What do you normally do with the wood ash from your bonfire, grill, fire pit, or wood-burning stove? If the answer is throw it away, you could be wasting a useful resource. You can use wood ash in the garden to benefit many plants, provided you use caution.

Wood ash is a natural source of important nutrients, which contribute to healthy plant development. It can also affect the soil’s pH level to benefit particular plants in your garden. This material can be added to a compost heap or applied directly to the soil to support plants in beds, borders, and vegetable gardens. However, before you empty your grill or fire pit onto the garden, you must test the soil pH to ensure it is safe to add wood ash.

Here we look at how to use wood ash in the garden. It includes the best (and worst) plants to use wood ash on, and is full of expert tips for using this resource safely around the garden.

Is Wood Ash Good for the Garden?

Wood ash can be beneficial for plants, but it needs to be the right type of wood and used in moderation. It is important to use only wood ash from clean, plain wood from bonfires or wood-burning stoves, and avoid using any wood that has been treated, stained, or painted, as these can add chemicals to your soil.

You can get a natural, untreated, hardwood ash from Amazon to use as a natural fertilizer around the garden

The Benefits of Wood Ash in the Garden

Wood ash is a rich source of essential plant nutrients that help plants thrive. When used as a soil amendment around the garden, it provides certain nutrients that some soils may lack. As these are vital for plant development and strength, enriching the soil with wood ash – often available at no or little cost – is an effective way to give your plants a boost.

‘Wood ash contains elements such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium, so if your soil is lacking in these minerals, it can be helpful,’ explains Justin Hancock, Costa Farms Horticulturist.

Using wood ash in the garden (like this bag of live oak wood ash, available at Amazon) is also an effective way to raise the pH in acidic soil types. However, its high pH and ability to affect levels mean it needs to be used carefully. It is advisable to test your soil’s pH before applying it to your garden. Whether you use it and how often you do, should always depend on your soil’s pH.

‘Wood ash needs to be added carefully and thoughtfully,’ adds Justin. ‘Use it too much or too often, and you could make your soil inhospitable to your garden plants.’

Dr Russell Sharp, a plant scientist who develops plant care products at Eutrema, reminds gardeners that wood ash contains ‘virtually no nitrogen’, so it doesn't promote leafy green growth and shouldn’t be relied on alone.

‘It works best as a mineral top-up alongside compost and balanced plant feeds, not as a complete feed on its own,’ he adds. ‘Where people get into trouble is applying too much and pushing the soil too alkaline, which can lock up other nutrients even when they’re present.’

Russell continues: ‘Wood ash is best used as an occasional adjustment, not a routine feed regardless of conditions. Applying lightly once a year is a sensible upper limit.’

How to Use Wood Ash in the Garden

You can use wood ash in the garden by integrating it into making compost. Adding small amounts of wood ash to the heap allows plants to take advantage of the nutrients it releases when you spread the compost around your garden.

Alternatively, the wood ash can be put onto the soil and lightly worked in. Wood ash fertilizer can be used in vegetable gardens, flower beds and borders, or around trees and shrubs.

It needs to be used lightly, and only on the right plants, as some shrubs and vegetables prefer slightly acidic soils and won’t thrive if wood ash raises the pH too far.

Best Plants for Wood Ash in the Garden

Some plants benefit more than others from using wood ash in the garden. Here are some of the top plants for wood ash fertilizer.

Roses

Soil pH is crucial when growing roses to have the healthiest plants and best blooms. Roses like a pH between 6.0 and 7.0, and the plants do struggle to absorb nutrients efficiently if the soil is too acidic. If your soil pH is too low, wood ash can help to create ideal conditions for your roses.

‘Roses also need a lot of potassium, so using wood ash can be beneficial,’ adds Lindsey Chastain, founder of The Waddle and Cluck. As potassium helps develop buds and promotes blooming, the addition of wood ash – provided your soil’s pH needs it – will help give you lots of glorious blooms to enjoy.

Tomatoes

Using wood ash on tomato plants provides potassium to improve flowering and your yield, plus it has one other major benefit. Lindsey adds: ‘Wood ash contains calcium that strengthens stems and can even help with blossom end rot in tomatoes’.

Blossom end rot is a disorder that causes tomatoes to develop brown sunken patches. Often associated just with inconsistent watering, a lack of calcium inhibits the plant’s ability to move moisture, and is a major cause. Maintaining consistent moisture and watering tomato plants regularly is recommended, but so is checking your soil to understand calcium levels.

‘If the soil is already neutral or slightly acidic (6.5 or above), you are much better off adding calcium through a fertilizer meant for tomatoes,’ adds Lindsey. Such a product for fertilizing tomatoes includes this Miracle-Gro tomato plant food, available at Amazon.

Alliums

As well as tomatoes, other common crops in a vegetable garden can benefit from the use of wood ash fertilizer. ‘Garlic and onions do amazingly well with wood ash,’ reveals Lindsey. ‘Garlic especially gets a lot more flavor if you mix in wood ash before planting.’

However, as with any other plants mentioned here, check the soil pH before using wood ash to avoid raising levels too high. For growing garlic and onions, a sweet spot is between 6.0 and 7.0.

‘If your soil pH is already near 7.0, you’re probably going to be better served by fertilizers that won’t impact the pH of your soil,’ advises Justin. ‘If your soil’s pH is below 6.5 or so and you’re not growing acidic-loving plants, then wood ash may be a fine choice.’

‘The second reason to test your soil is to see if your soil is lacking in calcium, potassium, or magnesium. If it’s not lacking in these minerals, then it’s not necessarily all that beneficial to be adding wood ash.’

Fruit

Potassium is a crucial element for the development of fruits and flowers, plus calcium helps improve the quality of fruits. It makes wood ash fertilizer useful for fruit trees, particularly apples, cherries, plums, and pears.

‘Don't use the wood ash directly next to the trunk, though, when fertilizing fruit trees,’ warns Lindsey. ‘Use it in a wider circle so it goes into the soil and not right at the base of the roots.’

As fruit trees prefer a slightly more acidic soil at 6.0 to 7.0, check the soil pH beforehand, and you’ll only need to use a small amount of wood ash. It might feel like adding 50g per square meter isn’t much, but you don’t want to apply too much.

As Alex Wright, founder of YardCal, says: ‘Moderation matters, it's not a miracle fertilizer. It's just a tool that can supplement a healthy soil system.’

You can get a 2lb bag of hardwood ash powder from Walmart that will go a long way around the yard.

Worst Plants for Wood Ash

It would be a fertilizing mistake to use wood ash in the garden around plants that prefer acidic soil. That includes azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, hydrangeas, blueberries, and maple trees.

As these plants thrive in acidic soil, adding wood ash fertilizer is not beneficial, as it can increase the soil pH, potentially out of the ideal range for such shrubs and trees. You should always use a product specially formulated for such plants, like this Miracle-Gro fertilizer for acid-loving plants, available at Amazon.

Increasing the soil pH is also not advisable when growing potatoes, as it leaves your crop more prone to potato scab. This common potato-growing problem causes lesions on the skin and can be the result of alkaline soils or a lack of moisture while the tubers are forming.

With any plants, there are some serious fertilizing mistakes to avoid. One of these, and something many gardeners fall foul of each year, is over-fertilizing plants.

You may think, what harm can a little more do? Well, the truth is that, when you over-fertilize plants, they can experience slow or stunted growth, the leaves will discolor, and plants will even shed leaves, flowers, and fruits. Don’t fall foul, and only ever use fertilizers at the recommended rates.

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Meet the Experts

Tomato fertilizer is rich in potassium and plays a staple role in feeding tomatoes during the season. Savvy gardeners don’t save their tomato feed just for tomatoes, though, as lots of other plants around the garden can benefit from it, too.

The nutrients in tomato feed promote flowering and fruiting. That makes tomato feed extremely helpful for any plants you are growing for fruits or flowers, including many vegetables, soft fruits, and flowering annuals and perennials.

Yes, such fertilizers will always be essential for growing tomatoes. But share the love around the garden to the following plants that benefit from tomato feed as well. Once they start flowering, regular feeding encourages a bounty of fruit and flowers to enjoy throughout the season.

Can You Use Tomato Fertilizer on Other Plants?

The simple answer is yes, and here’s why. Tomato feed is high in potassium, one of the three essential plant nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It is the K in NPK, which is shown on packaging as three plant fertilizer numbers indicating the makeup of the major nutrients.

Potassium promotes overall vigor and the development of fruits and flowers. Using it on plants that benefit from tomato feed gives you lots of vibrant blooms and higher-quality vegetables and fruits.

Here are many plants that benefit from tomato feed, along with some that don’t.

Vegetables

Gardeners all know tomato fertilizer is a tried and trusted way to increase tomato yields. It does this by providing tomato plants with all the nutrients they need to develop and ripen lots of tasty fruit.

The same logic applies to any other plants across your vegetable garden that you grow for flowers and fruit. These will benefit in the same way, and you’ll get the best yields from a regular feeding regime.

It includes peppers (both bell and chili peppers), eggplant, cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin, and squash. All of these crops need ample potassium throughout the season to support strong fruiting.

You should start fertilizing these vegetables once you see them flower, and continue feeding them every few weeks. If any are in pots in a vegetable container garden, though, a good feeding schedule should increase to once a week.

Fruits

Fruit plants also benefit from tomato feed, especially those growing in containers. Wherever they are growing, such a fertilizer does wonders for these plants. It encourages flowering and helps develop and ripen a strong yield to enjoy each summer.

Soft fruit plants, including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, and currants (including blackcurrants, redcurrants, whitecurrants, and more), all benefit from tomato feed. As do melons, tomato feed makes an ideal choice to fertilize melons once they start flowering.

The list extends beyond soft fruit, as tomato fertilizers can also be used to fertilize fruit trees in containers. Any fruit trees in pots need regular fast-acting doses of nutrients to stay vigorous and produce a crop, and a weekly feed with a liquid tomato fertilizer ticks all the right boxes.

One caveat to the above advice is not to use tomato feed on citrus trees in pots. Citrus trees have specific needs, and it is always best to use a specially-formulated citrus fertilizer, such as this citrus tree booster available on Amazon.

Flowers

The use of tomato feed doesn’t need to be limited to just a vegetable or kitchen garden; it has wider uses and can prove invaluable for boosting flowers in containers or hanging baskets.

For yards adorned with patio pots and summer container displays, a weekly application of high-potassium fertilizer is an effective way to boost both the size and abundance of blooms.

The high potassium content encourages flowering plants to burst into heavy bloom for longer, rather than direct energy into foliage (which would happen if you used higher-nitrogen fertilizers).

Annual and perennial flowering plants, including petunias, geraniums, fuchsias, and dahlias, all benefit from it. You can even use tomato feed to fertilize roses once they start showing buds to help get a top show from yours.

Shop Tomato Feeds

What to Avoid

Where there is a wide selection of plants that benefit from tomato feed, there are those for which it would be a fertilizing mistake to use such products.

Primarily, you should avoid tomato feed on those plants in which you want lots of lush leafy growth, such as foliage plants and leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, or kale. These plants are grown for their foliage, and using tomato feed encourages them to flower instead.

It is also inadvisable to use tomato feed to fertilize seedlings. Young plants want a balanced fertilizer, or a product with more nitrogen and phosphorus, rather than lots of phosphorus.

You don’t necessarily need to buy bottles of feed, as there are ways to make your own tomato fertilizer at home.

One fantastic DIY plant feed to make is a comfrey fertilizer. You do this by cutting and steeping the leaves of this perennial plant (you can get comfrey seeds on Amazon to sow) to make a rich tea that can be diluted and used to fertilize all the plants listed above.

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Many of your spring bulbs will have finished flowering by mid-May. If you want to boost your daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips and give them the strength to flower again next year, it is a good time to fertilize spring bulbs.

Once the flowers go over, but the foliage is still going, it is a prime window to fertilize spring bulbs. A dose of nutrients, courtesy of a high phosphorus or potassium feed, at this pivotal time of the year, replenishes energy in the bulb. It ensures the bulb has all it needs to flower again next spring.

Here, we explain why you should fertilize spring bulbs after flowering and look at some of the best products to use. Plus, experts reveal the type of feeds you need to definitely avoid using, as it can ruin next year’s display of flowers.

The Ideal Times to Fertilize Spring Bulbs

The typical windows to fertilize spring bulbs are at planting time, in early spring when the shoots are emerging, and right after flowering. It does depend on your soil type, with more regular feeding required for those on poorer soils.

When you plant spring bulbs, add some balanced or high-phosphorus fertilizer and a layer of compost (like this organic compost at Amazon) to encourage the bulbs to develop strong roots.

Going forward, a balanced or specific bulb fertilizer (such as this Bulb-tone at Walmart) should be given once the first green shoots appear.

Gardeners can also fertilize spring bulbs after flowering to boost next year’s show, which is what we are focusing on here. So, let’s start with why you should fertilize spring bulbs this month.

Why Fertilize Spring Bulbs After Flowering?

If you want to guarantee a strong display from spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, and more, feeding them after they finish blooming is a good step in the right direction. It may not be a common task among gardeners, but there are strong reasons to add this to your spring gardening checklist.

Lucie Bradley, a gardening expert from Easy Garden Irrigation with almost 30 years of industry experience, says feeding after they finish blooming helps bulbs to ‘replenish their energy’ so they can put on a repeat performance next spring.

‘This is the ideal time to boost the nutrients in the soil surrounding your bulbs using a liquid fertilizer high in potash (potassium), as this provides essential nutrients, strengthening the bulbs so they can store as much energy as possible,’ says Lucie.

‘You must get the timing exactly right, as feeding too early whilst your spring bulbs are still in full bloom, then they won’t absorb the nutrients as efficiently, so you will be wasting fertilizer. You need to wait until the blooms have faded, but the foliage is still green.’

A key part of bulb maintenance is to allow the bulbs to photosynthesize for as long as possible and store energy. That includes leaving the foliage in place and deadheading spent flowers so they don’t expend energy on making seeds.

Wait until the foliage has completely died back before removing it, which should be around 4-6 weeks after it stops flowering. At this time, it is also time to lift and divide bulbs to rejuvenate older clumps and boost your spring displays.

The Best Products to Fertilize Spring Bulbs After Blooming

A good feed to fertilize spring bulbs after they finish flowering is higher in phosphorus and potassium than in nitrogen. As there is a wide range of different feeds to choose from, what do some experts recommend?

David Trinklein, horticulture specialist for the University of Missouri Extension, says on the institute’s website that ‘organic fertilizers are good choices for bulbs’. He adds: ‘They break down slowly and release their nutrients over time, so there is a reduced risk of “burning” plant roots from excessive fertilizer.’

Jean Murray, Linn County Master Gardener, writes on the Iowa State University Extension website: ‘You can fertilize bulbs after they bloom. Use a 5-10-5 or 6-10-4 fertilizer.’ Plus, David Trinklein also highlighted 5-10-5 as a sensible NPK ratio for the job.

You can get Espoma garden food fertilizer at Amazon with an NPK of 5-10-5.

Lucie Bradley advocates for using liquid feeds, saying: ‘When fertilizing bulbs once they finish flowering, I would always recommend using a liquid feed high in potassium and low in nitrogen – such as a tomato feed – as I find that a liquid feed works faster and more efficiently than a granular feed when the bulbs still have green foliage.’

You can get an organic liquid tomato food at Walmart. Alternatively, this 5-10-5 liquid fertilizer is available on Amazon is an option if you want a liquid feed with NPK plant fertilizer numbers recommended by experts.

Liquid fertilizers are faster-acting than granular ones, so they make essential nutrients available more quickly. They also come with fewer issues of burning leaves, which can happen if granular fertilizer comes into contact with the bulb’s foliage.

One thing that all experts agree on is avoiding using high-nitrogen fertilizers. While David Trinklein highlights excess nitrogen promoting root rot, Lucie Bradley warns that this fertilizing mistake encourages more foliage rather than recharging the bulbs.

‘This means that the following year, even though you think you have fed your bulbs, they will make more foliage and fewer flowers,’ she says.

What to Shop

If you are after more specific advice, we’ve got you covered. We have guides on when to fertilize daffodils and the best ways to fertilize tulips to help you get the best performances year after year.

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Fertilizing in April is one of the most helpful things you can do for plants. As spring is a time of rapid growth across the garden, feeding plants gives trees, shrubs, and perennials a beneficial boost at a key time in the season.

Shrubs, perennials, fruits, and container plants will thank you for providing them with that vital dose of nutrients by fertilizing this month. It’ll help them grow strongly and have the energy to produce foliage and flowers in the coming weeks and months. Your TLC is more than repaid with a stunning display.

There is no denying how important fertilizing is in April – it needs to be near the top of any spring gardening checklist if you want beds and pots brimming with beautiful blooms this year. Here we look at some of the most important plants to fertilize in April, and reveal the feeds to use to guarantee the best results.

1. Roses

Growing roses remains globally popular, and feeding plants guarantees the best display of those sought-after blooms.

In most climates, they will have started developing new growth for the season ahead. After they wake from their winter slumber is a perfect time to fertilize roses and give them a dose of essential nutrients for strong spring growth and to produce flowers.

These hungry plants always want feeding in spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer once they start to grow again. A product like this Espoma organic rose-tone food at Walmart is ideal for the job and will give you healthy shrubs and bigger blooms come summer.

Apply the product to the soil around the drip line and gently work it into the top inch of soil before watering well. Avoid the fertilizer coming into contact with the woody stems.

2. Shrubs

Flowering shrubs need annual feeding to perform at their best. As deciduous shrubs start to leaf out for the new season, they are hungry for nutrients to guarantee healthy growth and strong flowering.

At this stage in their annual cycle, fertilize shrubs with a slow-release fertilizer that contains the primary nutrients needed for strong plant growth.

A rounded NPK ratio means the feed has a good mix of nitrogen for strong foliage, phosphorus to stimulate the production of blooms, and potassium for healthy roots.

If you worry about potentially over-feeding shrubs, these tree and shrub fertilizer spikes at Amazon are pre-formulated to feed shrubs and simply need to be hammered into the soil near the plants in spring.

Plus, if your shrubs prefer acidic soils, like rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and Japanese maples, use a feed specifically for such plants instead, like this acid mix at Amazon.

3. Evergreens

Evergreen shrubs also produce new foliage in spring and require a valuable dose of nutrients. However, they prefer a slightly different type of fertilizer at this time of year.

Firstly, they only require a light feeding. Indeed, unless the shrub shows signs of slow growth, yellow leaves, or ill health, it may not need fertilizing at all in spring. Evergreens in healthy, fertile soil types may not need feeding every year, but will benefit from an application of spring fertilizer at times, and April is an ideal window for this.

A suitable fertilizer for evergreen shrubs is higher in nitrogen to boost strong foliage growth. You can use high-nitrogen products like chicken manure pellets (you can get organic chicken manure plant food at Walmart), or a product formulated especially for evergreens, such as this Evergreen-tone plant food at Amazon.

4. Fruit

Fruit trees and bushes are bursting into new growth in spring and want lots of nutrients to leaf out, flower profusely, and provide you with a bumper harvest of fruits.

There is a sweet spot between the buds breaking and the flowers opening to fertilize fruit trees and guarantee yourself a great crop.

You can see this guide to fruit trees to fertilize in April for specific advice on groups of trees you may have in your yard.

As for a quick overview of how to fertilize fruit trees this month, they want a product with a balanced NPK ratio, such as this 10-10-10 slow-release fertilizer from Amazon. Spread it around the area under the tree as wide as the canopy and water it into the soil.

If you are growing fruit bushes, such as berries and currants, they also need feeding in early spring to get them on the right track to a great harvest. A balanced feed is ideal, except if you are growing blueberries, as they prefer acidic soil and want a feed for acid-loving plants.

You can get a specially formulated liquid blueberry fertilizer at Amazon

5. Perennials

Many gardeners are likely to see the first shoots of perennial plants in their flower beds appearing in April.

