ISA offers a variety of educational materials to help arborists improve their arboricultural knowledge. Each week we will feature a product, or group of products that will enhance your arboriculture education. This week, ISA is featuring Best Management Practices (BMP): Tree and Shrub Fertilization by E. Thomas Smiley, Les Werner, Sharon J. Lilly, and Beth Brantley.

This new edition of the BMP is for the selection and application of fertilizers for trees and shrubs. The publication covers topics on Essential Elements, Determining Goals and Objectives of Fertilization, Soil Testing and Plant Analysis, Fertilizer Selection, Fertilizer Timing, Fertilizer Application, Fertilizer Application Area, Fertilizer Rates, Storage and Handling of Fertilizer, Tree and Shrub Nutrient Demand and Supply, Plant Response Expectation Rubric and Sample Fertilizer Contract for Commercial/Municipal Clients.

The BMP also serves as a companion publication for the ANSI A300 - Best Management Practices Soil Combo. The ANSI A300 standards represent the industry consensus on performing tree care operations. The standards can be used to prepare tree care contract specifications. This set includes the ANSI A300 Soil Management Standard (Part 2) and both of the companion BMP booklets, Tree and Shrub Fertilization, Third Edition and the newly developed Soil Management for Urban Trees.