brown

Amy Sanchez · 2026-10-08T20:05:04.800269+00:00

So I watched a video about deep root feeding and figured I would try it on a big white oak out in Fairfield. I drilled 40 holes around the drip line and packed them with those fertilizer spikes, thinking I was doing the tree a favor. Three weeks later the leaves on the north side started turning brown and dropping, and now I'm scared I cooked the roots. Has anyone else messed up a feeding job like this, or is there a way to flush it out before the tree gets worse?

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Tried fertilizing my client's old oak with a drill and root spikes, now half the canopy is brown | Arborists - Opinions Matter