Once the plants start actively growing in spring is a perfect time to fertilize flower beds. It gives them a great boost of nutrients at a time when they are exerting a lot of energy producing stems, buds, and flowers.

A balanced, slow-release product is the best fertilizer for flowers in April, such as this 10-10-10 all-purpose flower and vegetable food at Amazon. As clumps expand and lose vigor over the years, annual feeding and dividing plants every few years keep any perennials performing year after year.

Only ever feed perennial plants gently; never go over the recommended rates. Over-fertilizing plants is always a mistake to avoid. But when it comes to perennials, you will get lots of lush growth rather than blooms, and that excess is likely to flop and look unsightly come summer.

Spring mulching is also advisable after fertilizing. Spread a 1-2 inch layer of organic matter, such as compost, leaf mold, or bark chippings (you can get bags of pine bark mulch at Lowe’s), to smother weeds, retain moisture, and feed plants as it decomposes.

6. Container Plants

Plants in container gardens always need more feeding and watering than those in the ground, as they can use up all the nutrients in the compost. After planting, the nutrients in the mix tend to last a couple of months, and so the plants need feeding going forward.

It means that any plants that have overwintered in pots and are entering a new season will be desperately in need of an additional dose of nutrients in early spring for the food they need to grow and flower over the weeks and months ahead.

To fertilize container plants, it is advisable to opt for a slow-release fertilizer in spring, supplemented with regular liquid feeds every week or two going forward.

This Osmocote plant food on Amazon can feed for up to six months and is a great source of spring nutrients. Sprinkle the recommended amount onto the soil surface and mix into the top inches of soil.

Follow this up with a liquid feed starting at least two weeks after the initial application. For this, you can use a general liquid product, homemade comfrey tea, or a seaweed fertilizer, such as this sea magic extract at Burpee.

What to Shop:

April can be a really busy time in any garden. But it is also an exciting time of year as the temperatures rise and the garden really bursts into life.

To help you plan your month, our guide to what to plant in April shows what range of plants you can add to your garden as the soil warms in spring. And, this piece on plants to prune in April will tell you what you should and shouldn’t trim this month, too.

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If you are looking for a natural way to grow strong plants and have healthy soil, worm castings may be the ‘black gold’ you are looking for. It is a nutrient-rich, sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers that not only benefits plants but also boosts the long-term health of your garden.

This non-toxic marvel is easy to get hold of. You can create worm castings at home by having a wormery in your garden, or buy bags of worm castings from garden centers or online retailers. However you source them, worm castings make a fantastic fertilizer for a wide range of plants, including shrubs, flowers, vegetables, herbs, and houseplants.

To extol the virtues of worm castings for plants, I chatted with compost and organic growing experts to show you why, how, and when to use this sustainable gardening switch. Trust me, from now on you’ll leave those synthetic fertilizers on the shelves and reach for the worm castings instead. Your plants and your soil will thank you for it.

What Are Worm Castings?

Without sugar coating it, worm castings are the waste products of earthworms, or earthworm poop.

They may not sound like much, but they do make a super fertilizer. Produced through vermicomposting, which is another term for worm-based composting, this process sees earthworms digest organic material, such as food waste, and turn it into valuable material.

There are two ways to get worm castings for plants. First, home gardeners can use a wormery to make compost. A wormery contains two compartments. One where the worms live, and the waste is added, and another where the worm castings are collected.

You can either make your own wormery for compost or buy one, like this five-tray worm composter at Amazon, into which you put your kitchen scraps or garden waste to transform into homemade compost.

Rather than make your own, there are lots of options to buy bags of pre-made worm castings for plants. Such as this 2.5-pound bag of Worm Bliss premium earthworm castings, also available at Amazon, to use around the garden.

Shop Worm Castings for Plants

The Benefits of Worm Castings for Plants

Worm castings are a superb, sustainable way to make plant fertilizer, and offer many benefits over store-bought synthetic products, including supporting long-term soil health and supporting a garden’s ecosystem.

Lauren Click, the founder of Let’s Go Compost, explains that worm castings are ‘non-toxic’ and ‘safer’ than synthetic fertilizers, as they actively improve garden soil rather than cause sudden chemical changes.

‘Worm castings contain beneficial microbes that improve how nutrients move through soil to plants,’ adds the compost expert. ‘They also improve soil aggregation and increase microbial activity in the soil, supporting long-term plant health.’

On the other hand, Lauren warns: ‘Chemical fertilizers provide fast nutrients but can degrade soil structure.’

As a natural ingredient, worm castings are safer to plants, and there is no risk of burning them by over-fertilizing, as with chemical products. And they offer immediate benefits, such as green growth from boosting the soil nutrients, fewer pest and disease issues, and improved moisture retention.

‘Worm castings don’t just supply nutrients; they support a living soil ecosystem,’ explains Siobhan Shaw, sustainable gardening expert and founder of Growing to Give. ‘They contain beneficial bacteria and fungi that help plants absorb nutrients more efficiently and improve overall resilience.’

‘Because they’re fully broken down, worm castings are immediately available to plants while continuing to enhance soil structure long after application,’ adds Siobhan. ‘This makes them ideal for gardeners who want long-term results, not quick fixes.’

How to Use Worm Castings

There are different ways you can go about fertilizing with worm castings. Gardeners can use them as top dressing, mix them directly into the soil, or brew a nutrient-rich worm tea.

The simplest way to use worm castings for plants is to top dress your existing plants, or, to put it simply, just sprinkle the worm castings on the surface of the soil around the base of trees, shrubs, or perennial plants.

An easy alternative is to mix the worm castings into the soil at planting time to help new plants get established in flower beds or vegetable gardens.

Another option is to make worm tea, by mixing one part worm castings and three parts water for a nutrient-boosting liquid feed.

This brew is perfect for flowers, vegetables, or houseplants and can be used to water plants every two to three months during the spring and summer growing season for a quick boost of essential plant nutrients.

Are Worm Castings Good for All Plants?

Worm castings are an excellent feed for a broad range of plants. ‘One of the greatest advantages of worm castings is their versatility,’ says Siobhan Shaw. ‘Nearly every plant benefits from them, but some respond especially well.’

Those that really benefit from worm castings include ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowering plants.

These plants, including roses, fruit trees, perennials, and annuals, benefit from healthier root systems, sturdier stems, and more blooms thanks to the strong root development and improved soil fertility.

Lauren Click adds that vegetables and herbs are also greatly beneficial, as worm castings improve how the plants absorb nutrients. She claims: ‘Heavy-feeding crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers respond especially well due to their higher nutrient needs.’

You also see improvements in potted plants in container gardens and indoor plants as worm castings help with soil structure, moisture retention, and nutrient uptake.

FAQs

Are Worm Castings Good for Indoor Plants?

Yes, worm castings are beneficial for indoor plants and offer a safe way to fertilize houseplants. Lydia Beaumont, a gardening expert for Gardeners' Yards, says that worm castings are ‘great’ for houseplants, particularly foliage plants. ‘Houseplants that use worm castings develop stronger root systems and have a more vibrant growth,’ says Lydia.

‘Houseplants that thrive from worm castings include pothos, monstera, and peace lilies. They help these leafy plants retain much-needed moisture and can help reduce stress from inconsistent watering.’ To use worm castings on houseplants, top dress the surface every 2-3 months or use worm tea when you water plants.

Will Worm Castings Produce Worms?

Worm castings are waste material, but on occasion, they can contain cocoons that may hatch in warm soil. The chances of the material containing cocoons are much higher with homemade worm compost, but any young worms that hatch will help to keep the soil healthy.

If you prefer not to use worm castings for plants, you should still stick to natural feeds. In that regard, compost, manure, or leaf mold are the best fertilizers for a vegetable garden and flower beds.

When it comes to compost, whether you start a compost heap from scratch to make your own or purchase bags of pre-made compost to spread onto your beds (such as this 10lb bag of premium organic compost at Amazon), compost is full of nutrients that it slowly releases, and benefits soil structure and water retention.

It may be tempting for some gardeners to get a head start on spring by fertilizing plants in winter. The thinking may be that it will help plants get off to a great start for the upcoming season, and what harm can it do? The truth is that it can damage plants, as well as be a waste of time and money.

Should you fertilize plants in winter? The answer is predominantly no. There is no point in feeding plants that are not actively growing, especially if you can hurt them by doing so. In the same way as you don’t fertilize houseplants in winter if they are dormant, resist the temptation to feed outdoor plants during the coldest months.

The general rule is not to fertilize plants in winter in colder climates, for the reasons we reveal below. If you want to do something positive for your outdoor plants in winter, mulch them. But those in warmer climates can fertilize plants in winter as they continue to grow.

Can You Fertilize Plants in Winter? First, Check for Any Bans

Depending on where you live, it may be prohibited to fertilize plants in winter. Whether you want to fertilize plants in winter or not, such regulations force your hand.

These restrictions are not widespread, but the states of New Jersey and Maryland have bans on homeowners preventing fertilizing between November and March. In addition, some other states, such as New York and Florida, have local county bans that cover fertilizing lawns and plants during winter.

Always check any local restrictions where you live before using winter fertilizer on plants in your yard. However, even if it is allowed, feeding is not beneficial, and it is a waste of time and money to fertilize plants in winter.

5 Reasons Not to Fertilize Plants in Winter

If you live in cold or milder US hardiness zones, where plants go dormant for winter, and the ground freezes, you should not fertilize plants in your yard for these reasons:

1. Plants Aren’t Actively Growing

A simple rule of thumb to remember when considering fertilizing plants in winter is: if the plant isn’t actively growing, then don’t fertilize it.

Think about what fertilizer does for plants; it provides essential nutrients to help them grow, develop, and bloom strongly. When the plant is dormant, it is doing none of those, so it doesn’t need additional fertilizer during winter.

Only fertilize flower beds, shrubs, or trees when the plants are actively growing, when they need those additional essential plant nutrients that the fertilizer provides. If you fertilize plants in winter when they don’t need it, you risk encouraging growth at the wrong time, or the nutrients themselves are simply washed away and wasted.

2. It Can Encourage Undesirable Growth

There are associated risks that come with fertilizing plants in late fall or early winter. It encourages new growth at a time when plants should be concentrating their efforts on going dormant for winter.

Any new growth as a result of affecting the plant’s natural cycles is weak and easily damaged by cold weather. This frost damage can leave the plant increasingly susceptible to pests and diseases over the winter period.

A good general guideline is not to fertilize shrubs or perennials after September. Late feeding is a fertilizing mistake, and no good comes from stimulating the plant into growth at the wrong time.

3. Plants Can’t Take in Nutrients From Frozen Soil

In colder climates, there is little point in taking the time to fertilize plants in winter, as, even if they did need nutrients, they cannot benefit from them when the soil is frozen.

When soil freezes in winter, so does the water it contains. And movement of water is crucial in the conversion and absorption of nutrients by plants. As water isn’t moving and microbes in the soil are not active, the fertilizer is not converted into a usable solution or absorbed by the plant’s roots.

As plant roots take in nutrients by absorbing moisture in the soil, they cannot take anything in when the soil is frozen solid. It makes fertilizing in winter a waste of time, plus, as we’ll cover next, you cannot guarantee the nutrients remain in the soil once it thaws and the plants start to grow again.

4. Nutrients Are Wasted and Leech Away

If you fertilize plants in winter and they don’t get to take up the nutrients, then what happens to all that goodness? In an ideal world, the remaining fertilizer remains in the ground and boosts soil nutrients, to the benefit of plants when they start arising from their winter slumber.

However, the reality is usually that the fertilizer doesn’t improve garden soil or help plants, but actually poses more of a risk to the environment. The fertilizer often gets lost to water runoff when the snow melts or is leeched away during winter rainfall. The plants in your yard never get to benefit from the nutrients, but the fertilizer ends up washing away into rivers or lakes.

5. Excess Fertilizer in the Soil Can Burn Roots

If the fertilizers aren’t washed away and build up in the soil, where they are not being used or taken up by plant roots, they can reach a harmful level. Fertilizers, especially inorganic and fast-release fertilizers, contain salts that can burn plant roots if they reach too high a level.

The risk of fertilizer burn, as it is known, is high during winter when plants aren’t efficiently absorbing nutrients. Excess salts in the soil pull water out of the plant’s roots, dehydrating plants and damaging roots as they turn dry and brittle. It will also potentially cause dieback and result in sub-optimal growth in spring.

When to Fertilize Plants in Winter, and How

If you live in the warmest US hardiness zones where plants grow throughout winter, and the ground doesn’t freeze, then you can fertilize plants in winter. As long as your plants are actively growing, they will benefit from the nutrients.

In milder or colder climates, rather than fertilizing in winter, focus on developing soil health through mulching instead, as this offers great long-term benefits to plants. If you mulch flower beds and spend time mulching a vegetable garden, it brings many positives without the risk of damaging your plants.

By mulching with a thick layer of organic matter, such as compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mold, you lock moisture into the soil, protect plant roots from frost, improve soil structure, and slowly release nutrients into the ground as the material breaks down. There is no risk of encouraging unwanted growth or burning plant roots with mulching.

As well as focusing on soil health through mulching, winter is also an ideal time of year to test your soil.

You can get valuable information on the fertility of your soil with a simple soil test kit, such as this professional soil test kit at Amazon, which gives lab analysis on the levels of 13 different nutrients in the soil.

A soil test will also give you good guidance for how to improve the quality of your soil so your plants grow to their full potential.

I’ve grown and cared for olive trees in all kinds of places while working as a professional gardener. I once looked after two lovely old and gnarled specimens in a front garden in Islington, North London. Even in this challenging concrete environment, they thrived.

However, while they are tough and resilient trees, I have found that olives can benefit from an occasional feed, especially when container-grown. They won’t mind poor soil, but that doesn’t mean they thrive on total neglect, so applying the right fertilizer at the right time will pay dividends.

So, whether your olive tree is old and sculptural in a large pot by the back door, or young and finding its feet in the border, feeding is a good job to add to your to-do list. Here’s everything I know about how to fertilize olive trees to keep them healthy and looking good.

Is it necessary to fertilize olive trees?

Technically, no, many olive trees don’t need much fertilizing, especially when planted in the ground. In the Mediterranean, they can thrive in poor, stony and sandy soil, without much need for supplemental feed.

That said, if you’re growing olive trees in pots, a little feed can really help. In particular, young trees often benefit from a top-up while establishing, and any olive grown in a container will be entirely reliant on you for nutrients.

When to feed olive trees

Timing is key when it comes to fertilizing fruit trees. If you are landscaping with olive trees and growing them in the ground, I would recommend feeding just once, in early spring. March or April is fine, usually with a slow-release general fertilizer. That one hit is often enough to support steady growth through spring and summer.

Potted fruit trees, though, need a bit more from you. I start feeding container olives once the weather warms up, usually around May time, feeding every two to three weeks until late summer.

Feeding any later than this would be a fertilizing mistake. The last thing you want is encouraging soft, sappy growth that will be struck by the first early frost.

How to feed olive trees

For trees in the ground, I usually use a granular fertilizer for all-around plant health. Something like blood, fish and bone will do the job. Scatter a handful or two around the base in spring, covering with a thin layer of mulch.

Use something like this organic bone meal by Espoma, available via Walmart.

Potted olives are another story. I would suggest using either a feed that is intended for olive trees or an organic fruit tree fertilizer available from Walmart. But any balanced liquid feed you have in the garden shed will have a similar result.

If your tree’s looking worse for wear in the spring – lacking verdancy or showing stunted growth – it might benefit from an early-season boost with a seaweed-based tonic.

Try this organic seaweed feed, available now via Amazon. Follow the recommended instructions found on the packaging of the feed, typically applying once or twice per season. With any luck, the nitrogen boost will help with foliage growth.

FAQs

Can I use tomato feed for olive trees?

Yes, tomato feed is a good product to use when you want to fertilize olive trees, particularly as this will help with flower and fruit production. It can help to use this alongside your other all-around feed. Use something like this tomato fertilizer from Walmart, diluting it in a watering can, feeding once in May and then again in July. I would suggest diluting it even more so than is recommended on the packaging to avoid damaging these tough, resilient trees.

In addition, a light fall or winter mulching will also help to nourish your plants. I like using well-rotted bark. Just be sure to keep it a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.

And, remember that while olive trees are drought-tolerant, it is a good idea to be deep-watering them in pots throughout the summer. If you tree suffers from heat stress and lack of water, no amount of feed will be able to save a dying olive.

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Mandevilla is a show-stopping climber with large, impactful blooms that attract lots of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Along with the showy flowers, mandevilla grows quickly every year, up to 10 feet per season, making fertilizing plants a must to keep them looking at their best.

The flowering vine can be grown outdoors year-round in warmer climates, brought indoors to overwinter, or cultivated as an annual. However you grow mandevilla, feeding is a crucial piece of maintenance to keep plants growing strongly and putting on a top display of vibrant flowers.

So, how often do you need to fertilize mandevilla? Here, we answer that important question, highlighting what makes a perfect feeding regime for mandevilla and how to pick the best feeds to use.

When and how to fertilize mandevilla – hummingbirds will thank you

Mandevilla, also known as rocktrumpet, are flowering climbers that make a stunning impact when used to cover a wall, fence, pergola, or arch. With blooms in shades of red, pink, yellow, or white, they are eye-catching vines.

It is not only humans that adore the flowers, as hummingbirds like mandevilla blooms. The vivid blooms are attractive to hummingbirds as they are nectar-rich, come in highly visible shades, and are perfectly shaped for their long beaks and tongues.

Feeding mandevilla will mean more flowers for these beautiful pollinators. It means understanding when and how to fertilize mandevilla rewards you with healthy vines and more flowers for both you and hummingbirds to enjoy.

When to fertilize mandevilla

Mandevilla are fast-growing climbing plants that thrive with regular feeding. Taking the time to fertilize mandevilla throughout the season supplies the nutrients the plant needs to grow vigorously and display an impressive array of blooms. This is particularly important if you grow mandevilla in pots.

Getting the nutrient levels right starts even before you plant the mandevilla.

The plants prefer a rich soil type, and adding compost or well-rotted manure to the planting site ensures the soil is fertile and perfectly suited to growing mandevilla. Mulching with organic matter will also release nutrients over time, as well as retain moisture in the soil and suppress weeds.

The vine benefits from an application of slow-release, balanced fertilizer in spring, just as it starts to grow strongly for the season. Such a product contains all the essential plant nutrients and will release them to the plant over the course of several months.

As for how often to fertilize mandevilla, a good all-round feeding regime does not end with just one spring feed.

Mandevilla are hungry vines and, for the best and longest flowering performance, will benefit from being fed every 2-3 weeks once they start blooming with a water-soluble fertilizer high in phosphorus.

Such products are commonly known as 'bloom boosters' as they are formulated with an ideal mix of nutrients to encourage strong blooming over the flowering season. They feature lots of phosphorus, which is key to forming flowers, as well as other essential nutrients for healthy plants.

You should not fertilize mandevilla in the fall or winter, so stop feeding at the end of the flowering period. Doing so would be a fertilizing mistake that will encourage the development of unwanted new growth at the end of the season.

How to fertilize mandevilla

The most suitable products for fertilizing mandevilla differ throughout the growing season.

A fundamental aspect of picking the best fertilizer for flowers is to look at the plant fertilizer numbers. The make-up of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) will be shown in the form of three numbers on any product, and it reflects what the fertilizer will do for plants.

A suitable product to fertilize mandevilla in the spring is a granular, organic, slow-release fertilizer. This should have a balanced NPK of 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 and is incorporated into the soil around the plant.

For example, this general-purpose 10-10-10 garden food at Amazon contains all three major nutrients and is ideal for a wide range of plants, including climbers.

During the flowering stage, the nutrient requirements differ, as does the type of fertilizer. At this stage of the season, look for a liquid feed high in phosphorus – so the middle P number will be higher than the others.

