Spring is slowly creeping up and it’s time to wake up those dormant and hungry plants for a good feeding.
This article will give you insight on feeding your garden, when to feed, and the correct way to feed.
There are various types of fertilizers, such as slow-release, and quick-release, which can be found either as a chemical or organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizers by nature are slow releasing.
Most fertilizers will instruct you on the best way to use them and when to use them. Keep in mind, not all fertilizers are made the same and each will differ on how much to feed and the duration of feedings. Always use fertilizer sparingly or as instructed to avoid nutrient burn.
Feeding with an organic fertilizer will be an ongoing process and a regular application is required to ensure the best results.
Luckily, modern chemical fertilizers used now are more friendly on the environment and better suited for our soils. Old fertilizers such as 2:3:2 Superphosphate and LAN are better suited for European soils and conditions and therefore not recommended for use in South Africa, as they are not good for our environment.
Let us begin with fertilizing of your lawn. To encourage healthy and luscious lawn to grow, a feeding treatment will benefit your lawn in the long run. When it comes to fertilizing, timing is everything.
To optimize the nutritional intake, it is best to only fertilize when your lawn is in its growing season. Warm-season grass will need feeding in Spring and Summer, and cool-season grass will need to be fed in Autumn and Springtime.
Using a spray nozzle or spreader will work better in ensuring an even distribution of fertilizer.
Fertilizing your garden can be done in many ways. Liquid fertilizers are diluted and are either given to the plants as foliar feeding or direct watering of the soil. Dry fertilizers such as pellets or granules can spread over the entire garden, laid across rows of plants, or ringed around individual plants.
Again, feeding should be done during the growing seasons. Very few plants will need feeding during winter, even if they are winter flowering plants.
It is best to avoid feeding mid-day when the sun is direct and the heat is at its highest, and rather feed early morning or late evening time.
There is a variety of fertilizer brands on the market to choose from, all made for specific uses in the garden. Choosing the right one for your garden depends on your preferences and budget. Take into consideration that cheaper fertilizers may be better for your pocket but will need more regular feeding, whereas more expensive fertilizers will need less regular feeding, and will last longer, making it a better investment in the long run.
Get excited, because Spring is around the corner and gardening is in full swing again. Put away the extra blankets and pull out the gardening tools.