Ms. Eudora’s Garden Tool Blog

Spring is generally the best time to fertilize your plants. March is usually a good time to start feeding your trees and shrubs in your garden, getting them off to a good early growing start.   If you are new at gardening or haven’t had much success with it, having your soil tested is a good idea.

This will let you know what kind of nutrients your soil lacks and is in need of. Plants, like children sometimes need extra nutrients to keep them growing, and proper feeding with the correct fertilizer is a good way to start and it will keep them growing well.

A little basic knowledge of fertilizers is always helpful. Before you begin fertilization READ the Manufacturers Label CAREFULLY, this is a must. It will not only tell you the best time to apply but also how much and how to apply it. Most fertilizers should never be applied to dry soil, as this will surely burn the feeder roots of your plants.

When you apply fertilizer, spread it as evenly as possible around the base of the plant trying not to concentrate it in any one area and keeping it off of your plants leaves If your plants are already up and growing and in need of fertilization try and fertilize at the drip line of the plants where the feeder roots are located.
Keep in mind also that fertilizer is not plant food. Plants produce their own food by using water, carbon dioxide and the suns energy; fertilizers merely provide extra nutrients for your plants. Plants need three major nutrients:

1. Nitrogen: for leaf and stem growth, and it helps provide the rich green color.
2. Phosphorus: which helps provide root and flower growth,
3. and Potassium: which helps build plant tissue and aids in the production of chlorophyll, and a fertilizer that calls itself complete should contain these three nutrients.

Knowing what should be in the bag will help you choose correctly, the bag will show specific amounts on the front label and additional ingredients should be listed on the side. Specific fertilizers are for certain plants such as rhododendrons, lilacs or forsythia.

Some plants such as roses, annuals and perennials should be fertilized throughout their growing season (at least once a month). Rose food or a good all-purpose type fertilizer would be a good choice for a vegetable garden. If you plan to plant new trees and shrubs use a fertilizer that is specifically prepared for planting or transplanting, they are formulated to encourage root and stem growth, which will give you better top growth as your plant develops.

Remember fertilizer are salts that contain plant nutrients (and will burn plants) so fertilize according to the instructions on the label being careful not to under or over fertilize.

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