A liquid feed delivers nutrients quickly to the plants, but leaches quickly, so it needs to be reapplied every 2-3 weeks. Such fertilizers are mixed with water and applied when you water plants during the summer.

Such a product is this blossom booster at Walmart with an NPK of 10-30-20, which comes with a measuring spoon to use right correct amount of the powdered concentrate.

FAQs

Can I use Miracle-Gro on my mandevilla?

There are Miracle-Gro products suitable for feeding mandevilla. One example is the Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster Flower Food, available at Amazon, which you can use during the flowering season to encourage new buds and blooms. You can also get multi-purpose plant food for use in spring.

Are coffee grounds good for mandevilla plants?

Coffee grounds can be good for plants, as they can provide a boost of nutrients to the soil as they break down. However, coffee grounds will not make a great replacement for any of the fertilizers mentioned above.

Feeding all climbers is essential for the best show, as their fast-growing nature makes them hungry plants. Just like with mandevilla, you need to fertilize passion flowers often for healthy growth and bumper blooms. For these tropical plants, feed in early spring, at the first sign of new growth, and continue to fertilize at least monthly from April until the end of August.

I’ve been tending fig trees for years as a gardener, but one that always comes to mind is a grand ‘Brown Turkey’ espaliered flat against a vast stone barn in South Wales. The garden sat at the bottom of a misty valley – hardly the Mediterranean climate you’d expect figs to crave – yet it thrived, thanks to the shelter and the heat radiating from that old wall.

Figs are famously tough, but toughness doesn’t mean they never need help. Like all fruit trees, they pour huge amounts of energy into blossom, foliage and ripening fruit, and sometimes the soil can’t keep up. Learning how to fertilize fig trees is, therefore, key, though it’s a matter of balance. Too much feed and you’ll be lost in a jungle of leaves with not a fig in sight, and too little and you’ll face bare stems year after year.

So, whether you’re caring for a large wall-trained specimen or a modest patio tree in a pot, the right feed at the right moment can make all the difference. Here’s everything I’ve learned about how to get a fig tree to fruit with the right fertilizer, after many seasons of trial, error, and the occasional bumper harvest.

Is it necessary to fertilize fig trees?

In their native Mediterranean range, fig trees grow in poor, stony soils. I have seen them thriving in seemingly infertile spots, still managing to produce fruit. It’s one of the reasons they’ve earned a reputation as some of the easiest fruit trees to grow.

So, technically, no, you don't always need to fertilize fig trees. If yours looks good and is fruiting well, chances are it is probably quite happy without any supplemental feed this year.

However, for those growing in pots, or for established trees that need a gentle nudge or look a little lacklustre, then the right feed at the right time can make the difference between a disappointing year and a rewarding harvest.

When to feed fig trees

In terms of when to fertilize fruit trees, I have found that less is usually more. For fig trees growing in the ground, a single spring feed is usually enough, just at the point that your tree is jumping into life as the new growth emerges. This one hit will usually carry it through the season.

Potted fruit trees, though, are another matter. In containers, roots can’t forage far, so they rely completely on you.

I would suggest feeding fig trees in pots every two to three weeks from late spring through to late summer, stopping once fruits begin to swell and ripen, usually August or September.

Do not be tempted to feed any later than this, which would be a fertilizing mistake. While you might think you are helping your tree by encouraging it to produce more growth, this will not harden before the cold weather arrives.

How to feed fig trees

For in-ground figs that you are feeding in spring, simply apply a scattering of blood, fish and bonemeal around the base of the tree. Use something like this organic bone meal by Espoma, available via Walmart.

One handful around the base worked lightly into the soil will do the job, and this top-up of phosphorus will support flower and fruit growth over the season ahead.

Container figs respond best to liquid feeds. I would suggest using something like this organic tomato fertilizer by Espoma, available via Amazon. Tomato feeds will have a higher potassium or potash amount (the third value in terms of plant fertilizer numbers).

Follow the recommended instructions found on the packaging of the feed, typically applying once every couple of weeks, and diluting it into a watering can.

Be sure to work slowly and methodically, soaking the soil and avoiding the foliage and the upper stems.

FAQs

Can I use seaweed feed for fig trees?

Yes, seaweed feed is a good product to have that I tend to keep in the shed. It won’t replace a high-potassium or phosphorus fertilizer for fruit production, but it’s brilliant as a supplement. I often use it early in the year, which will help with leafy growth, before switching to a tomato feed to guarantee plenty of delicious fruits later in the year.

Try this organic seaweed fertilizer by Blue Planet Nutrients, available now via Amazon.

While it will change depending on the variety you grow, you don't usually need to winterize fig trees unless you live in zone 7 or zone 6 and below.

However, a good precautionary step to take is mulching the base of your tree, which not only will protect the roots during long, cold months but can also improve the quality and structure of the soil.

Any organic bark or straw mulch will do, just be sure to apply a thick (two or more inches) layer in the fall, keeping a small distance away from the trunk, which can cause rotting.

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Hostas are hugely popular perennials grown for their decorative foliage. There are hostas of different sizes, leaf shapes, and colors, with shades of green, yellow, and blue, as well as decorative variegated patterns.

A key part of growing and caring for hostas has to be feeding plants annually to keep them healthy and looking in top shape. It is recommended to fertilize hostas twice a year, and this number increases if you grow hostas in pots.

Most of the focus with hostas is on how to stop slugs eating them, but don’t overlook how important feeding plants is. This focused piece looks at when and how to fertilize hostas, including the best time to feed and the types of products to use. It’ll ensure your hostas look superb year after year.

When to fertilize hostas

It all starts when you plant hostas. Hostas like rich and well-draining soil, so mixing in organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, before planting, and using a slow-release, balanced fertilizer helps get hostas off to a great start in their new home.

Going forward, knowing the best time to fertilize hostas keeps them performing at their best season after season. As for how often to fertilize hostas, there are two ideal times for thriving plants:

• The first window to fertilize hostas is in spring, when the new growth starts to emerge. This is an ideal time to give plants the nutrients to develop strong early foliage growth.
• Fertilizing hostas in early summer is also recommended. As the Delaware Valley Hosta Society says: 'An application of fertilizer during the first part of summer will be appreciated by your garden treasures. Place the fertilizer around the dripline of your hosta, not on top of the crown. Be nice to your plants; kindness goes a long way.'

There is one major fertilizing mistake to avoid, and that is feeding them in mid to late summer. The East Tennessee Hosta Society warns: 'Do not fertilize after August because this will cause growth of soft foliage that would be damaged by early frosts.'

When you grow hostas in pots in a container garden, they will require extra attention. Give them a feed in spring, like with hostas in the ground, followed by a monthly dose of general-purpose liquid fertilizer until the end of August.

How to fertilize hostas

Picking the right fertilizer for hosta plants will give the best results and help avoid hostas turning yellow due to a lack of nutrients. The fertilizer requirements differ in spring and summer, plus there are real benefits to discover from mulching hostas.

To fertilize hostas in spring

The best type of feed to fertilize hostas in spring is a balanced granular fertilizer with an NPK of 10-10-10. This gives a safe level of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and a slow-release product will release these essential plant nutrients over several months.

Examples of a balanced fertilizer are granular all-purpose feeds designed for flowers, including products from big names such as Growmore or Miracle-Gro, chicken manure pellets, and worm castings.

This 10-10-10 all-purpose fertilizer at Amazon is ideal for the task, while these organic worm castings at Amazon offer a lower NPK ratio but do make a great natural slow-release feed.

To fertilize hostas in summer

During early summer, you can give a second application of the same feed as spring, just in liquid form rather than granular. Such as this 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer with seaweed and iron at Amazon.

Such liquid feeds are mixed with water and applied when you water plants, and they provide a quicker dose of nutrients than granular products. The nitrogen in the feed will keep foliage healthy, while phosphorus helps develop strong roots to help winterize hostas.

Avoid using high-nitrogen feeds to fertilize hostas in summer, as they will encourage the lush production of foliage that will be extremely attractive to slugs.

You can get liquid feeds from stores to fertilize hostas in summer, such as a tomato feed, or there are ways to make a plant fertilizer. This includes making compost tea, steeping a comfrey feed or making a plant fertilizer using weeds, such as nettles.

Mulching hostas

Mulching hostas with organic matter, such as compost, leaf mold, bark, or shredded leaves, will suppress weeds, regulate the soil temperature, retain moisture in the soil, and release nutrients to the plants as it decomposes.

Add a 2-3 inch layer of mulch in spring, taking care only to spread it around the hostas and not putting it over the crown of the plant.

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FAQs

Is tomato feed good for hostas?

A liquid fertilizer designed for growing tomatoes can be beneficial, especially for feeding hostas in pots.

Are coffee grounds good for hostas?

Used coffee grounds do add nutrients to the soil. They can be beneficial if spread around hosta plants, as they will both feed them and stop slugs destroying plants, as coffee grounds can help deter slugs and snails.

Can I use Miracle-Gro on hostas?

Yes, there are beneficial Miracle-Gro products you can use on hostas. For example, the water-soluble all-purpose plant food at Amazon can feed hostas in summer, both in the ground or containers, while the shake’n’feed all-purpose plant food, also at Amazon, can be used to fertilize hostas in spring.

Another key maintenance task is dividing hostas every four or five years. The performance can wane if the clumps get compacted, so dividing plants in early spring, just before they start to grow, helps you rejuvenate clumps and give you more plants to add around the garden.

Coneflowers are one of my go-to perennials for long-lasting summer and fall color. And, not only are they made of tough stuff, they are also loved by pollinators in summer and hungry birds who enjoy snacking on the seed.

They are remarkably easy to grow, but for all their toughness, coneflowers do respond well to a little extra care, and feeding is one of the easiest ways to keep them flowering during August and September. But I wouldn’t throw fertilizer at them without reason. If your clumps are already producing a good number of blooms, there’s no need to overapply. But if they are sparse or starting to look a little tired, some deadheading and a quick feed can really perk them up, in my experience.

So, while you may already know how to grow coneflowers, here’s what I’ve learned over the years as a professional gardener about feeding them for the longest, strongest display.

How to fertilize coneflowers

There are many different coneflower varieties, most of which can be grown somewhere between zone 3 and zone 8.

One of the most popular is the native purple coneflower, or Echinacea purpurea, which produces masses of daisy-like, vibrant blooms, seen in the image above.

Whatever coneflowers you grow in your yard, the occasional feed can help to give your perennials a boost during summer.

When to fertilize coneflowers

In general, coneflowers are not greedy perennials. In fact, I have found that too much feeding, especially with high-nitrogen products, can lead to leafy growth at the expense of blooms.

Instead, I would stick to feeding them just once or twice during the growing season if they are lacking in flowers.

So, anytime between June and September is recommended. Feeding any later than this would be a fertilizing mistake to avoid, as no amount of feed will be able to extend the growing season.

The only time I would advise anything different would be if you are learning how to grow coneflowers in pots.

This is because container plants are entirely reliant on you for nutrition, so feeding them every few weeks during spring and summer is best.

How to fertilize coneflowers

Learning how to fertilize coneflowers could not be simpler. But, importantly, using suitable products with the right plant fertilizer numbers is key.

I would suggest using a feed with a higher potash (or potassium) value, something in the range of 5-5-8 or 4-4-6. You are looking for a product with a higher third value.

Something like this organic tomato fertilizer from Burpee, available from Amazon now, would be ideal.

For potted coneflowers, I would stick to a liquid feed, applying once every three weeks, watering carefully at the base of your perennial to avoid splashing the leaves.

And, importantly, to keep your plants looking happy and floriferous, do not forget to deadhead coneflowers regularly through August.

However, towards the end of the growing season, leave the flowers in situ, so the local goldfinches can snack on the seeds in the early fall months.

FAQs

When should I mulch coneflowers?

Yes, mulching coneflowers that are growing in borders is a good idea. Doing this once a year in the fall or winter is best. A good two-inch (or thicker) layer of well-rotted organic material is ideal, and will give your plants a boost for the year ahead. Doing this may also reduce any need for fertilizing, too.

In general, you might find your coneflowers are blooming just fine without much need for fertilizer. So, feed sparingly, and only if you think your plants need it. With an annual mulch and the occasional sprinkle of feed, your coneflowers should put on quite a show.

For more feeding information, see our guide on how to fertilize daylilies this summer, to keep your borders in fine form.

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Shasta daisies, or Leucanthemum spp., are stalwarts of the summer garden. Often producing masses of daisy flowers during July, August and September, these perennials are both tough and reliable, returning year after year without fail. But, while they are remarkably easy to grow, it can help to learn how to fertilize Shasta daisies during spring and summer, particularly if yours aren't flowering as well as they used to.

I’ve loved Shasta daisies for many years, although I am particularly fond of the aptly named 'Banana Cream' variety, which produces masses of pale lemon blooms and looks great in pots. With a light feed and regular deadheading, I have enjoyed 'Banana Cream' flowers right through until the first frost.

So, if you already know how to grow Shasta daisies, but want to get the most out of your prized perennials this summer, applying a little feed can go a long way. Here's everything I know about when and how to fertilize Shasta daisies, including tips on the best products for the best results.

How to get the most out of your shasta daisies

I think that Shasta daisies are some of the best perennials, happily growing in sunny yards from zone 5 to zone 9 without much effort required.

If you want to enjoy a pale yellow variety this summer, I highly recommend the 'Banana Cream' variety, with live plants available from Amazon now.

While not always necessary, a light feed every now and then can give your plants a boost during summer. Here's when and how to fertilize Shasta daisies.

When to fertilize shasta daisies

It is not always necessary to feed Shasta daisies, and I would caution against using fertilizer for the sake of it.

So, if your Shasta daisies look healthy and happy, and they are full of flowers in summer, chances are you do not need to fertilize.

If, however, your clump is a little light on blooms this year, or perhaps you are worried about growing perennials in poor soil, then it can certainly help to lightly feed during the growing season.

Do so sparingly, feeding once at the start of spring and once during the summer. Anymore is probably not needed and would be considered a fertilizing mistake.

But for any Shasta daisies growing in pots, there is a different approach. I would suggest feeding once every two or three weeks, largely because container plants are entirely reliant on you for water and nutrition.

How to fertilize shasta daisies

For Shasta daisies, you can feed once using a general-purpose fertilizer in spring. Using a slow-release product can be a good idea and will reduce any need for further fertilizer use later in the summer.

Try something like this organic slow-release feed, available from Amazon.

If you are feeding later in the growing season, you will want to opt for a bloom booster feed that is designed to maximize the number of flowers.

In terms of plant fertilizer numbers, you are looking for a product with a higher potash value, which is the third figure in the fertilizer ratio. So, this means sourcing something like 4-5-8 or 5-5-9.

Something like this organic tomato fertilizer from Burpee, available from Amazon now, is a good idea to maximize blooms.

You can also mulch your borders once a year during fall or winter, once you have cut back your perennials down to the base.

A good layer (around two to three inches) of organic mulch will help to improve the nutrition and structure of your soil.

And, finally, remember to keep deadheading Shasta daisies. Spending ten minutes every couple of days removing any faded blooms will help to prolong the flowering season.

FAQs

When should I stop feeding Shasta daisies?

Usually, plant growth and flower production will begin to wane by early September, and it is at this time that you should stop feeding. Sadly, no amount of feed can prolong the summer or prevent the change in seasons, and so fertilizing late in the season will do no good.

In terms of when to cut back Shasta daisies, I would suggest leaving them to stand until the New Year.

Even when they are brown, wildlife will be grateful for shelter and sustenance during the colder months of the year, and I think browning plants help to keep interest in the yard, too.

For more fertilizing information, see our guide on how to fertilize daylilies to discover how to get the most out of your plants this summer.

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Love them or hate them, you cannot deny that red hot pokers are plants of impact. Those red, orange or yellow blooms inject a little bit of summer drama that few other perennials can match.

Red hot pokers, or Kniphofia spp., are famously tough, the sort of plant that will tolerate a degree of neglect, and, in my experience, feeding them is not really necessary. I have seen them growing on rocky outcrops and in gravel gardens, and they seem to grow just fine without much nutrition.

If, however, your red hot poker has lacked blooms this year, a small amount of feed can help to encourage flower stem production. Here’s exactly what I know about how to grow red hot pokers, including when and how to fertilize them so they look their best from summer right into fall.

Growing red hot pokers

Red hot pokers are native to South Africa, thriving in sunny situations and dry soils. There are over 70 red hot poker varieties, most of which can be grown between zone 5 and zone 9, ranging in color from zingy yellow to deep red.

If you are looking for a new plant to grow this year, try this 'Solar Flare' yellow variety, with live plants available to order now via Amazon.

Most gardeners would consider red hot pokers as perennials that thrive on neglect, typically not needing any supplemental feeding.

However, if yours are lacking red, orange or yellow flowers, giving a (very) light feed using the right product can make a big difference.

When to fertilize red hot pokers

I have found that these tall perennial flowers tend to grow just fine without much need for fertilizer.

So, there generally isn't much need to add this as a regular monthly job on your summer gardening checklist.

Instead, I would suggest only feeding red hot pokers if there is a noticeable problem, such as they are lacking in flowers during the growing season, anytime between June and August.

A single application is all that would be needed, and feeding any more than this would be a fertilizing mistake.

How to fertilize red hot pokers

If your red hot poker is lacking in blooms, then it will respond best to a balanced or potash-high feed.

Potash, or potassium (the last number in an NPK plant fertilizer number ratio), is what fuels flower production, so you want something like a 4-6-8 or 5-5-10 formula.

For a high-potash feed, try something like this organic tomato fertilizer from Burpee, available from Amazon now, which should do the job nicely.

I would warn against using any products that are high in nitrogen, which will encourage plenty of lush green growth at the expense of flowers.

For potted kniphofias, and yes, they do surprisingly well in large containers if kept watered, I would recommend a liquid feed every two weeks during active growth.

A tomato fertilizer, like the product listed above, works perfectly here, as it’s naturally high in potash.

In fall and winter, once the foliage and flower stems have died back, I would suggest mulching, using a thick layer of well-rotted compost or leaf mold. This will help to improve the structure and quality of your soil and might reduce any need for feeding during the following season.

But, a word of warning, do not smother the crown with mulch, as kniphofias dislike sitting wet over winter, and can rot if the crown stays damp.

FAQs

Can I use bone meal to feed red hot pokers?

Bonemeal is high in phosphorus, which is one of three major nutrients that plants require for healthy growth. This can be used for any perennials, including red hot pokers, although if you want more flowers, aim for a feed that is also high in potash.

In general, red hot pokers tend to get on just fine without much need for fertilizer. So, feed sparingly only if necessary, and with an annual mulch, your plants should get on just fine without supplemental fertilizer.

For more information, see our guide on how to prune red hot pokers.

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Daylilies have both a good and bad reputation. On the one hand, they are highly valued as long-lasting, reliable and tough perennials. Yet, on the other, some species, such as Hemerocallis fulva, with its fiery red-orange flowers, are considered invasive in several US states, including Florida and Virginia. Thankfully, there are many varieties, like Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro', which strike a happy balance and are free-flowering and full of charm, but without dominating borders.

While daylilies are often considered workhorses of the garden, they can sometimes benefit from an application or two of feed. Of course, I would always advise limiting fertilizer use if it is not needed. For example, if you are currently enjoying masses of blooms, it is safe to assume that you don't need to fertilize. That said, if your daylilies are all green blades and no flowers, then a well-timed feed can work wonders, in my experience.

So, while you might know how to grow daylilies, learning how to fertilize them is also important. Here’s my guide to getting the most from these garden stalwarts, after several years of trial and error.

How to fertilize daylilies

Daylilies are some of the best perennials that thrive on neglect, typically blooming for long periods of summer with little effort needed.

However, if your daylilies are lacking orange or yellow flowers, giving a light feed during the growing season can make all the difference.

