Spring 1997
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The urge to dose every plant with fertilizer as soon as a few warm days come should be restrained. Late, freak frosts will kill new growth and possibly the plant itself. Our last frost date is April 20th in this USDA Zone 6b. Wait until the end of April.
In the case of all evergreens and conifers, it's best to fertilize at the end of April, and a second time in the fall, on first of August and only use acidic Holly- Tone. fertilizer, granular, time-released, evenly-balanced fertilizer. Unlike Mir- Acid. which is a high-nitrogen, constantly-applied fertilizer, Holly-Tone shows results gradually and doesn't dose the plant with too much, all-at-once. Mir-Acid requires repeated applications, "jump-starting" and "crashing" the plant constantly. Holly-Tone is much gentler with a more even feed.
Yews are classified as evergreens also, but won't respond to either fertilizer very well. They're better left un-fed; somehow they take care of themselves and prosper.
By waiting until the end of April, and feeding all Hollies, Pieris japonica, Pines, Blue and Norway Spruce, Mountain Laurel, Rhododendron, Azaleas, Dogwoods, Cherries and other conifers with Holly-Tone, you'll have a much richer and lusher garden until the Fall feeding time arrives.
Fertilizing Gardens
There are indeed many ways to fertilize gardens; one plant at a time or whole groups or the whole garden as it requires it. And of course, there are different fertilizers for the three applications.
Why not make it easy on yourself this year and do the whole darned garden and let each plant decide its own uptake requirements of nutrients? Try using Osmocote., a timed-release, balanced solid fertilizer that resides inside of little plastic pellets (the size of BB's) with holes, and in the event of a rainfall or watering, releases an appropriate amount of fertilizer. It's either broadcast throughout the entire garden, or a 4oz cup is dumped at the base of each plant for an 8-month feed.
We use it here at the Garden Center & Nursery and on the many landscape jobs we do each year. It's balanced, comes in several formulations and is available for both indoor and outdoor plants. We use it in our hanging baskets so that every time they're watered, they're fed.
Try it, if you already don't.
Page1:
Getting The Garden Ready
Early Season Bloomers
Page2:Alpine Trough Gardens
Little Gems.
Page3:Wildflowers - Do It Now
Garden Center Is Available For Meetings & Tours
Page4:Healthy Ponds.
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Page6:CATV The Weather Channel - Smart Viewing
1997 Workshop Schedule
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Page9:Water Gardens - New Products Update
Clear Ponds.
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Page11:Fertilizing Evergreens & Conifers
Fertilizing Gardens
Page12:Year 'Round Container Herb Gardens
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