When to fertilize ?

Using fertilizer is only necessary in certain cases, as already seen. The season plays an important role, as we do not feed the plants in the same way depending of the time of year.

In the spring

Just before the beginning of the season, we want the plants to have a good start. Their roots are active at that time of year and they are ready to receive nutrients. Therefore, they need a fertilizer that distributes the food rather quickly, but not in too big quantities as the risk of scorching is very high if too much of it is given. A rich fertilizer, with rapid distribution, but without an excessive dosage, will be required for plants in poor soil or for greedy plants. If you think about it early enough, you can use an organic fertilizer that has a relatively quick release, such as the ones sold in powder form. Otherwise, use liquid organic fertilizers or synthetic fertilizers, that act either immediately (beware of over dosage), or slowly (slow-release fertilizer).

In summer

Plants are in situ, even seasonal plants. If there is a need to fertilize them, it will be with a rapid release fertilizer, also known as a "boosting fertilizer" on the packaging. You will find in this category both chemical and organic fertilizers, such as guano or potash in granules. They act immediately but any over dosing will cause scorching of the roots. However, used properly, they will give vigour to a starving pot plant that we do not have the time to re-pot immediately and support the fructification of plants laden with young fruits. Young hedges in full growth on poor soils (rubble) will also appreciate this help.

When summer is well and truly established, you can start to add slow release fertilizers, as the plants will benefit from them in the autumn, indeed even next spring. Fertilizers called « boosting fertilizers » should not be used on plants that have started to decline, as they would only pollute the soil.

In autumn and winter

Plants are entering a dormant phase, even if they keep their foliage or flowers during winter. Therefore, they do not need any additional food at this time. The only fertilization to envisage will be slow release fertilizers, such as crushed horn around your hedges roots.

The leading winter fertilizer is manure! Deposited in layers of 5 to 15 cm thick on the soil and around the plant’s roots, it decays slowly, and offers humus early in the spring, when the plants need it. With manure, there is no risk of overdose. The best time to add some to your garden is in January-February. Before, the nutrients would only be washed away by winter rain. Spreading it later, only means that it would not have time to decompose in time for the spring (but would release the nutrients in summer).