'Stella D'Oro' live daylily plants are available to order now via Amazon.

When to fertilize daylilies

For daylilies (including 'Stella D'Oro'), it is usually not necessary to follow a feeding schedule.

I have found that these perennials tend to grow just fine without regular and consistent applications of fertilizer.

Instead, I would stick to feeding daylilies just once or twice during the growing season if they are lacking in flowers. So, anytime between June and August is recommended. I would not feed them any later than August or September as the growing season begins to wind down.

If you are growing daylilies in pots, I would suggest a monthly or three-weekly feed during the growing season. This is because container plants are entirely reliant on you for nutrition.

How to fertilize daylilies

There’s nothing overly complicated about learning how to fertilize daylilies, but it is important to use the right products with suitable plant fertilizer numbers.

If your daylily clump has more leaves than flowers, then I would suggest using an organic tomato fertilizer that will boost flower production. This will have a higher potash (or potassium) value, so on the fertilizer packaging, you are looking for a high third value, such as 5-5-8.

Something like this organic tomato fertilizer from Burpee, available from Amazon now, should do the job nicely.

I would avoid using any products that are high in nitrogen, which will encourage your daylilies to produce more foliage at the expense of flowers.

If you have poor soil, I would suggest mulching in the fall or winter, once you have cut back the foliage. I find it is far easier to mulch once the yellow and brown blades have been cleared. A simple layer of well-rotted compost or leaf mold around the base of the plant keeps moisture in and will improve the quality of the soil over time.

FAQs

Can I use coffee grounds to fertilize daylilies?

Coffee grounds tend to be high in nitrogen, and so will encourage leafy green growth. If your daylilies are lacking in blooms, I would not recommend using coffee grounds. Stick to tomato feed or bloom boosters that will encourage flower production.

My best advice? Daylilies tend to get on just fine without much need for fertilizer. So, feed in moderation, sticking to a high-potassium solution, and be sure to mulch in fall and winter. This approach should suffice, and your daylilies will put on an impressive floral fireworks display.

For more information, see our guide on how to divide daylilies to manage the spread and size of your perennials this year.

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I’ve grown annuals, perennials, shrubs and small trees in pots everywhere, from windy balconies and shady basements to vast sunbaked courtyards. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that potted plants need us. Unlike those in the ground, they can’t fend for themselves, and nutrients get leached out fast. Without a steady supply of food and water, your beautiful pot display will fade and fizzle.

That’s why now is the moment to act. You might think your pots are just fine with fresh soil in spring, but fertilizing pots is an important job to add to your summer gardening checklist. Believe me, it really does make the difference between just surviving and truly thriving. And, there’s one product that has caught my eye: the Organic Plant Magic fertilizer shaker, available now via Amazon.

Just sprinkle it on the surface of your pots... no complicated steps, no mixing, no mess. And, with over 1,600 reviews and an average rating of 4.5 stars, it’s no surprise gardeners swear by it. Future you (and your dahlias, cosmos and lilies that are still flowering in October) will be very grateful you took the time to sprinkle a little bit of feed.

What do the reviews say about the Organic Plant Magic shaker?

Scan the reviews, and a few things come up again and again. First, most gardeners rave about its ease of use, with reviewers loving the simplicity. No measuring, no mixing. Just flip open the shaker and sprinkle.

One five-star review from June 2025 reads: 'I wanted an organic fertilizer, and this one works. My plants are thriving in this desert Utah climate.'

Many reviewers also praise the quick results. Whether it’s faded marigolds perking up in days or a window box erupting in late-summer blooms, people are genuinely surprised by how fast and visible the difference is.

Another five-star reviewer from July 2025 reads: 'I started using Organic Plant Magic on all my indoor plants, and the difference is incredible! The leaves look greener, fuller, and overall just healthier. Even my spider plant, which has survived a lot, perked up and started sending out more babies. It’s easy to use, and I love that it’s organic and safe around my cat.'

Some reviews do comment on the price, with one four-star review from June 2025 stating: 'It’s a bit pricey, [and] it makes a mess on your concrete if it spills.'

It is always best to work slowly and carefully, to avoid any fertilizing mistakes by making a mess on decks or patios. If you do spill any feed, simply scrub with water and a hard-bristled brush, and it should wash away.

With over 1,500 reviews and consistently high ratings, this small but effective fertilizer shaker has rightly earned an impressive reputation.

While the cost might seem a little high, it is the perfect product for fertilizing sweet peas, fertilizing lilies and keeping dahlias blooming. So, a small investment now will guarantee those late summer blooms that we all want to enjoy.

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How to use the fertilizer shaker?

Using the Organic Plant Magic fertilizer shaker couldn’t be easier. Simply sprinkle a small handful (about a teaspoon or less) per pot across the surface of the soil.

There’s no need to dig it in. Just apply it before your next regular watering, and let the nutrients soak through naturally.

It’s gentle, organic, and safe for container plants of all kinds. In terms of plant fertilizer numbers, it has a balanced 6-5-5 reading, so it is good for encouraging root, foliage and flower growth for all plants.

In terms of feeding pots, I would suggest applying this product once every three weeks through summer, stopping around late August to early September, as the season comes to an end.

To keep your flower pots looking tip top, be sure to keep deadheading your annuals and perennials on the patio, to encourage more blooms through until fall. This includes cosmos, chrysanthemums and dahlias. Our guide has all the information you need.

Agapanthus are striking perennials with showy bell or trumpet-shaped blooms that bring drama and interest in summer. These blooms are often blue or purple, but also come in shades of pink or white, and they always impress whether growing in the ground or containers in full sun.

Also known as Lily of the Nile and African Lily, they can grow up to three feet tall or more, depending on the variety, and the dramatic blooms reach a substantial size. Unsurprisingly, this level of growth each year makes agapanthus heavy feeders that require lots of nutrients. That, in turn, means taking time to fertilize agapanthus is an important part of annual care.

When you grow agapanthus, they need regular attention, which can include protecting them during winter in cold climates. Certainly, if you want strong displays, you do need to fertilize agapanthus multiple times a year. This guide highlights when to fertilize agapanthus both in the ground and containers, along with the best types of feed to use.

When and how to fertilize agapanthus – the need for a good routine

Agapanthus perform best with 6-8 hours of sunlight each day, although it can prefer some afternoon shade in warmer US hardiness zones. The plants want rich, well-drained soil and can thrive as patio plants in containers on a sunny patio or deck.

Putting on such a display of colorful blooms requires a lot, so taking time to feed the soil and boost the nutrient levels is essential. Fertilizing is extra important if you grow them in container gardens, where there are limited resources in the soil within their pots.

When to fertilize agapanthus

Agapanthus can flower from 6 to 12 weeks from summer into fall, depending on the variety. A good fertilization schedule ensures plants have all the required nutrients at the right time to sustain the show. So, when exactly should you fertilize agapanthus annually to ensure great flowering?

To start with, always fertilize agapanthus at the time of planting, which is ideally done in springtime. Then, it is best practice to establish a good routine of feeding plants each year to get a good display.

'Agapanthus should receive routine fertilization during the spring and summer growing season,' say experts from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Such a routine should include a feed early in spring, when the agapanthus comes out of dormancy and starts growing strongly for the season. This helps develop healthy leaves, and is followed by an additional application of fertilizer around two months later.

You can also fertilize agapanthus again once it starts blooming, if it needs a pick-me-up, but it is advisable to stop feeding once the flowering cycle ends, as the plant wants to focus on preparing for dormancy. Feeding after summer can disrupt the plant’s natural life cycle.

For agapanthus growing in pots, they benefit from a feed in spring, but then also need feeding at least every two weeks until the plants bloom.

It is important to pick the right fertilizers for this, as experts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Extension Horticulture Program warn: 'During the growing season, containers can be fertilized lightly; overfertilization will result in lanky growth.'

Now you know when to fertilize agapanthus. Let’s next look at how to feed, along with what the best fertilizer for agapanthus is.

How to fertilize agapanthus

A key part of correctly feeding any plants is understanding the plant fertilizer numbers seen on the packaging of products. They show the make-up of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – the three essential plant nutrients – in the form of three numbers separated by dashes.

For example, a balanced fertilizer will show 5-5-5 or 10-10-10. Understanding the nutrient make-up and what the fertilizer does for plants ensures you pick a feed to have the desired effect. This is crucial to avoid making any fertilizing mistakes that jeopardize plant health, along with using any product at the recommended rates.

An ideal feed to fertilize agapanthus in spring is a balanced, organic, slow-release fertilizer. A granular product like this should be mixed into the soil and watered in.

It contains all the essential plant nutrients and delivers them to the plant over an extended period. This means your agapanthus gets all it needs to grow strongly and healthily before blooming.

When you fertilize agapanthus again a couple of months later, just before blooming, you can use the same feed. Alternatively, a better choice is to use a feed higher in phosphorus and potassium that promotes more flowering and a longer season of strong blooms.

For example, Clemson University’s Home & Garden Information Center recommends: ‘A low-nitrogen, complete fertilizer that includes phosphorus is best, such as 5-10-15 or 8-8-8.’

At this stage, avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers. These can impair blooming, as too much nitrogen encourages lots of lush, green growth at the expense of flowers.

Agapanthus in pots prefer regular feeding every week or two with a water-soluble product. These types of feeds are the best fertilizers for flowers in pots. They deliver nutrients quickly to plants, but need to be applied more often for the desired effect.

Choose a liquid fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium, such as a bloom booster, and apply it when you water plants, until the plants reach the end of their flowering cycle.

FAQs

Can I feed agapanthus with tomato feed?

A fertilizer formulated for growing tomatoes can be suitable to use on agapanthus in containers, as such products are high in phosphorus and potassium to promote strong blooming. One example of such a feed is this Espoma organic liquid tomato plant food, available at Walmart.

Is bone meal good for agapanthus?

Bone meal is an organic feed high in phosphorus. The ideal time to use bone meal is when planting agapanthus, as it will help the plant develop a strong root network. You can get natural bone meal at Burpee.

Can I put coffee grounds on agapanthus?

Coffee grounds can be good for plants, as they contain nutrients that are released into the soil as they decompose. However, there is no evidence that agapanthus are plants that like coffee grounds or significantly benefit from them.

Blue flowers are rare, but agapanthus do offer one opportunity to grow blooms in shades of blue. When it comes to getting true blue flowers, some shrubs and perennials can give you this rarer color for your backyard ideas. The likes of Himalayan blue poppy, plumbago, and blue hydrangeas top the list if you want to grow blue flowers and add such a calming shade to your garden.

I’ve loved sweet peas for as long as I can remember. I mean, who couldn't be obsessed with their ruffled little petals and unrivalled scent? My all-time favorite? 'Matucana,' most probably, a heritage variety with bi-colored petals of deep purple and mauve. But I also have a soft spot for the almost-black blooms of 'Windsor,' which look just as good in a vase as they do growing on the patio.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll be keen to squeeze out as many weeks of sweet pea flowering as you can. And while it’s true that every flower has its natural arc, a little timely feed can go a long way in prolonging the floral display. Think of it as giving your sweet peas a boost just when they are beginning to flag.

So, whether you are growing sweet peas in borders or containers this summer, here’s when and how to fertilize them, including tips on the best products for the best results.

Getting the most out of sweet peas

Sweet peas are some of the best fragrant flowers, typically producing a sweet, floral aroma that is perfect for growing in cuttings patches.

Learning how to fertilize sweet peas can help extend their season, which usually lasts until the end of July. However, with a little feed, you can prolong these beautiful blooms for a little while longer.

When to fertilize sweet peas

It is best to start feeding these cut-and-come-again flowers early in the growing season, just as you begin to spot flowers developing.

I would suggest sticking to a regular feeding schedule from around late spring onwards.

However, if you have yet to fertilize, don't stress or worry; it is never too late to start. Even one application of feed can help these hungry climbers.

If you’re growing them in rich ground, a fortnightly feed will more than suffice, particularly if you mulch your borders.

But for climbers growing in pots, I would suggest a weekly feed, largely because container plants are entirely reliant on you, the gardener, for water and nutrition.

How to fertilize sweet peas

There’s nothing overly confusing or complicated about fertilizing sweet peas, but it is important to use the right products for the job.

A general-purpose fertilizer will do just fine, but for serious flower production, opt for one higher in potassium.

In terms of plant fertilizer numbers (that you find on the packaging of every plant feed), you are looking for something with a higher final number, such as 4-5-8 or 5-6-9.

Something like this organic tomato fertilizer from Burpee, available from Amazon now, will do the job.

Try to avoid anything too nitrogen-heavy, which will encourage your sweet peas to produce more foliage, at the expense of flowers.

If you are going away for a few weeks on vacation, or perhaps you are time-short, consider using an organic slow-release fertilizer, available from Walmart, which will take away the stress and effort.

And, finally, remember to deadhead sweet peas religiously, spending five minutes every few days snipping any faded flowers. You may find that the blooms appear on shorter stems as the season progresses, but in my opinion, any flower is better than no flower.

FAQs

When should I stop feeding my sweet peas?

When your plant is producing fewer and fewer blooms, usually by late July or August, it is time to stop feeding. Once you have reached this stage, no amount of fertilizer can bring the plant back (that is just the cycle of the growing season, sadly).

Be sure to leave one or two faded flower stems on your plant, and allow them to go to seed. This way, you can harvest, store and sow sweet peas again next year, all without spending a dime.

For more information, see our guide on how to harvest sweet pea seeds.

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As a professional gardener, I’m always seeking out new ways to feed my plants. I have steeped nettles in old buckets to brew a nitrogen-rich foliar feed, hoarded banana skins from the trash for a potassium fix, and even smashed eggshells to make a calcium-rich powder to sprinkle around the yard. But one method, recently back in the news, is raising eyebrows: using urine as plant fertilizer. Yes, really.

Hear me out. The ancient Greeks and Romans did it, after all. And while not everything from classical times deserves a revival, using urine as plant fertilizer might be worth reconsidering. You may have recently seen reports or heard talk touting this seemingly odd but smart solution that is a cost-free fertilizer packed with the very nutrients plants crave.

So, if you are wondering how to make plant fertilizer this year – for lush foliage, greener lawns, or brilliantly blooming flower beds – it might be time to try an alternative approach. Below, I explain why urine works as a plant feed, how to use it correctly and reveal some mistakes to avoid. And, if you decide it is not for you? Well, that's fine, but it still makes for a good dinner party conversation topic (in select company, of course).

Why are gardeners using urine as plant fertilizer?

Human urine contains a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, otherwise known as plant fertilizer numbers 'NPK'.

These letters and numbers might be familiar to you, and you may recall seeing them listed on every commercial fertilizer label, which can be a little overwhelming at the garden nursery.

They needn't be confusing; just think that these numbers reveal the balance of elements contained in the feed, and different formulas have different results when it comes to plant and soil health.

You may have seen one or two headlines in recent months and years, with numerous scientific studies demonstrating that human urine can be safely utilized as a fertilizer. So, when used correctly, there is no need to worry about negative unintended consequences.

Nitrogen makes up the lion’s share of the composition of urine. In terms of what does nitrogen do for plants, it is best thought of as promoting vigorous leafy growth, which is why your lettuces and kale crops thrive with high-nitrogen feed.

If you want a nitrogen-rich feed but don't want to try using urine, which is understandable, try something like this organic fish emulsion fertilizer, available from Walmart, which has an NPK ratio of 5-1-1.

While phosphorus and potassium are also present in urine, the NPK ratio is estimated to lean heavily towards nitrogen (somewhere around the 10-1-2 level), so I would suggest thinking of a diluted urine fertilizer as a nitrogen-rich feed, rather than an all-purpose fertilizer.

Beyond nutrients, urine also plays a role in improving soil microbial activity. A 2024 study in Applied Soil Ecology found that urine increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria in soil, without disrupting the broader microbial ecosystem.

How to use urine as plant fertilizer

Using urine as plant fertilizer is incredibly simple, but there is one catch: you must dilute it.

For most plants, a 1:10 ratio of urine to water is ideal. That’s roughly one cup of urine to a watering can.

Once mixed, water your soil (not the foliage). Do this once every two or three weeks for vegetables and leafy crops.

While you can use urine as a plant fertilizer for perennials and flowers, you may find that the high nitrogen content reduces blooms.

So, in terms of the best fertilizer for flowers, I would instead suggest using something high in phosphorus and potassium, like this organic bloom booster feed by Espoma, available from Amazon now.

FAQs

Can I use urine as a lawn fertilizer?

Yes, you can use urine to fertilize a lawn, but the trick is to correctly dilute the solution to avoid burning the grass. Urine contains nitrogen, which is good for a healthy green lawn, but it is also high in salts, which can be harmful in concentrated amounts, so be sure to dilute at a 1:10 ratio (or even weaker), as recommended above.

Can I use urine to feed edible plants?

Yes, you can use urine to feed edible crops, but do so with care. Always dilute it and apply it to the soil, not the foliage. I would also suggest feeding only leafy crops, as opposed to root vegetables that you harvest from the soil.

So, while it may sound a bit strange, there are many benefits to using urine as plant fertilizer that is both free and all-natural. Plus, it is sustainable, and hasn't been produced far away and shipped to your region.

If you are still a little bit sceptical, why not start by learning how to put urine on compost, as the high nitrogen content will help to speed up decomposition. Our guide has all the information you need to get started.

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With a keen interest in making more eco-choices in the yard, I'm always excited to learn of new organic fertilizers I can feed my plants to boost their growth. That combined with a love for composting has landed me exploring compost tea; a liquid fertilizer that uses fresh compost.

If you already make your own compost, you can make compost tea easily. You can also just use compost you've purchased from the garden center. 'Compost tea is a liquid made by steeping fully finished compost in water to extract beneficial microbes and nutrients,' describes Lauren Click, founder of Let's Go Compost.

Full of nutrients for plants, compost tea is a great option to make plant fertilizer. Plus, it can be used on fruit, vegetables, and ornamental plants alike. Here, Lauren reveals all about how to make compost tea and the benefits this nutrient-rich mixture brings garden plants.

Why is compost tea good for plants?

With compost being an organic growing medium full of essential plant nutrients, it's no surprise compost tea encourages strong, healthy plant growth.

'It is primarily used to improve soil health, support plant growth, and naturally suppress certain diseases,' Lauren explains.

Of course, the range of unusual compost ingredients you put in your pile, including compostable tea bags, composting weeds, and composting pumpkins, will deliver macronutrients in the form of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK plant fertilizer numbers), as well as micronutrients and trac minerals.

But, compost is also rich in microorganisms and beneficial bacteria. As Lauren notes, this presence in compost tea helps plants fight disease, improve immunity, and improve soil structure.

Other benefits of compost tea include robust root development and not needing to use the chemicals found in many synthetic fertilizers, lowering the environmental impact on the ecosystem in your yard.

How to make compost tea

With more understanding of why you should use compost tea, you can go ahead and start to make compost tea at home. It's a simple mixture to make – here's what Lauren advises:

'To make compost tea, combine one part compost with five to 10 parts clean, potable water in a sanitized container,' says Lauren.

If you aren't using homemade compost, opt for a good quality all-purpose compost (from Amazon). You'll also want to choose a large enough container for the amount of compost tea you want to make, like this one gallon bucket from Walmart.

'For best results, use an aquarium pump to aerate the mix continuously for 24 to 48 hours,' Lauren says. You can find a submersible water pump on Amazon, which will prevent the water-based mixture become stagnant and smelling bad.

After this steeping period, Lauren advises straining out solids using a food-safe mesh bag (from Amazon).

Your compost tea is then ready for use.

How to use compost tea

There are a few different ways to use compost tea in the yard. Lauren suggests the following technique:

'Use the tea immediately for maximum microbial benefit. You can dilute it and then pour it around the base of plants as a soil drench or apply it to leaves using a spray bottle (from Amazon),' Lauren describes.

