Watering | Weeding | Caring | Feeding

FEEDING

Karen's hot trade secrets to feeding your garden...

The basic rules to feeding your garden are simple: Feed regularly during active growth; keep feeding to a minimum during periods of dormancy.

WHEN TO FERTILIZE YOUR PLANTS AND HOW MUCH FOOD DO THEY NEED?

If a plant is in an active growth phase it is going to need a constant supply of the nutrients essential to its continued healthy growth. If a plant is in a dormant stage of its development, it is not going to need as much feeding as it is not growing.

Some plants, such as annuals [an annual is a plant that completes its life cycle within 1 year. Flowers, sets seed, and dies, e.g. Lettuce, Marigolds, and Pansies], need to grow quickly and therefore should have regular small amounts of food.

Most plants, such as ornamental shrubs and trees, and perennials [perennials are plants that generally have an active growth period, they flower and become dormant or die back to below the ground, till the next growth period, e.g. Daffodils, Roses, and Heliconias], have a very active growth period. This period usually occurs in spring when the warmer temperatures and increased period of daylight breaks their dormancy. This is when these plants begin their new growth cycle and this is when a light dressing of fertilizer should be applied to the root area and watered in.

ORGANIC FERTILIZERS

Natural fertilizers are safer to use than chemical ones as they will not burn the roots or cause leaf burn. 'Blood and Bone' is an excellent organic fertilizer that contains Nitrogen. Nitrogen is essential for leaf growth. Phosphorus is the other element contained in 'Blood and Bone'. Phosphorus is very important to the early development of plants and for good root growth. It also assists in fruit and seed development.

’Blood and Bone‘ does not contain Potassium which is the third major element required by plants. Potassium must be added to the soil. Potassium is essential for the normal growth and development of plants and adds a richness of colour to leaves, flowers, and fruit. It is responsible for quality of flavour and size of fruits and flowers.

Muriate of Potash, or Sulphate of Potash are the two most readily available forms of Potassium. Seaweed, Wood Ash, and Animal Manures all contain these forms of Potash and are therefore excellent natural sources of Potassium.

HOW MUCH DO I USE?

Potassium: Use Potassium at the rate of 40-50 grams per m2
Blood and Bone: Blood and Bone is applied 75-100 grams per m2.