How often should I fertilize my plants? - Ward's Nursery & Garden Center (2024)

FAQs

How often should I fertilize my plants? - Ward's Nursery & Garden Center? ›

Vegetable gardeners can fertilize their garden beds about once a month with a quick-release fertilizer or about once a season with a slow-release fertilizer. Some gardeners prefer to feed their flowers and plants with a liquid-soluble plant food once every one to two weeks.

When they're more actively growing in the spring and summer, they benefit from a little liquid fertilizer mixed into their water about once a month. If you're not one to remember to do that, go for slow-release granules or a nutrient tab you can push into the soil every few months or so.

"Fertilizer can easily burn young plants, so I generally use organic matter, such as aged compost, to amend the soil before planting," she says. Two to three weeks after planting, you can spread fertilizer around the soil just below the outer canopy of the plant.

Always follow the manufacturers recommended rates and application methods. Fertilize outdoor plants in the coolest part of the day, such as early morning or late evening, especially in hot summer weather. Always water in fertilizers well to distribute nutrients throughout the soil profile and to prevent burning.

One of the most common signs of over-fertilization is fertilizer burn. You can identify it by dry, yellow or brown leaves and grass blades. It's caused by salts that remain in the soil after the water has drained or evaporated. If the proper amount of fertilizer is applied, these salts aren't an issue.

Mid to end of APRIL – spring fertilizer – 32-0-6 slow release (fast acting) Early to mid JUNE (6 weeks later) – early summer fertilizer – 25-0-5 – 50% slow release. Mid to late JULY (6 weeks later) – late summer fertilizer – 25-0-5 – 50% slow release.

Yellow Leaves

In fall, leaves tend to turn yellow. But in spring and summer, the leaves are almost always supposed to be green. If you have yellow leaves early, before they traditionally occur, you may have a nutrition problem and your tree may need fertilizing.

Most gardeners should use a complete fertilizer with twice as much phosphorus as nitrogen or potassium. An example would be 10-20-10 or 12-24-12. These fertilizers usually are easy to find. Some soils contain enough potassium for good plant growth and don't need more.

In general, fertilize plants when you start to see new growth - leaves, buds, roots, etc. - and when planting transplants. Don't fertilize when plants are very dry or drought-stressed. Water the root area before fertilizing.

Tomatoes thrive when fertilized every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season. Harvesting your first tomato signals the last fertilizer application of the season. When should I add fertilizer to my tomato plants? Fertilize tomatoes at planting time with a water-soluble fertilizer high in phosphorus.

What perennials not to fertilize? ›

Perennials that require no fertilizer: Included are ornamental grasses, false indigo, ground covers, butterfly weed, bee balm, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, sea holly, dianthus, asters and veronica.

Morning watering is actually preferable to evening watering as the plant has time to dry before the sun goes down. At night, water tends to rest in the soil, around the roots, and on the foliage, which encourages rot, fungal growth, and insects.

Don't fertilize when it's winter or early spring

The ideal temperature to fertilize your lawn is 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Any lower than this, your lawn will struggle to maintain nutrients. In most cases, you'll want to fertilize your lawn from April to May (spring) when temperatures get warmer.

MG is so strong that if used incorrectly, the fertilizer will actually burn the leaves and roots of your plants (you may have already experienced this). Imagine what it's doing to the healthy bacteria, fungi and other soil microbes that are working so hard to provide the nutrients your plants need.

To avoid over-fertilizing, applying a fertilizer every two weeks is not recommended. Fertilizing as often as every two weeks will likely lead to problems such as lawn burn, excessive grass growth, as well as polluted water that can lead to toxic algae growth.

Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food instantly feeds vegetables, trees, shrubs, and houseplants to grow bigger and more beautiful than unfed plants. Simply feed them every 1-2 weeks. The formula is safe for all plants, and is guaranteed not to burn when used as directed.

Once you've applied your first application in early March or late April, wait 6-8 weeks before giving your lawn a second feeding to avoid over-fertilizing and burning your lawn.

If you make your first application of fertilizer by early April, a second spring application that contains slow-release nitrogen (organic or chemical) should be applied in late May or June (normally about two months between applications).

If you don't fertilize your houseplants for an extended period, they may start to show signs of nutrient deficiencies in the foliage. While overfertilizing do more harm than underfertilizing, regular and even additions are best for the plant in the long run.