Applying the compost tea to the leaves provides a foliar uptake, which often provides a faster absorption of nutrients than soil application.

'Never spray compost tea on edible leaves you plan to eat raw,' Lauren warns.

Nevertheless, compost tea can be used as a fertilizer for a vegetable garden and fertilizer for flowers in pots.

'Ideally use your compost tea in the early morning or evening,' Lauren says.

Just like other types of fertilizer, it can be a fertilizing mistake to feed plants during the hottest point of the day. It may cause fertilizer burn and stress out the plant.

FAQs

What's the best compost for compost tea?

Good quality compost should be used to make compost tea, whether you make it yourself or purchase it. Lauren Click, founder of Let's Go Compost, has some words of warning:

'Do not use compost made with raw manure, meat, dairy, or pet waste, as these can carry pathogens.

'Only use mature compost, dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling, and fully cured. This means it has passed through the hot phase (130–140°F) and aged at least two to four months,' Lauren says.

Can you store compost tea for later use?

No, it is generally not recommended to store compost tea for later use.

'Never store compost tea, as it quickly loses its microbial activity and may become unsafe,' says Lauren Click, founder of Let's Go Compost.

'If it smells sour or rotten, throw it out. Keep children and pets away from brewing containers, especially since bubbling can release aerosols,' she warns.

Instead, use compost tea immediately to reap the greatest benefits for your plants.

To make the best compost tea possible, it's wise to educate yourself on composting mistakes to avoid and how to speed up composting so you can get your tea more quickly.

If you're interested in making more organic fertilizer, try using vegetable peels as fertilizer or even oatmeal fertilizer for plants.

Bell peppers are popular crops to grow at home and have many potential uses, from being chopped and eaten raw in salads to being cooked in a plethora of dishes. As one plant can produce between five and 10 peppers, it requires regular feeding throughout the season.

The crop needs warmth and rich soil to thrive, plus lots of nutrients for healthy growth. Giving plants the nutrients they need means they develop a rich bounty of peppers, which, depending on the variety, can come in shades of green, yellow, orange, and red.

When you grow bell peppers, feeding isn’t a once-and-done deal. Your plants do need feeding at certain key times, and their nutrient requirements shift during the season. It need not be confusing, though, so this guide looks at when and how to fertilize bell peppers to help you get the best harvests.

When and how to fertilize bell peppers – start with the soil

Bell peppers are heavy feeders, and as with fertilizing chili pepper plants, they benefit from regular applications of feed throughout the growing season for the best harvests.

However, before you even plant the vegetables, it is important to do a soil test to understand the nutrients in your soil and identify any deficiencies. Understanding your soil and its nutrient make-up helps avoid plants getting too little or too much of any particular nutrients.

It can be as simple as using a soil test kit like this one on Amazon to provide lab analysis feedback on 13 nutrients in around a week.

When to fertilize bell peppers

The first opportunity to fertilize bell peppers occurs when you pot up seedlings. If you sow seeds indoors in trays, modules, or small pots, they will need potting up into larger containers before being planted.

At this stage, you can fertilize seedlings by mixing some slow-release feed into your potting mix. However, check beforehand to see if your potting mix already contains feed.

An ideal soil for bell peppers is supplemented with organic matter, including compost or well-rotted manure, before planting. This offers two-fold benefits, providing essential nutrients to the plants and helping retain moisture in the soil.

From the moment it comes to transplanting seedlings into the vegetable garden, there are a few key timings to fertilize bell peppers that will guarantee healthy plants and a bumper crop of bell peppers to pick.

'Feed after transplanting, and again at the pre-flowering and fruit-setting stages,' recommends Robin Phelps, an experienced grower and the gardening and preserving coach for Sow Many Plants.

'These phases demand nutrients to support foliage and the transition to fruit production.'

The key take-home points are to fertilize bell peppers a few weeks after planting, then regularly feed the plants once they begin flowering. A consistent feeding regime like this provides essential nutrients for developing and ripening fruit while helping to avoid issues such as blossom end rot.

How to fertilize bell peppers

Now you understand when to fertilize bell peppers, the next important step is to know what types of feed to use at the different stages.

Before feeding, ensure you understand the plant fertilizer numbers on the packaging. Any products in-store or sold online will feature the nutrient make-up of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the form of three numbers, showing how much of each nutrient it contains. For example, a balanced feed would show 10-10-10.

Check a product’s ratio to ensure it fits the needs of your plants, and always apply at the recommended rate to avoid overfertilizing plants. It is also important to remember that any soil type with compost or other organic matter added before planting will require less fertilizer during the season.

To fertilize bell peppers in particular, use a balanced fertilizer with an NPK of 10-10-10, 5-5-5, or similar after transplanting young plants. Any feed must be well-balanced and deliver all the essential nutrients bell peppers need to develop healthily. At this stage, granular fertilizers are better than liquid ones as they release their nutrients slowly and allow plants to benefit over an extended period.

However, the nutrient requirements shift once the plants start flowering, and so does the best fertilizers for bell peppers.

At this stage, switch to a product with less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium, so the latter two numbers will be higher. This switch ensures the plant focuses on producing fruits. As Robin Phelps explains: 'Reduce nitrogen slightly to encourage bigger, sweeter fruits.'

Experts from Michigan State University recommend 'fertilizers of a 1-2-2 ratio, such as 5-10-10 or 8-16-16'. Robin Phelps also advocates for 5-10-10 while offering an alternative ratio of 4-8-12 for use at this stage.

The best fertilizer for bell peppers at this point is often a fast-acting liquid feed, usually one designed for growing tomatoes or other vegetables, that is applied every few weeks to help the plant develop and ripen peppers.

Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers once the plants start flowering, as it is a fertilizing mistake that encourages vigorous green growth. The result is a plant with lots of foliage, weak stems, and little in the way of fruit production.

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FAQs

Is Miracle-Gro good for bell peppers?

There are Miracle-Gro products you can use to fertilize bell peppers. It includes this organic all-purpose plant food from Amazon, which can be used after transplanting, and this water-soluble tomato plant food at Walmart can be used to feed peppers every few weeks once they are flowering.

What is the best homemade fertilizer for pepper plants?

If you want to make a plant fertilizer for peppers, there are three great options at your disposal. One is to make your own homemade compost, and I would also recommend making comfrey fertilizer, as it is rich in phosphorus and potassium to develop fruits, and contains calcium to prevent blossom end rot.

Robin Phelps, gardening and preserving coach for Sow Many Plants, recommends using Epsom salts to fertilize bell peppers. You can make a foliar spray by mixing two tablespoons of Epsom salt in a gallon of water, and Robin advises: 'Spraying pepper plants every 2–3 weeks can improve fruit size and prevent deficiencies that stunt development.'

As growers strive for healthy plants and the best fruits, pepper companion planting always comes highly recommended.

Companion planting reaps the rewards of natural benefits that different vegetables, herbs, and flowers offer each other. The benefits include deterring pests, attracting beneficial insects, and encouraging pollinators to boost your yield.

Some of the best companion planting partners for bell peppers include planting onions and marigolds to deter lots of pests, while many gardeners claim growing basil nearby boosts the growth of pepper plants.

Winter jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum, is a deciduous shrub that produces golden-yellow blooms during winter months when much else in the yard is dormant. When the weather is cold and frosty, spotting these star-like flowers in the corner of your plot will surely bring a smile.

Caring for these shrubs is relatively straightforward, but many people ask when and how to fertilize winter jasmine to maximize flowering. Feeding at the wrong time can damage your plant, and knowing when and when not to fertilize is crucial to plant success.

So, while you might know how to grow winter jasmine, there are specific rules to follow when feeding your shrub. Here, we share timing information and the best approach to fertilizing winter jasmine to get the most from your plant.

Timing is everything when you fertilize winter jasmine

Winter jasmine can be grown from US hardiness zone 6, and while it is native to China, it is today found growing across much of the world. This tough plant is relatively self-sufficient, but fertilizer can be used to give your plant a boost. The trick is knowing the right time to feed to improve plant productivity without harming it.

When to fertilize winter jasmine

'This easy-to-grow plant is a staple in many gardens across the US,' says Jen McDonald, gardening expert and co-founder of Garden Girls. 'Unlike star jasmine, the blooms on winter jasmine are not fragrant, sadly, but it doesn't diminish how special this plant is. Anything that flowers in the dead of winter is a star to me!

'Typically, winter jasmine produces striking yellow flowers in December, January and February,' Jen adds, 'and while you might think that feeding at this time will help to encourage blooms, this would be a mistake.'

Indeed, as Jen says, feeding in winter is not the right approach for winter jasmine. Feeding at the wrong time is a common fertilizing mistake to avoid that will not produce any great effect and can actually damage your plant.

Instead, the optimum time to feed this plant is in the spring, after flowering. Giving your plant a boost at this time will help to produce a good showing of flowers the following year. While this can seem counter-intuitive or far away in the future, feeding in spring is the best approach.

How to fertilize winter jasmine

So, during the springtime, after your winter jasmine plant has finished flowering and turned green with the unfurling of fresh foliage, you can then feed your plant.

To improve soil health, you can either apply compost, leaf mold, or mulch to the base of your winter jasmine, spreading a thick one to two-inch layer thereby adding plenty of fresh nutrients to the soil. You can do this at any point in the year, but during winter or spring would be good, to help suppress weeds and retain water in the growing season ahead. Organic mulch is available from Amazon.

Alternatively, you can use an organic all-purpose fertilizer, available from Amazon, combining a small amount with the soil. Carefully fork or dig this into the soil, taking your time so as to not damage the roots of the plant, before giving a deep watering to saturate the soil. In terms of plant fertilizer numbers, use a well-balanced product, something like 5-5-5 or 7-7-7, and I would always use slightly less than the recommended amount for this plant.

Finally, I suggest feeding winter jasmine just once in the springtime. Generally speaking, winter jasmine plants do not need much fertilizer, and with an annual application of compost or mulch, and a light feed in the spring, your plant should produce plenty of blooms and good foliage growth in the year ahead. Avoid over-feeding which can burn the roots and do harm to your plant.

FAQs

My winter jasmine has bare stems with no flowers or foliage - should I feed my plant?

Bare patches are not the result of nutrient deficiency. Typically, they appear due to a lack of pruning. Pruning consistently will ensure that your shrub stays compact and full of foliage, and will also prevent those bare patches from appearing. Pruning should be done every year in the spring, as soon as your plant has finished flowering. Do not prune before this as you will be removing flower buds before they have opened. Winter jasmine responds well to pruning, so do not be worried about trimming stems by up to one-third to encourage full, bushy growth.

If you wish for your winter jasmine to grow vertically, training will be required. This shrub is more of a rambler as opposed to a climber, so it is a good idea to tie in your plant to protect it from collapsing, particularly during stormy weather and heavy rainfall in the fall and winter months. Reusable Velcro ties, available from Amazon, are a sustainable option and a good idea for securing your plants.

For more plant inspiration, see our guide on how to grow jasmine in pots, for a summer show of fragrant flowers.

Knowing how and when to fertilize leeks helps you get a fantastic harvest of long and sweet stems. Leeks are simple to grow and have a milder taste than onions, they are versatile enough to be used in all manner of dishes.

While often regarded as a winter crop, growing different varieties of leeks can provide harvests from summer through to spring. Whatever type of leeks you grow, from early varieties to harvest in summer to late types that can overwinter in the ground to be lifted the following spring, they all benefit from being fertilized during the growing season.

I have grown the crop in vegetable gardens for many years and learnt a few things about fertilizing leeks. To help you understand I also hear from an experienced horticulturist about how they fertilize their crop and look at some of the best fertilizers for leeks.

A guide to fertilizer for leeks

Along with watering plants, fertilizing is the most important maintenance task when growing leeks. We want to help you get it right and get a great harvest, so let’s look closely and when and how to fertilize leeks.

When to fertilize leeks

Leeks can be planted throughout spring. The seeds can be sowed indoors to get ahead in colder climates or directly outdoors in the vegetable garden once the soil is workable.

Leeks need lots of nutrients to grow, including nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and will benefit from feeding at two key moments in the growing season.

Tammy Sons, an experienced horticulturist and CEO and Founder at TN Nursery, says: ‘Nitrogen is the best fertilizer for a successful and hardy-leek crop, hands down.’

‘We fertilize our leeks twice during the growing season: once when planted and once during active growth,’ adds Tammy.

Adding fertilizer before planting the vegetable gets the crop off to a great start. A second feed during the season, in May or June, will help to develop strong stems and reward you with a great leek harvest.

How to pick the best fertilizer for leeks

When you use any fertilizer, it is key to understand the plant fertilizer numbers that appear on any product. The packaging will show the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content as a ratio of three numbers, for example, balanced feeds will display a 5-5-5 or 10-10-10 ratio. Knowing the nutrient levels helps avoid over-fertilizing plants or making the fertilizing mistake of applying the wrong fertilizer.

Ahead of planting leeks, adding organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure provides a solid base of balanced and slow-release nutrients that will benefit when you sow leeks or transplant seedlings into the garden. If you cannot use organic matter before, add a 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer at the time of planting the crop into the kitchen garden.

During the growing season, the leeks greatly benefit from extra nitrogen in the soil. This can be achieved by using high-nitrogen fertilizers such as blood meal, chicken manure pellets, or fish emulsion fertiliser.

Slow-release granular feeds, including blood meal and chicken manure pellets, can be added as a side dressing and one application during the active growing period will suffice.

Liquid fertilizers, such as fish emulsion, are faster-acting. They provide a quick dose of nutrients but leach quickly from the soil - so need to be used more regularly. Liquid fertilizer is mixed in when you water plants and should be added every 3-4 weeks for the best results.

Shop fertilizers for leeks

FAQs

Do leeks like bone meal?

Bone meal is an organic fertilizer rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium, and can be beneficial when growing leeks. Using bone meal, available at Burpee, would be primarily useful when planting leeks.

Is Miracle-Gro good for leeks?

There are Miracle-Gro products that will benefit leeks. One particular product is the Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food, available at Walmart, which is high in nitrogen and can be applied to plants every few weeks during the season.

Is cow manure good for leeks?

Cow manure is an all-purpose fertilizer and a good source of nitrogen and phosphorus. It can be used to enrich the soil before planting leeks. Any manure needs to be well-rotted before being applied to beds, or added in the fall ahead of planting vegetables in spring. Using fresh manure will burn roots and kill crops.

Onions are another allium that benefit from a dose of extra nitrogen, however, when growing onions it is important to provide that nitrogen at the right time. Unlike leeks, which are grown for stems, onions are grown for the bulbs, so any high-nitrogen fertilizer should only be used to fertilize onions until the bulbs start to form. Feeding the crop too late with lots of nitrogen will encourage the development of the stems rather than the bulb.

If you're a novice gardener, or perhaps you're starting to add to the planting in your yard, there's no doubt you've stumbled across fertilizer products. Fertilizer is plant food packed with nutrients - but, what does feeding your plants really do for them?

Whether you're making your own fertilizer or using commercial products, there are so many ways fertilizer can benefit your plants. Even using homemade compost can feed and nourish your soil, all resulting in stronger plant growth.

With so many types of fertilizer and each plant benefitting in different ways from specific ones, it can be overwhelming to navigate the world of fertilizer. That's why we've compiled everything you need to know about what fertilizer does for plants and the best type to use - just in time for Global Fertilizer Day.

What does fertilizer do for plants?

In short, fertilizer feeds your plants by nourishing soil health with essential nutrients that are soaked up by plant roots. 'Fertilizers provide key nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that promote plant growth,' explains Matthew Koch of Scotts Miracle-Gro.

The plant fertilizer numbers found on fertilizer products indicate the volume of each of the NPK nutrients. Nitrogen largely supports vegetative growth and strengthens the ability for plants to photosynthesize; Phosphorus encourages root, fruit and flower growth; Potassium is key for moving water and nutrients around plant tissue.

While it's true different soil types will already hold percentages of these nutrients (you can test your soil with this test kit from Amazon to find out what your soil is made up of), using a fertilizer can boost them. This is beneficial for a number of reasons.

'As many vegetables are heavy feeders, they require lots of nutrients throughout the growing season and benefit from regular fertilization,' says Drew Swainston, former professional gardener and content editor at Homes & Gardens. 'This is especially important when growing vegetables in containers, as they can quickly use up all the resources in the potting soil,' he adds.

As well as ensuring vegetable plants are getting sufficient nutrients, fertilizing ornamental garden plants, houseplants and even fertilizing a lawn is important. If you notice yellowing foliage or a lack of growth, it can be a sign of a nutrient deficiency. Using a fertilizer can help resolve this issue.

Of course, there are plenty of fertilizing mistakes to avoid. It is possible to over-fertilize plants, especially if you're feeding your plants at the wrong time of year. Too much fertilizer can cause a number of problems, including root rot, root burn and discoloring foliage. It's best to follow manufacturer instructions and research how and when to fertilize your specific plants.

From fertilizing a monstera to fertilizing roses and knowing when to fertilize seedlings, getting the volume and timing right are all key to reaping the rewards of fertilizing.

What's the best type of fertilizer?

With so many fertilizer products on the market, where do you get started? Different products are made up of different ingredients, provide different nutrients and come in different forms - for example, sprays, liquid solutions and slow-release granules. The first thing to do when choosing a fertilizer is identify what your plants need and the best method of feeding them.

'When searching for the best fertilizers for a vegetable garden, I have used organic slow-release and balanced fertilizers for many crops at the start of the season, such as chicken manure pellets (available at Amazon). Such feeds provide nutrients for a long period,' says Drew. 'A faster-acting liquid feed can be added during the growing season for additional boosts of nutrients for hungry crops, including tomatoes, peppers and pumpkin,' he explains.

Balanced fertilizers are those with an equal NPK ratio. Whether you opt for a granular type that releases slowly (like this all purpose fertilizer from Amazon) or a liquid fertilizer (like this all purpose liquid fertilizer from Amazon), a balanced fertilizer is a reliable choice for a general boost of nutrients.

However, if your plant requires plenty of one nutrient (eg to recover from a deficiency or to grow fruit), then it's best to opt for a fertilizer rich in that nutrient. For example, this bone meal fertilizer from Amazon is rich in phosphorus and this blood meal fertilizer from Amazon is rich in nitrogen.

'It's key to ensure the nutrient make up in fertilizer is right for the plant. For example, using a high nitrogen fertilizer will develop lots of leafy growth rather than develop fruits. Such a feed is great for leafy crops, like lettuces and spinach, but not for ones like zucchini or squash where you want the fruits to grow rather than lots of foliage,' says Drew.

There are also many plant-specific fertilizers on the market - like this liquid fertilizer for indoor plants from Perfect Plants Nursery and this liquid tomato fertilizer from Perfect Plants Nursery - which will serve the needs of the plants you're growing.

'Always make sure the fertilizer you use is suitable for the plant you are giving it to,' Drew advises.

FAQs

How do you fertilize plants?

How you fertilize a plant all depends on the type of plant it is and the type of fertilizer you're using. Liquid and water soluble fertilizers can be added to water and then fed to your plant's soil, while slow-release granular fertilizer can be spread evenly at the base of your plant. As you water your plant, the granular fertilizer will be released to the roots. If you're using plant food such as pellets, bone meal, compost and other organic matter, apply an even layer around the base of your plant. Once again, the nutrients will be slowly released to your plant's roots as you water it.

As well as using commercial fertilizers, it's possible to make your own for different plants. For example, you can make your own tomato fertilizer with nettle tea and coffee grounds, or try making your own rose fertilizer from kitchen scraps. Making a composter is a great way to get started with using organic matter to feed your plants.

For some houseplant owners, fertilizing is part of their regular houseplant regime. For others, it's the last thing on their mind. The truth is, feeding your houseplants can be incredibly important for giving them an essential boost of nutrients, but not all indoor plants require fertilizer to the same degree as others.

