Weekly Garden Tip

March 19, 2006

By Gene Joyner, Extension Agent
Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service

Getting plants to grow well is a serious concern of most gardeners and one of the keys to keeping plants growing well is to follow a good fertilizing program. Tropical plants and trees need regular applications of fertilizer for normal sustained growth. If you have flowering or fruiting plants, they sometimes need additional fertilizing to insure good quantities of fruits and flowers.

Many types of plants have specific fertilizers developed over many years for their conditions. For instance, you can find fertilizers specifically for fruit trees, palm trees and acid loving plants like ixora and gardenias. Also if you have a home garden you can find fertilizers for vegetables and herbs.

By using fertilizers specifically for your type of plant you will get better results than using general fertilizers or perhaps no fertilizer at all. Fertilizers come in many types. Some are soluble and are mixed with water and put on as a liquid, while others are dry and are scattered over the surface of the soil around the plant or on the surface of plants in containers. There are also slow release or time released products that can be applied once and feed for six months or even longer before another application is necessary.

If using liquid fertilizers, these being water soluble leach of the soil rapidly with watering or rainfall. They must be applied on a frequent basis to maintain enough food for normal plant growth. Some liquid fertilizers have to be applied more than once a week, while others can go at longer intervals. Some granular products are put out every month to four months on landscape plants depending on the analysis of the fertilizer.

When fertilizing don’t apply too much at any one time because plants are easily burned by too much fertilizer. The smaller the plant the easier it is to burn it with fertilizer applications so it’s better to apply light frequent amounts rather than one or two heavy doses.

With dry fertilizers or time release fertilizers they should be irrigated after application to be sure they release properly. Fertilizers that are not incorporated into the soil in some cases may not work as effectively.

If you have mulch in flower beds or areas being fertilized, the fertilizer will get through the mulching material fine. You don’t have to disturb the mulch when you’re fertilizing.

If you have questions about particular plant requirements for special fertilizers or the timing of fertilizers, you can get useful information from most dealers that sell fertilizer products. A general rule of thumb on granular products is to feed 3 to 4 times a year starting this month. If you’re using liquid fertilizers they can be applied as often as once a week. Time release type products often aren’t put out but every 4 to 6 months.

If you have questions that you can’t good answers for about fertilizers, you can always contact the Palm Beach County Extension Service for free advice. Dial 233-1750 in the north and central county area or 276-1260 in the south county area.