If you're after the most low-maintenance indoor plants, then you might look for ones that won't complain if they haven't been fed. Fertilizer gives plants some fresh nutrients - the NPK plant fertilizer numbers on plant food products explain which nutrients and how much of them they provide. This can be particularly helpful when your plants are actively growing and using up a lot of energy. However, there are some indoor plants that will thrive even without plant food.

Here, we've compiled an expert list of houseplants that don't need fertilizing often and will cope with not being fed for a bit longer than others.

5 houseplants that don't need fertilizing

While it's true the houseplants listed here almost never need fertilizing, it doesn't mean you shouldn't feed them at all. 'You can get away without fertilizing them, but at least a couple of applications during spring and summer will help your plant stay healthy,' says Raffaele Di Lallo, plant expert from Ohio Tropics. Here are our top picks of indoor plants that will just keep growing without plant food.

1. ZZ plant

Houseplant lovers won't be surprised to see the ZZ plant at the top of this list. These hardy houseplants can cope with neglect extremely well, including not being fed or watered often.

'ZZ plants have the reputation of being low-water and low-light indoor plants. However, they will do better immediately in front of a window and even with a handful of hours of direct sun,' says Raffaele.

ZZ plants tend to be slow-growers, often taking three to five years to reach a height of three feet tall. They have structural stems and are loved for their dark foliage that will keep emerging without fertilizer.

'Water when the top couple of inches of the soil are dry. With plenty of light and water, they will grow faster for you and be more vigorous and sturdy,' Raffaele advises.

Find a ZZ plant at Walmart.

2. Aspidistra

Also known as the cast-iron plant for its ability to keep growing in poor conditions, aspidistras will provide luscious green foliage in your home without any fertilizer needed.

From a lack of water to sitting in a chillier spot of your home, these houseplants can cope in nearly any environment. For this reason, they're popular choices for easy indoor plants.

'These plants can survive in pretty dim conditions but will do best in an area with bright, indirect light,' says Raffaele. 'It's also best to water when the top inch of the soil feels completely dry,' he adds.

Shop for an aspidistra at Walmart.

3. Aloe vera

If you know anything about caring for succulents, you'll know they don't often need watering and will be happy in a sunny spot. On top of this, many succulents will also get on without fertilizing.

Aloe vera is a versatile plant often grown for its soothing gel that is used for skin ailments, among other health benefits. As houseplants, they cope well with poor soil quality and don't require fertilizing often. They do grow slowly, but it's extremely easy to propagate aloe vera plants once they become larger.

'Aloe plants need at least some direct sun for best growth. Sharp drainage of their soil is important and they are pretty drought-tolerant plants,' notes Raffaele.

You can find aloe vera plants at Walmart.

4. Snake plant

Not only are snake plants among houseplants that like being pot-bound, these classic indoor plants will offer new sword-shaped leaves even without plant food. In fact, experts warn against giving succulent-like plants, like snake plants, too much fertilizer.

'You don’t want to give these plants much nitrogen because they will put on new growth that may not be the shape you want it to be,' says Lisa Eldred Steinkopf from the Houseplant Guru.

What Lisa describes is the effect of nitrogen on plants, boosting vegetative growth. For snake plants, a fertilizer should rather focus on root strengthening - the role of phosphorus in plant food.

Nevertheless, your snake plant will grow happily in a range of spaces of your home without regular fertilizing.

'Though touted as low-light plants, they can often grow weak and flop over in dim conditions. They actually do beautifully with a few hours of direct sun indoors,' says Raffaele. 'Don't wait too long after the soil goes completely dry before watering them again,' he advises.

Find a snake plant at The Sill.

5. Pothos

Good news for those on the hunt for easy indoor hanging plants, pothos plants will keep getting longer no matter how little they're fertilized.

'Vines, such as pothos, grow so rampant they don’t necessarily need fertilizer often,' says Lisa. 'They would benefit from fertilizer a couple of times in the growing season, but will do fine without it.

'Keeping your plant well-watered, in the correct light and clean will go a long way in keeping your plant healthy,' she adds.

When placed in plenty of sunlight, pothos plants will double in length in no time. Take care to prune your pothos to keep it at a desired length and use those cuttings to propagate your pothos.

Fertilizing them too regularly can actually turn your pothos yellow, so take care to only feed it minimally if you do choose to do so.

There are so many pothos varieties to choose from, but the Marble Queen Pothos (available at The Sill) is a popular choice.

FAQs

Why has fertilizer turned my houseplant yellow?

If you've noticed your houseplant turning yellow after being fertilized, it's a sign something isn't quite right. Usually, this is an indicator the plant has been oversaturated by fertilizer and may be experiencing houseplant root rot or even root burn. It's best to only fertilize houseplants during their active growth season and not too often to avoid this happening.

Just remember these plants don't need fertilizing often, but will still benefit from plant food occasionally. This is especially true when they're actively growing and you want to encourage new leaves to emerge. Before you do feed any of your plants, it's worth reading up on common fertilizing mistakes to avoid.

All lawns benefit from being fertilized. Giving the grass the nutrients it needs helps any home have a lush, green, and beautiful lawn. However, feed too much or too regularly and you can harm the grass - so that leads to the question, how often should you fertilize a lawn?

Fertilizing is an integral part of any yearly lawn care regime for those who strive for pristine grass. Along with mowing, aerating, scarifying, and watering, feeding is often done multiple times throughout the year. Proper planning is important, though, as certain factors impact how often to fertilize a lawn.

To help you make the right decisions about how often to feed, we take a look at three important aspects and get tips from experienced lawn care professionals to determine the right feeding schedule for your lawn.

How often should you fertilize a lawn?

The number of treatments a lawn requires throughout the year can depend on many factors. It is not a one-size-fits-all approach and certain elements will make a difference.

However, as a guide, Justin Urbanek, product manager at John Deere, says: ‘Most lawns would benefit from 3-4 fertilizer applications per season. Your type of soil and available nutrients in the soil impact how often and what type of fertilizer to use.’

A typical routine would include fertilizing a lawn in spring after the last frosts have passed to help with healthy growth. Then in high summer, it helps the lawn withstand hot weather and restore color, and fertilizing a lawn in fall will help the grass withstand the onslaught of winter. Additional feeds can be done in late spring or early summer if the grass shows signs of needing a boost.

To prevent issues from making the lawn care mistake of over-fertilizing and help you make informed choices, conducting a soil test will demonstrate what nutrients your lawn needs and if any key nutrients are lacking in the soil that need to be fixed.

On top of learning about the makeup of your soil, the following factors will all play a role in dictating a lawn maintenance program.

1. Location

Your location is one factor which impacts how often you may need to fertilize a lawn throughout the year. Rob Palmer, brand president of Lawn Squad, explains how homeowners in northern and transition zones should think about feeding a lawn ‘roughly every 35-42 days from spring through fall’. He adds: ‘This helps to provide consistent nutrients to the lawn without creating a lot of peaks or slowdowns in turf growth.’

‘In the southern zone, lawns should be fertilized just a couple of times during the warm summer growing season (May-August),’ continues Rob.

Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love, claims the specific growing season of certain locations will dictate whether or not a late application of feed is recommended. Cooler climates may mean fewer applications are needed throughout the year and you may not need to add feeding to a fall lawn care regime.

He says: ‘For those with year-round growing seasons, fertilizing in the fall as well as the spring makes sense, but others will generally want to avoid fertilizing in the fall to help their lawns go dormant in the winter. Too much fertilizer too late in the season will have your grass committing to new growth when it should be storing its nutrients for spring’.

2. Soil type

As well as location, the soil type of your backyard is a factor that affects how the lawn responds to any feed and how often fertilizer may need to be applied. The different make-up of soil will determine how quickly the nutrients of any fertilizer are either held in the ground or leached out and lost.

Brad Saunders, president of Heroes Lawn Care, advises: ‘Sandy soils drain quickly and don't hold onto nutrients like clay or loamy soils do, which means you might have to fertilize more often to keep your lawn healthy.’

Soils range from heavy clay soils that can hold onto lots of water and nutrients, but can easily be compacted, to light sandy soils that are often low in nutrients as they can be easily washed out.

Lighter soils will require more frequent applications of fertilizer, but in smaller amounts. They may benefit from four feeds per year, compared to 2-3 for other soil types.

3. Type of fertilizer

Lawn fertilizers come in different forms, there are organic and synthetic types and products will either be slow-release granular fertilizers or faster-acting liquid feeds that are mixed with water and applied to the lawn.

Brad Saunders from Heroes Lawn Care explains how the type of fertilizer will alter how often they should be used on the lawn. He says: ‘If you're using synthetic fertilizers, I’d recommend applying it every 5 to 6 weeks to keep things healthy. Now, if you're going the organic route, you can stretch that to about 6 to 8 weeks since those tend to release nutrients a little more slowly.’

Slow-release fertilizers can feed the lawn for many months after one application. They gradually release nutrients and it lessens the chances of over-fertilizing a lawn. Liquid feeds can provide a quick boost of nutrients to grass that needs it, but care should be taken not to over-use any type of feed.

Sometimes the lawn may show you that it needs a feed. For example, the grass growth may slow down or the blades may start to discolor. These can be signs that it needs a boost of nutrients, however, do not feed if it is less than 6-8 weeks since the last application of fertilizer.

FAQs

How long does it take for fertilizer to absorb into grass?

The length of time it takes for fertilizer to be fully absorbed into the grass will depend on the type of the feed.

Fast-release liquid feeds can take 1-3 days to start working and may be absorbed within four weeks. Slow-release fertilizers start working within a week and may take up to eight weeks to be fully absorbed.

The speed at which granular fertilizers start working depends on when the grass is watered, as irrigation is required to help activate the product. Aerating a lawn before fertilizing is also recommended to help the fertilizer get deep down to the grassroots in the soil.

When you plan to fertilize a lawn in spring or fall, you may battle with the elements to get the task done and wonder if you can fertilize in the rain. Feeding a lawn just ahead of rain can help the lawn take in the nutrients from granular fertilizers, however, liquid fertilizers may get diluted down or even washed away by rainfall. It is best to avoid fertilizing a lawn just before or after heavy rainfall as the grass will hold so much water it will struggle to absorb any of the feed’s nutrients.

Just like other garden plants, our trees need nutrients to thrive. But while reaching for a box of synthetic fertilizer may seem like an obvious way to give them a boost, a more sustainable gardening approach is worth considering. There are several issues with using synthetic fertilizers on our backyard trees, including the negative effects it has on soil health.

Nancy Gaspari, an arboriculture and horticulture educator with Monster Tree Service, points out how synthetic fertilizer overloads have been implicated in raising soil salinity levels. This can burn plants, adversely affect soil biology, and degrade soil structure, which can contribute to soil compaction issues. The runoff of excess fertilizer nutrients into watersheds is another concern. 'Fertilizer runoff has degraded water quality in our streams, rivers, lakes, and estuaries, adversely affecting fish and wildlife habitats as well as polluting much of our recreational water,' she notes.

The good news is, there are other ways to help your trees flourish – and they’re generally budget-friendly, too. Below, professional tree-care experts explain.

How to fertilize trees naturally, according to the pros

A tree can be an asset to any yard, offering aesthetic appeal, benefits for wildlife, and cooling shade. Trees are also useful for creating privacy from neighbors. So, it’s well worth keeping them in top health.

Adding compost when planting

Andrew St. Clair, ISA-certified arborist and tree risk assessor with Joshua Tree Experts, recommends using locally sourced compost with a sufficient nitrogen component to amend the existing soil when planting your tree. This will bring in local beneficial fungi that will improve the soil, he says.

Leaf litter compost is low in available nitrogen, he continues, but adding products such as bone meal or horse manure will help increase the nitrogen levels to more desirable ranges.

As well as during planting time, Andrew notes how adding locally-sourced compost and nitrogen additives can also be added to the soil yearly, before you mulch your trees (see below).

Using mulch on your trees

Mulching is great for garden borders and beneficial for trees, too. Using organic matter will slowly release nutrients into the soil, and it also helps to maintain moisture and keep weeds at bay.

If you need to find a use for fallen leaves in the fall, look no further. Lisa Tadewaldt, owner of Urban Forest Pro, says you can simply leave the material that falls out of the tree, so it can break down and make the nutrients available to be reabsorbed. However, she does note this method isn’t visually appealing for most people, so you can place the leaves in a two-to-four-inch layer around the trees instead, with a gap of about two inches around the tree for airflow. 'Some people will shred the material to speed up the fertilization process,' she adds.

'If you prefer a neater look, another method is to use a commercial mulch product, but it is important to know the source of the material the mulch is made from,' Lisa continues. 'For trees, I would rule out using any bagged mulch sold at big box stores. You will need to find a local provider who gets their material from a wood source, and not yard waste. If you use a mulch with a questionable origin you could end up introducing pests that hurt your trees instead of helping them grow strong.'

FAQs

How can you fertilize fruit trees naturally?

Susan Poizner, founder of Orchard People, doesn’t recommend leaving fallen leaves around fruit trees, especially if they’re diseased. She advises picking up any fallen fruit, too, particularly if it’s infested. 'This prevents pests and pathogens from overwintering and coming back stronger the next year.'

Instead, she says that for most home growers, fertilizing fruit trees annually in early spring with a layer of compost or well-rotted manure should be enough. 'Always compost manure before using it on fruit trees. Raw manure can burn the roots. If you have well-rotted manure that’s been sitting for a year, it’s perfect.'

She recommends spreading the layer about two inches thick around the roots, keeping it away from the trunk to prevent rot. You can also do this in the fall, but only after the tree has gone dormant. 'You don’t want to encourage growth as the tree is preparing for winter, as this can lead to damage from freezing.'

If you really want to pamper your fruit trees, Susan suggests making a homemade spray. Simply mix harvested rainwater with a small spoon of molasses. 'Stir it up, put it in a sprayer, and spray the leaves during the growing season, about once a week.'

Top tip: Aim to get rid of weeds around your fruit trees. 'Weeds compete for nutrients, and young fruit trees, in particular, don’t handle competition well,' notes Susan.

When might you use synthetic fertilizers on trees?

A synthetic fertilizer may help trees that are lacking a specific nutrient. Testing the soil can help you get to the root of the problem (excuse the pun) – you can buy soil testing kits from Amazon. However, if you’re unsure, consulting a trained arborist is best.

'It's crucial to be aware of any local fertilizer laws that may apply, as residents may need special licensing for their application,' adds Andrew.

There are other things to bear in mind when caring for backyard trees, too. Our guides on how to prune trees and fall tree care are full of useful tips.

Knowing how to fertilize container plants can make a huge difference to the health and performance of your plants. Whether you are growing tasty homegrown crops, stately topiary or a spectacular seasonal floral display, plants in pots as part of your container gardening ideas need feeding at specific times of year, just as they do watering.

Potting compost contains nutrients, as well as a blend of organic materials such as bark and wood fibre, lime, green compost and, sometimes, peat. Designed to provide a fine growing medium for seedlings mature plants and crops, as well as aiding water retention and good drainage, it is the go-to choice for gardeners.

A key issue that many green fingered growers don’t realise is that these plant-boosting nutrients are exhausted within three to six weeks, due to the plant’s growing needs and through leaching out during rainfall or watering. If you're growing some of the best fall container plants, topping these levels up with fertilizer is a must. However, there are several different forms and types to choose from, each catering for different plant’s needs. We delve into how best to fertilize container plants so you can enjoy the healthiest results.

Know the different types of plant fertilizer

Fertilizers can be organic; derived from natural or once-living sources like blood, fish and bone or seaweed extract, or inorganic; where they are created in a laboratory or chemically tweaked and processed. Deciding on which type you use is very much personal choice, but the main differences revolve around how quickly and efficiently the plant can absorb the nutrients and the impact it has on soil health.

Generally inorganic or synthetic feeds have a faster impact than organic products but do very little to improve long term soil health, whereas organic feeds encourage the development of beneficial bacteria in the soil but take longer to work as a result.

All plant fertilizers are a mix of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Each has a different role in plant growth and health and understanding plant fertilizer numbers will help you select the right fertilizer for your container plant’s needs. A balanced, general feed will offer equal amounts of the three key elements plus other useful trace elements too.

Choosing the most appropriate form of fertilizer is important too. There are three types to select from:

Liquid or water-soluble fertilizer is added to a watering can and diluted according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Quick to do, easy to apply and mess free, it is the most popular form and can be used, in place of watering, once every two weeks.

Dry fertilizer is feed in a granular form. For container plants, choose an appropriate feed and scatter a small amount onto the exposed soil and water in.

Slow-release fertilizer - such as Knox slow-release plant fertilizer, available from Walmart - is a dry feed that has been specially formulated to release small amounts of nutrients over a pro-longed period of time - usually around three months. Mix this into the soil when potting or repotting your container plants or, alternatively, scatter a small amount to the soil’s surface, scratch into the soil using a hand fork before watering in.

How to fertilize container blooms

Balanced liquid feeds or those high in potassium such as Alaska fish emulsion fertilizer from Walmart - are the instant pick-me-up for flowering and fruiting plants. Promoting flower bud development, they are great option for annuals and short lived bedding plants. Dilute as instructed on the product packaging and apply every two weeks.

For perennial plants and long lived floral displays, incorporate a slow release granular feed into the soil to boost performance.

Amy Enfield, senior horticulturist at ScottsMiracle-Gro says: ‘Since flower roots cannot explore outside the soil in the container, incorporating slow-release fertilizers at the time of planting is a good way to make sure there is a steady supply of nutrients for your flowers.’

How to fertilize container bulbs

Whether you are planting spring flowering bulbs in fall or waiting for existing ones to reappear, flower bulbs excel at storing energy ready to flower again the following year. As long as the leaves have been left to die back naturally, their nutrients will be topped up and the plants raring to bloom again.

To help newly planted bulbs settle in and quickly put down roots, increase the amount of phosphorous in the surrounding soil. Adding a handful of high phosphorous granular feed, such as Down to Earth organic bone meal fertilizer from Walmart, to the hole before planting each bulb will do the trick but if you are using an inorganic feed take note. Many synthetic fertilizers can ‘burn’ the underside of a bulb, so adding an extra layer of soil on top of the granules can provide a handy barrier.

How to fertilize container-grown crops

Growing container crops is a hungry business and whether you choose organic or inorganic fertilizers, once any seedlings have matured, regular feeding is highly beneficial. A high-nitrogen liquid feed will boost leaf growth so is best applied in spring and early summer. Stop using it from late June or early July onwards, as this can lead to soft growth that is prone to fungal disease and frost damage.

A fertilizer that's high in potassium - such as tomato feed - helps flowers and fruit to form. Apply from late spring to the end of summer (once the flowers have faded) for a plentiful and healthy crop.

How to fertilize container-planted trees and shrubs

A key element of learning how to plant bare root trees in pots is to ensure they have easy access to the right amount of fertilizer. Check the potting compost that you are using to make sure it has some slow release fertilizer included. If it doesn't, add balanced slow release granules to the compost, mix well, before arranging the roots in the container. Follow the instructions on the feed to work out the quantity needed and feeding frequency.

‘It is essential that you water and feed container-grown fruit trees in spring and summer because dry trees will shed their blossom in a bid to stay alive,’ adds Clive Harris, founder of DIY Garden. ‘Check them daily and feed them once a week with a specialist fruit tree fertilizer.’

Some of the best trees to grow in a pot; lemon, limes and orange trees are all hungry feeders and, while they love a well drained soil, they do need a specific feeding regime.

'Citrus plants in particular need feeding only about three times a year and do best with a low nitrogen formula.,' explains plant expert Katie Sunderlage. 'The best times to fertilize are February, May and October. Using a slow release fertilizer with a 2-1-1 formulation is recommended for best results.'

What not to do when fertilizing container plants

Some plants just don't like being fed, and these include succulents such as haworthia, aloes and jade plants. These plants naturally thrive in poor soils, and if given the right warmth and light levels they will thrive.

Carnivorous plants, including pitcher plants and Venus fly traps, receive all their nutrients from the insects they absorb. Hailing from boggy sites, most fertilizers will prove too harsh for the roots resulting in burning

Its also really important not to over-fertilize. 'There are many misconceptions that fertilizing more often will help plants become more healthy but this does the opposite,' says Katie Sunderlage. 'Too many nutrients can cause the roots to burn which in turn will in turn become detrimental to the health of the plant.'

Another must-know nugget of advice is to avoid fertilizing while plants are dormant. Katie explains, 'Plants need a rest period which is generally during the winter months for outdoor and indoor plants. Fertilizing while they are dormant will cause the plants to start growing new sprouts during the wrong time of the year. Letting the plants rest and naturally come out of dormancy and grow new shoots during the correct time of the year is recommended for all plants.'

FAQs

How do you know if a container plant needs fertilizing?

Houseplants will start to show signs of lack of nutrients if they are not fertilized properly. 'Signs to watch for are stunted or weak growth, muted color of the foliage, and leaves will also start turning yellow or purple,' says plant expert Katie Sunderlage.

'Flowering indoor plants will produce less flowers if there is a lack of nutrients, while outdoor container plants will show some of the same signs, such as yellowing or faded foliage and stunted or very slow growth.' Katie adds, 'Other indicators are drooping weak stems, scorched holes in the foliage and chlorosis of the foliage, which appears as light green leaves with very dark veins.'

Once you've mastered how to fertilize pot grown plants, why not expand your growing repertoire, and enjoy discovering the best container plants for pollinators. As we are headed into the cooler seasons, it's a good idea to plan ahead and find out how to protect container grown plants from winter weather.

Zucchini are simple-to-grow plants and a summer staple in many backyard vegetable gardens. Whether growing the classic dark green long zucchini, golden and bi-color varieties, or cylindrical types, all varieties of this popular crop need fertilizing during the season.

When growing zucchini, these hungry crops need a lot of nutrients to develop into strong plants that produce an abundance of flowers and fruits through the summer. Zucchini plants are often very prolific and develop lots of fruits, but that level of abundance requires lots of nutrients to make it happen.

Whether you bake your zucchini or use them ratatouille, mixed grills, or summer salads, keeping plants well-nourished ensures a steady supply of fruits to pick. Your next challenge may be to keep on top of picking, making sure to harvest them when small or medium-sized before the flavor diminishes as they get large and woody.

Benefits of zucchini fertilizer

Zucchini are heavy feeders that require lots of water and nutrients. It would be a mistake not to fertilize plants and, if you don’t provide nutrients, any potential yield will be massively reduced.

Amy Enfield, senior horticulturist at ScottsMiracle-Gro, claims that ‘fertilizing is crucial for producing a healthy and high-yielding plant’ and adds: ‘Without adequate nutrition, zucchini plants will be smaller and produce fewer fruits.’

To help you have high-yielding plants as described by Amy, let's take a close look at when to fertilize zucchini and how to pick the best fertilizers to use.

When to fertilize zucchini

There are two key times to fertilize zucchini, before planting and when you see the plants start flowering. By providing key nutrients to plants at these times in the season, you can help to guarantee a fantastic harvest of zucchini.

Preparation is key, so get zucchini plants off to a great start by enriching the soil. Feed the soil by adding nutrient-rich compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mold to the site before planting the zucchini.

If you don’t have access to organic matter beforehand, adding some organic and balanced slow-release fertilizer to the site when planting can also provide a good foundation of nutrients for the plants to take advantage of. One example of a product you can add is chicken manure pellets, available at Amazon.

Once the zucchini plants start to flower, they benefit from further feeding to provide all the nutrients required to develop an abundance of fruits over the season. Again, a balanced fertilizer works well. This can be either a one-off feed with a granular product or a regular program of liquid feeding.

How to fertilize zucchini

Amy Enfield from ScottsMiracle-Gro says that water-soluble, slow-release, or organic fertilizers can all ‘provide the needed nutrients’ to zucchinis throughout the growing season. She adds: ‘The type of fertilizer you use on your zucchini plants is a matter of preference as long as it provides nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.’

The makeup of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the three essential nutrients referred to as NPK, will be displayed on any packaging in the form of plant fertilizer numbers. You will see a ratio clearly highlighting how much of each nutrient is in any product, for example, a balanced feed will have even numbers like 5-5-5.

The best zucchini fertilizer will be a balanced fertilizer with an equal, or fairly equal, amount of NPK. ‘Balanced fertilizers, like 10-10-10, provide the needed nitrogen for green growth, plus phosphorus and potassium for flower and fruit development,’ says Amy Enfield.

Balanced fertilizers are commonly available and, as mentioned above, can be granular slow-release products or liquid feeds that are water soluble and added when you water plants. Stick to balanced products and avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers, as this will encourage lots of leafy growth but at the expense of fruits and flowers.

Slow-release products, as the name suggests, supply nutrients to plants over time and require just one or two applications per season. These are commonly used when planting and then again in the middle of the growing season, to help avoid zucchini plants turning yellow from a lack of nutrients.

Liquid fertilizers are fast-acting, providing a quick boost of nutrients to plants. These products must be reapplied regularly and are often added every 2-3 weeks as required. They are fantastic options for feeding zucchini plants once they start flowering to provide regular boosts of nutrients to help plants keep developing flowers and fruits. Liquid feeds are also ideal for feeding zucchini growing in containers.

‘You can also look for a fertilizer specifically formulated for vegetables, like Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N FeedTomato, Fruit & Vegetable Plant Food, which usually contain a boost in calcium to help prevent blossom end rot,’ adds Amy Enfield.

Such products formulated for vegetables or tomatoes might not be completely balanced but will contain all the nutrients required for healthy zucchini plants and a top harvest. These products will also come as both granular and liquid fertilizers.

Shop zucchini fertilizers

FAQs

Is tomato fertilizer good for zucchini plants?

A fertilizer for growing tomatoes is suitable for all fruiting crops, including zucchini. It will contain NPK and in particular be high in phosphorus and potassium. This will help zucchini plants to develop and ripen fruits. Tomato fertilizer will also contain calcium to help prevent blossom end rot.

Using fertilizer will help boost your yield, but other tactics can help guarantee you lots of fruits. That includes zucchini companion planting, which can attract pollinators to increase the yield and deter pests. Herbs including lavender and dill or flowers like nasturtium and borage make excellent zucchini companion plants.

Fuchsias are colorful additions to any outside space. Renowned for their trumpet-like blooms that can be found in combinations of red, pink, purple and white, fuchsias are sure to add impact wherever they are planted.

Learning how to fertilize fuchsias is an important part of caring for them. As gardeners, we all want to see our shrubs and perennials thrive, and knowing when - and when not - to fertilize plants is crucial to their success.

So, whether you grow fuchsias in pots, hanging baskets, or in your borders, knowing the right fertilizing approach can go a long way to ensuring your plants are healthy, happy and producing masses of brilliant blooms. Here, one expert gardener offers practical advice on how best to care for your fuchsias during the growing season.

How to fertilize fuchsias

If you are looking for long-flowering shrubs for your garden borders or vibrant plants for your patio pots, fuchsias should be at the top of your wish list. Native to Central and South America, there are both tender and hardy varieties, meaning that whatever US hardiness zone you reside in, there will be a fuchsia species for you. When considering how to care for fuchsias, these plants are remarkably easy to grow, but knowing how to feed your fuchsias is crucial to plant success.

When to fertilize fuchsias

'Fuchsias are hungry plants that require feeding during the spring and summer,' says plant expert, Katie Sunderlage. Whether grown in borders, hanging baskets or containers, it is important to regularly feed for the best results.'

Fuchsias are 'greedy feeders,' Katie adds, 'so regular fertilizing is necessary to keep them healthy throughout the season.'

If you are ever unsure about soil health in your yard, I would recommend using a soil test kit, available from Amazon, which will quickly reveal if there are any deficiencies you should be aware of when caring for your fuchsia plants.

'Feeding should stop towards the end of summer,' Katie says, 'before your plants enter their dormant stage. Remember that fertilizing too late in the summer will do more harm than good.'

While this will vary depending on your location, generally, fuchsia feeding times are from April until September, and feeding any later than this can harm your plants.

How to fertilize fuchsias

Fuchsias are long-flowering and can bloom for many months, making them an ideal choice for gardens, patios or even balconies. As Katie says, fuchsias are greedy plants, so applying fertilizer during spring and summer can help prolong the floral show.

'I recommend using a diluted liquid fertilizer that is well balanced,' Katie says. There are many products available, such as this organic fertilizer by Dr. Earth, available from Walmart.

'Applying feed every two to three weeks is best, particularly for your pots and hanging baskets.' Remember that plants grown in pots are reliant on you for nutrients, so adding feeding to your summer gardening checklist is important.

'Bloom booster fertilizers will encourage extra flowers,' Katie says. 'Look out for feeds high in phosphorus and potassium, such as tomato fertilizers or products with fish emulsion,' Katie adds. Tomato feeds are available online from Amazon, and fish emulsion fertilizers are available from Walmart.

'Always make sure you follow the directions when using any fertilizer,' Katie adds, 'being careful to dilute as required by abiding by the instructions found on the packaging.'

Finally, for fuchsias grown in your borders, it is a good idea to apply mulch in the fall. Using a good quality product, such as this Miracle-Gro organic mulch, available from Amazon, can help to feed your soil and improve the health of your plants for the coming year. While you can apply mulch at any time of year, I find it best to do so in November or December, when you have cut back your perennials and shrubs. This will also help to suppress weeds during the winter and spring.

FAQs

Can I make my own fertilizer to use on my fuchsia plants?

Yes, making your own fuchsia feed is a sustainable option for fertilizing plants at home. See our guide on how to make your own tomato fertilizer, which contains many recipes, including nettle and comfrey tea, both of which can feed your fuchsia plants and encourage foliage and root growth.

Feeding fuchsias that are grown in borders, pots and hanging baskets is important during the spring and summer, and by following our guide you can ensure that your plants thrive this year. One common fertilizing mistake to be aware of is overfeeding or feeding when it is not necessary. So, I would advise sticking to a fertilizing schedule and always using slightly less of your feed than the packaging recommends.

Chili pepper plants benefit from being fertilized throughout the growing season. Providing the right nutrients can reward you with a fantastic yield of fruits, though some growers, especially those new to growing chilies, can be hesitant and potentially confused about what the best fertilizers for chili plants are.

I have grown chili peppers for many years. They were a crop I cultivated in large quantities in vegetable gardens in the UK, where I grew them in greenhouses to harvest for restaurants and to sell to garden visitors.

It was always important to fertilize the chili pepper plants to get the healthiest plants and the biggest crop possible. Fertilizing chilies is not a one-off task, they need regular feeding throughout the season to have thriving plants and a bountiful harvest each year. To help alleviate any uncertainty, I look closely at when and how to fertilize chili peppers.

Fertilizer for chili peppers - how important is it?

Fertilizing is essential when growing all types of chili peppers. Whether you are growing jalapeno peppers, banana peppers, padron, Carolina Reaper, or any of the thousands of chili varieties globally, they are hungry plants and giving them the right nutrients throughout the season will boost your harvests.

When and how to fertilize chilli plants

Before doing, or planning, any fertilizing, it is always beneficial to conduct a soil test to understand the current nutrient levels of the soil. Such tests are simple to carry out and can identify any deficiencies in your soil that may need to be addressed before planting or throughout the season.

There is no requirement to fertilize seedlings early on after sowing the seeds as using good potting soil for starting seeds should provide all the nutrients the young seedlings require.

At the stage of pricking out, or transplanting seedlings to a larger pot, mixing some slow-release granular fertilizer into the potting mix can help develop a strong root network and healthy young chili plant. I always add feed at this point, however, it is advised to check your potting soil. Some products may already have feed within and you don’t want to add any more and risk overfertilizing plants.

The next potential opportunity to feed comes when you plant the vegetable into its final growing space. Crystal Jarvis from Lettuce Grow Something claims she likes to ‘give plants a boost by mixing in some compost and a sprinkle of organic all-purpose vegetable fertilizer’ when planting.

Adding organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, either before or when planting is highly recommended. It helps improve the soil structure, retains moisture in the ground, and feeds plants as they slowly break down. A handful of feed mixed in with the soil when backfilling the hole is beneficial too, as it provides a slow and steady feed of nutrients to help the plant develop a strong set of roots.

Post-planting, a good fertilizing regime for chilies continues throughout the growing season. ‘Fertilize your plant six weeks after planting and again after it produces a flower,’ says Charmaine Peters, farm director at Arden Farm. ‘This timing helps the plant develop roots as it starts growing and provides more nutrients to support fruit production.’

Once the plants start flowering, use a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus and potassium to encourage the development of flowers and fruits. Such a product tends to be a liquid fertilizer and is added routinely every week or two when you water plants. I always implemented this regime when growing crops of chilis to ensure a continuous harvest of fruits throughout the summer.

Such a consistent feeding regime is key to getting a fantastic harvest of chilis and combatting issues like blossom end rot, which is caused by a lack of calcium in the fruits. The type of liquid feed ideal for chili peppers will contain this key nutrient and help prevent you from losing fruit to rot.

How to pick the ideal fertilizer for chili pepper plants

Store shelves and websites are chocked full of different fertilizers and it can be confusing to find the ideal one for your plants. To help make informed decisions, every product will showcase the makeup of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) as three plant fertilizer numbers on the packaging. These three figures will show how much of each nutrient is contained, for example, a balanced feed will have equal numbers such as 5-5-5 or 10-10-10.

Fertilizer will also come in granular or liquid forms. The former are scattered around plants and mixed into the soil to release nutrients slowly over time. On the other hand, liquid feeds are mixed with water and are faster-acting. They give plants a quick dose of nutrients and must be used more regularly.

The best fertilizers for transplanting chili peppers are slow-release granular products. Crystal Jarvis recommended an ‘organic all-purpose vegetable fertilizer’ such as the Down to Earth Organic Vegetable Garden Fertilizer available at Amazon.

While Crystal uses an all-purpose feed, an alternative, as highlighted by Dick Zonda, owner of Jung Seed Company, is to ‘add a little extra nitrogen’ when you plant the chili - such as a high-nitrogen fertilizer like blood meal, available at Burpee. Chilies need lots of nitrogen in the early stages as it is essential for developing leaves and stems, however, you do need to avoid adding too much over the season as it risks developing lots of green growth at the expense of flowers and fruits.

The fertilizer requirements switch during the growing season, therefore it requires a change in the types of fertilizers you use.

‘As the plants start producing flowers and fruits, switch to a balanced fertilizer with a lower nitrogen content— an NPK ratio of 5-10-10,’ advises Charmaine Peters. ‘This shift will help focus more on producing fruits rather than more foliage growth. Then, continue fertilizing every three to four weeks.’ An example of one 5-10-10 product is this Tomato and Vegetable Fertilizer, available at Amazon.

Typically, the best feeds for chili plants to encourage the development of flowers and fruits are liquid fertilizers specifically designed for growing tomatoes. As well as dedicated tomato fertilizers, I have also had success feeding with a liquid seaweed fertilizer, such as Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed available at Walmart, every week during the summer months.

‘Liquid, organic fertilizers are the best for chili peppers as they feed slowly and the nutrients move quickly into the root zone,’ says Michael Clarke, gardener and founder of Yardwork. ‘I recommend the Fox Farm Grow Big Liquid Concentrate.’

While there are lots of choices for products to fertilize chilis, there remain options to make a plant fertilizer at home. This includes making comfrey fertilizer or a plant feed from weeds, both of which are made into a tea that needs to be diluted with water and applied to plants.

FAQs

Is blood and bone good for chili plants?

Blood and bone can potentially be a beneficial product to use in the early stages of growing a chili pepper plant. A blood and bone fertilizer is high in nitrogen and phosphorus, for example, this Hi-Yield blood and bone meal product at Amazon has an NPK of 6-7-0. The nitrogen is beneficial for growing leaves and stems, while the phosphorus will help with root development. Such a product could be used when planting chili peppers to give them an early boost of nutrients.

Is Miracle-Gro good for chili plants?

Miracle-Gro offers several products that can be useful when growing chili peppers. It includes the Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Edibles, available at Amazon, that has an NPK of 9-4-12 and can be used in the early stages, such as when planting or to feed around six weeks post-planting. Once the plants are fruiting, switch to the Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Tomato Plant Food, also available at Amazon, to mix with water and apply to plants every 1-2 weeks.

One potential reason to opt against fertilizing chili plants is if you want to grow hotter peppers. Stressing plants is one way to increase the heat of chilies and holding back on watering and feeding can grow the amount of capsaicin in the fruits - which will make the chilies hotter. The pay-off to not feeding plants will be hotter peppers, but a much smaller harvest. It is not a tactic I would personally follow, but I am not a fan of super-hot chilies.

Lilies are showstopping bulbous plants, celebrated for producing large star-like or trumpet-shaped blooms that tend to have a heady fragrance. Whether grown in pots or borders, enjoying the perfume of a lily plant on a late summer evening is enchanting.

As a professional gardener, I have grown lilies in many different places where I have worked. I have mostly grown them in pots. This is useful as containers can be positioned within borders and beds, almost like a temporary installation to be removed once flowering is finished. This trick can help to add interest and variation to garden borders throughout the year.

When considering how to care for these striking plants, learning how to deadhead lilies is important, but so too is knowing how to fertilize lilies. Here, one garden expert shares all the information you need to give these summer bulbs a boost.

When and how to fertilize lilies

Two of the most common true lilies are Oriental lilies,Lilium oriental, and Asiatic lilies, Lilium asiatica, both of which are popular plants for their colorful, impactful blooms.

While it will be dependent on the species you grow, most lilies grow best in US hardiness zones 4 to 9. Whatever the species and whatever the hardiness zone, lilies are known to be hungry plants, benefitting from a regular application of fertilizer throughout the growing season.

When to fertilize lilies

'Lilies are hungry plants, requiring plenty of nutrients to produce dozens of large, colorful blooms,' says Sam Niemann, garden expert and founder of Grown by Design, a boutique landscape design firm based in San Diego.

'I recommend fertilizing lilies consistently throughout the growing season,' Sam says. 'Starting in spring, feed your lilies regularly all the way through until fall.'

One common fertilizing mistake is insufficient or irregular feeding, so, for the best results, be sure to stick to a schedule, feeding the right amount at consistent intervals. Sam continues: 'This applies to both lilies in borders and lilies in pots - all plants will benefit from a good dose of feed.'

As summer bulbs, these plants need nourishment to produce a bounty of blooms, but also to prepare for winter dormancy, so be sure to add this important job to your summer gardening checklist. The trick is knowing the right type of fertilizer to use, which is covered below.

How to fertilize lilies

When planting lily bulbs, it is a good idea to combine some good quality organic potting soil, available from Walmart, which will help to give your bulb the best start early in the year. This applies to both lily bulbs in borders and containers.

From spring, you can feed every two weeks. 'I prefer to use a liquid fertilizer every 10 to 14 days,' Sam adds. 'Be sure to follow the instructions on the fertilizer packaging, diluting in water as required.'

From early to mid-spring, it is best to use a general-purpose fertilizer, such as this organic balanced fertilizer, available from Walmart. In terms of plant fertilizer numbers, the nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (or potash) values should all be equal, such as 4-4-4 or 10-10-10.

From summer, I recommend switching fertilizer and using a feed that is high in phosphorus and potassium. This will aid flower production and support the bulb as it prepares for winter dormancy, only to return next year. There are many suitable feeds, such as this organic tomato fertilizer, available from Walmart. The trick is to look for a formula with higher second and third values, such as 3-5-5.

Stop fertilizing your bulbs towards the end of summer, usually around late September. Allow the foliage to soak up as much sun as possible before you cut back and store your bulbs for winter. By sticking to a regular feeding schedule, you will give your lily plants the best chance of success to return and bloom once again next year.

FAQs

Does mulching help to feed lilies that are planted in borders?

In mild regions, such as US hardiness zone 9, lily bulbs can be left in the ground and will survive the fall and winter. 'For these bulbs, I recommend applying a thick layer of bark mulch in November,' says Sam Niemann, garden expert and founder of Grown by Design, 'which will help to feed and protect your lilies through the winter.'

Knowing how to fertilize lilies is important, and regular feeding through the spring and summer will ensure that your plants return next year. For more lily care and growing information, see our guide on easter lily care, to fill your yard with even more wonderful flowers.

Fertilizing might not be the first thing that comes to mind when growing beets. These popular root crops are very simple to grow, often it can be as easy as sowing the seeds and keeping plants watered to get a decent crop.

Feeding beets will make a big difference to the harvest you get. If you have struggled with disappointing beets, or want bigger and better beets this year, then actively thinking about fertilizing will help.

It is not difficult or time-consuming and most of the best fertilizers for beets are ones that you can also use on other flowers and vegetables around the yard. This may be an easy vegetable to grow, however, with a little bit more love and attention you can see a big improvement in your harvests.

Do you fertilize beets?

Beets are heavy feeders that need a lot of water and nutrients to develop and produce a great harvest. It starts with planting beets in a rich and fertile soil type, then plants will thrive through the addition of extra nutrients throughout the growing season. Let's look at when and how often to fertilize beets and the best types of fertilizer for beets.

When to fertilize beets

Success starts with the soil, so fertilizing beets begins before you even sow seeds outdoors or start the vegetables indoors as transplants. A primary focus needs to be on making sure the soil where you are growing the beets - whether it is in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers - is fertile and rich in nutrients.

A soil test ahead of time can reveal the pH and nutrient make-up and show any deficiencies that need to be addressed and you can get simple-to-use kits to use at home - such as this soil test kit available at Amazon.

Adding organic matter such as compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mold into the soil several weeks before planting beets will offer a myriad of benefits. It improves the soil structure, boosts the moisture retention levels, and provides a slow-release of essential nutrients as it breaks down.

The best time to fertilize beets is when they are young. Fertilize beets around six weeks after planting the seeds, when they are around four inches tall, with an organic balanced feed. This provides a good mix of the nutrients that beets need to thrive, including nitrogen to grow leaves and phosphorus for the development of roots.

As for how often to fertilize beets, if you amend the soil with organic matter ahead of planting, a single feed of balanced fertilizer can be sufficient. To guarantee the best crop, plants may also benefit from a balanced liquid feed every 2-3 weeks through the growing season to help the roots develop.

How to choose fertilizer for beets

An ideal fertilizer for beets is a balanced one that has equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These three essential nutrients are shown on any packaging in the form of plant fertilizer numbers that shows the makeup of NPK, in the form of three numbers.

A typical balanced fertilizer will have an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 or 5-5-5. A balanced fertilizer is the best way to go, avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizer as this can focus the growth of the green leafy tops at the expense of the development of roots.

It is important to only ever use fertilizers at the recommended rates. Using too much of any product can lead to overfertilizing plants, which can see them to wilt, suffer from stunted growth, or have discolored leaves. The problems stem from a build-up of nutrients in the soil that burns the roots of the plants and causes damage to the plant tissues.

Compost or well-rotted manure are the ideal types of organic matter to be added to the soil prior to sowing. However, there are organic alternatives that can be used. That includes chicken manure pellets, which I have used to fertilize many vegetables on my home allotment. Poultry manure pellets are balanced in NPK and slowly release nutrients to crops - you can get organic chicken manure plant food at Walmart to apply to all manner of plants.

Another option is to use worm castings, also available at Walmart, as a soil amendment or to simply add a granular balanced fertilizer ahead of sowing beets.

A balanced slow release 10-10-10 fertilizer, such as this all-purpose flower and vegetable plant food available at Amazon, is a good choice. It can be sprinkled around plants, mixed into the soil using a garden hoe or hand rake, and watered in to feed plants for two months. Such a granular fertilizer can be added to the soil at the time of planting - in the absence of compost or manure - or sprinkled around the beets when they are young.

If a soil test shows a lack of phosphorus and calcium, bone meal provides the ideal solution. This product has a high phosphorus content and aids root development, it can benefit beets if applied to the soil early in the growing season. You can get natural organic bone meal at Burpee.

A liquid feed can be added during the season to give plants a quick boost of nutrients. A product such as this all-purpose water soluble plant food, available at Amazon, is mixed with water and used when you water plants. Liquid feeds release their nutrients quickly to plants and tend to be added every two weeks. It is important to water the soil and not the foliage when adding liquid fertilizer.

FAQs

Is tomato fertilizer good for beets?

Fertilizers designed for growing tomatoes tend to be higher in phosphorus and potassium, which makes them suitable for fertilizing beets. Such products can benefit root growth and help boost your harvest of beets. One suitable product is this tomato and vegetable fertilizer available at Amazon.

Is blood meal good for beets?

Blood meal is an organic slow-release fertilizer that is a by-product from the meat production industry. It comes as a powder that is sprinkled and mixed into the soil. Blood meal is high in nitrogen and can be used as a fertilizer early in the growing season for beets and other heavy-feeding crops. Use blood meal with caution when growing beets, however, as it will encourage the growth of foliage and not the development of the root. You can get organic blood meal at Burpee and it should only be used in the early stages of the growth cycle.

As well as fertilizing beets, pay close attention to watering. A common beetroot growing mistake is to only water lightly. The better option is deep watering, but less frequently, as this will help the roots to swell and develop to a good size. Using drip irrigation or a soaker hose can target water directly to the roots and give you a good beet harvest.

Japanese maple trees are perhaps the most popular small to medium-sized trees to grow in borders and pots. They are globally adored for their vibrant fall foliage display, with leaves changing from green to yellow, purple to pink, red to orange, and many more colors in between.

There are many different Japanese maple varieties, most of which are resilient and reliable trees for any yard. As a professional gardener, I have cared for many different varieties of Japanese maple, Acer palmatum, when managing gardens across the UK and Italy. One of my favorite varieties is Acer palmatum 'Red Dragon', renowned for producing deep purple leaves that turn crimson-red in the fall. In a pot, this variety is a dramatic addition to any space.

While Japanese maple trees are considered low-maintenance, many gardeners are unsure if fertilizer is necessary. Here, one expert gardener from the South Coast Botanic Garden, California, offers practical advice on how best to care for and revive Japanese maples.

How to fertilize Japanese maples

Japanese maple trees generally grow best in US hardiness zones 5 to 8, tolerating winter temperatures down to -20°F/-29°C. These tough, hardy trees can be grown in borders or containers, and there are many impactful varieties well-suited to container displays, such as this Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum', available from Nature Hills.

These compact trees thrive in partially shaded spots and can handle most soil conditions. Gardeners often ask whether it is necessary to fertilize established trees - here, but it is often not needed. If your tree is healthy and happily growing, I would caution against feeding it. However, there are one or two instances, such as growing in pots, when fertilizing is needed.

Do I need to fertilize Japanese maples?

'Japanese maples do best in woodland conditions - imagine the understory of a forest full of green, lush planting,' says Terry Huang, plant expert and Director of Living Collections at South Coast Botanic Garden in the Los Angeles area.

'They generally grow best with morning sun and afternoon shade, or dappled shade throughout the day,' Terry adds. 'In a woodland setting, these trees enjoy even and consistent moisture and loamy soil with good amounts of humus.

'They often suffer in exposed situations, especially in climates that are hot and dry,' Terry says. Patios, terraces or yards in full sun are not ideal for these trees. If your maple is struggling, looking sad or limp, it might be because of sun damage or dry soil, so always consider this before applying fertilizer. Any trees happily growing in a border in the right conditions should not need fertilizer.

'If the leaves are wilting and the soil is dry, give your maple a good watering. Gently soaking the soil over an extended period of say 30 to 45 minutes. This will allow the water to penetrate deeper and more thoroughly.

'Mulching is another gardening trick to consider before fertilizing, and will also help prevent water from evaporating too quickly,' Terry says. 'As it breaks down, the mulch will help to improve soil health and maintain ideal soil conditions. Organic mulch is available from Amazon.

It is also a good idea to test your soil, using a soil test, available from Amazon, which can help to inform you what your soil might be lacking in terms of nutrients and minerals.

'If the soil is moist and rich, but the leaves are limp during the day, wait to see if they recover by morning. If so, it is just a sign of heat stress.'

As Terry says, ascertain if your tree is in the right place, with the ideal spot being in dappled shade, and consider mulching your borders/containers. Even a thin layer of 1 to 2 inches of mulch can help to add nutrients and goodness to your soil and provide all that your tree needs to thrive, without the need for any fertilizer.

However, there are occasions when you should apply feed. For example, if you have completed the above checks and concluded that your soil is nutrient-poor, or if you are growing Japanese maples in containers, it is a good idea to fertilize these specimens, as their roots are restricted to a small, enclosed pot.

How and when to fertilize Japanese maples

'If soil conditions in your borders are nutrient-poor, fertilizing can be necessary for Japanese maple trees,' Terry continues. In addition, for those maples grown in pots, you should also apply a yearly feed, as the soil in containers can quickly become depleted of nutrients.

'If needed, use a balanced fertilizer formulated for trees,' Terry says, such as this organic tree feed from Amazon. 'Fertilizing is best done in spring through summer during active growth, but avoid feeding too close to fall. This is a common fertilizing mistake that gardeners make, but feeding too late can do more harm than good as plants prepare for dormancy.'

Alternatively, for a low-effort solution, use these tree spikes, available from Amazon, for a simple, quick way to feed trees in garden borders and pots. Firmly place the spikes within 2 feet of the base of your tree, and, over time, they will release nutrients into the soil.

'When growing in pots, it is a good idea to use high-quality potting soil,' Terry says. 'Wood-based mixes are ideal, combined with topsoil, either at a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio. This will help with micronutrients and water retention in your containers. When needed, fertilize your pots lightly 1 to 2 times a year in the spring and summer, using a tree feed.'

FAQs

What is the best fertilizer to use for Japanese maples?

The type of fertilizer you use will be down to the preference of the gardener. Slow-release feeds are more preferable to me, as they gradually add nitrogen to the soil, meaning that you can feed once and forget about this summer gardening job. Quick release, water soluble fertilizers are rapid, but require consistent application. Whatever fertilizer works for you, ensure that it is formulated specifically for trees and shrubs.

Why not consider growing a Japanese maple from seed? While this does require patience and precision, with the right approach, you can bolster your maple collection in the years to come. If you're interested in adding new trees to your yard, you might find our guide on how to grow a ginkgo tree useful, for a Jurassic addition to the backyard.

For more inspiration, see our guide to native alternatives to Japanese maples, full of striking an colorful trees found growing across North America.

Eggplants need lots of nutrients for strong growth and to produce a great yield of fruits. The sun and the soil provide food for the plants to thrive, and the gardener gives a huge helping hand with fertilizers throughout the growing season.

There are lots of choices for feeds to use when growing eggplants each year. Garden center shelves will be packed with organic and inorganic fertilizers that benefit eggplants, while people can even make their own at home.

So what is the best fertilizer for eggplants? The facts are that plants want different nutrients at certain stages of their growth and using the right feed at the right time is a key aspect to get right. To help you succeed, we look at when and how to fertilize eggplants and give tips to help you pick the best fertilizers to use.

Do you need to fertilize eggplants?

Eggplants are heavy feeders that require lots of nutrients during the growing season. Feeding plants keeps them healthy and that leads to more eggplants to pick come harvest time.

Test your soil before fertilizing eggplants

While eggplants will benefit from fertilizing, a soil test is the best method of determining the exact needs of plants. You can find out the soil’s pH and nutrient makeup by testing them before planting the crop. It is recommended to showcase what your soil may need to keep eggplants healthy.

‘Easy home soil test kits are available at your local nursery and online,’ advises Christy Wilhelmi, founder at Gardenerd. ‘Perform the test at the beginning of the season before planting to see what the soil needs, then amend based on what your soil lacks.’

While amendments can be made to the soil to solve any deficiencies, the soil type itself can impact any fertilizing schedule.

‘Clay soil holds nutrients much better than sandy soil,’ adds Christy. ‘In sandy soil, you may need to fertilize monthly to keep eggplants growing strong through the season, whereas in clay soil you may only need to fertilize at the beginning of the season and maybe once mid-season.’

An ideal soil for eggplants is free-draining and fertile, with a slightly acidic pH of 5.5-7.0.

When and how to fertilize eggplants

As mentioned above, any exact schedule may vary depending on your soil. However, a typical fertilizing schedule for growing eggplants starts with adding compost or well-rotted manure into the soil before planting the vegetable in your yard. Supplementing organic matter to the soil will improve the structure and moisture-holding capacity and provide essential nutrients that can help eggplants get off to a healthy start.

Add a handful of slow-release balanced fertilizer when transplanting seedlings into the vegetable garden, or greenhouse if you grow in cooler climates. Providing extra nutrients at this stage helps the plants acclimatize to their new surroundings and develop a strong, healthy set of roots.

When the plants start setting fruit, eggplants benefit from light and regular fertilizing with a plant food high in phosphorus and potassium. These nutrients help to develop and ripen fruit, meaning an abundance of eggplants to pick. A fortnightly feed with liquid plant food when you water plants will boost fruiting.

‘Routine fertilizing will help the plant thrive,’ says Gail Pabst, gardening expert and Marketing Director for the National Garden Bureau. She advises the importance of picking the right feeds for eggplants, and the potential pitfalls of getting it wrong, adding: ‘Too much nitrogen in the fertilizer will lead to a large, bushy plant without a lot of fruit. ‘

How to choose the best fertilizers for eggplants

There is a choice of organic and synthetic fertilizers that can be used to feed eggplants. Pick the right fertilizer for the growing stage based on the makeup of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These will be displayed as three plant fertilizer numbers on the packaging of any products.

Do your research to use the right feed to supply the required nutrients and not have any unwanted eggplant growing mistakes - such as lots of vegetative growth from too much nitrogen as touched on above - and always apply feeds at the recommended rates to avoid over-fertilizing plants.

A balanced fertilizer to add at the time of planting, or just after, should be a slow-release granular product to be mixed in with the soil. Such products deliver their nutrients slowly and steadily to plants over a long period. A good example is this organic fertilizer, available at Amazon, designed for feeding fruits and vegetables that can feed plants for several months.

As mentioned, applying at the right rates is important. If you are nervous about overfertilizing then these organic vegetable fertilizer spikes available at Amazon can help. They are pre-measured, can feed for up to eight weeks, and the spikes just need to be pushed into the ground. Such spikes can be more expensive than other products, but don’t make a mess and can give peace of mind.

If plants are not flourishing and growing slowly, they may benefit from a general feed of a balanced liquid feed. Such liquid plant foods are fast-acting and release their nutrients quickly - perfect if your eggplant needs a quick pick-me-up or if you did not add a balanced fertilizer when planting. This liquid all-purpose plant food available at Walmart is mixed with water and can instantly give plants a quick fix of nutrients.

A feed high in phosphorus and potassium to give eggplants once they start flowering is typically one designed for growing tomatoes. These can be organic or inorganic and are designed to provide the right nutrients for flowering and developing fruits. Such fertilizers can be granular or liquid, such as this organic tomato plant food available from Amazon that is mixed with water and applied when you water plants every 2-4 weeks throughout the summer.

The type of fertilizer you use in a vegetable garden will depend on personal preference and budget. However, there are beneficial products to choose from whether you prefer organic or inorganic fertilizers. There is also scope to make a plant fertilizer, for example, using other plants or kitchen leftovers to make homemade tomato fertilizer. Comfrey fertilizer is also really simple to make at home and is rich in nutrients.

FAQs

Is bone meal good for eggplants?

Bone meal is a fertilizer derived from animal bones. It has a high level of phosphorus and is beneficial for eggplants to help develop and ripen fruits. Bone meal also contains lots of calcium, which can combat the common disorder known as blossom end rot - where dark, sunken patches appear on the end of fruits. Blossom end rot, which is also common when growing peppers and tomatoes, is caused by a lack of calcium. You can get an organic bone meal at Burpee.

Do eggplants like eggshells?

Eggplants can benefit from the addition of eggshells in the soil around them. Using eggshells around plants is a good way of adding calcium to the soil. Grind the eggshells into a powder and mix it into the soil around your eggplants. Alternatively, you can mix ground eggshells with water and pour it over plants.

Fertilizing is a no-brainer when it comes to growing eggplants, however, one thing that does split opinions is pruning. Many growers do not prune and get a great crop, while others claim trimming keeps plants healthy and can boost fruit production. Would you consider pruning eggplants? I have never done it when growing the crop but would be interested in an experiment to see the differences it offers.

If you seek a long-flowering perennial plant that will fill your borders and containers with rainbow-like blooms from spring through to fall, lantana is the plant to grow. Celebrated for its vibrant, almost kaleidoscopic flowers, this plant is a magnet not just for us gardeners, but for pollinators too, with native butterflies, bees and hummingbirds drawn to its sweet nectar.

Native to the tropical regions of the Americas, lantana plants thrive in sunny and warm areas. Learning how to grow lantana is relatively straightforward and, when planted in a bright and protected border or sheltered and sunny pot display, this perennial can bloom for much of the year.

Lantanas are not typically considered heavy feeders. However, the occasional application of fertilizer for these native flowers can help to support plant health and ensure that bloom production keeps going for as long as possible. Here, garden experts discuss how and when to fertilize lantanas, including the best products.

How to fertilize lantana

There are many different types of lantana plants growing in a range of colors, including pink, orange, yellow and red. Most lantanas tend to grow best in sunny and warm positions, thriving in US hardiness zone 8 to zone 10, but they can also be grown in cooler regions as annuals. Whatever the species or variety, knowing how to fertilize lantana can help to extend the flowering show.

When to fertilize lantana

'Lantanas not only tolerate but thrive in the sun and heat in the south. This hard-working plant is a real winner here in Tennessee,' says Tricia Hunt, plant expert and owner of Millstone Nursery, based in Germantown, Tennessee.

These heat and light-loving plants are ideal for borders and pots in full sun, often producing blooms from April through until November in mild regions. 'You can always count on the bright blooms of lantana for a rainbow display,' Tricia adds.

'Before getting the fertilizer out, be sure that your plant is in the right place,' Tricia warns. 'There is no use trying to feed a plant back to health when it is struggling in a dark or dank spot. Lantanas need sun.'

As Tricia says, applying feed will not help if your plant is in the wrong place and this is a common fertilizing mistake that many gardeners make.

'If your plant is happily growing in the right place, you can give it a boost and feed in the spring using a slow-release product, or in the summer using a bloom booster,' Tricia says.

Towards the end of summer, usually around September, it is time to stop feeding, as your plant will begin to produce fewer blooms and enter its dormant period over winter.

How to fertilize lantana

'Lantanas prefer slightly acidic but well-draining soil,' says Lorin Nielsen, Head Horticulturist of Epic Gardening. Before applying any fertilizer, consider conducting a soil test, available from Amazon, which can help to ascertain the pH of your soil.

Much like growing hydrangeas or growing blueberries, adding a soil acidifier, available from Amazon, 'can help to slightly lower the pH level and provide ideal conditions for your lantanas,' Lorin adds.

'If you are growing lantanas in pots, using a good quality potting blend will remove the need for fertilizer,' Lorin says. 'If you do choose to use fertilizer, an organic, slow-release, balanced fertilizer at the end of the winter or in early spring is best. Do not fertilize heavily, as too much fertilizer will slow flowering in favor of foliage development.' Organic, slow-release bloom booster fertilizer is available from Amazon.

During spring and summer, you can use a water-soluble bloom booster feed, available from Amazon, which will encourage your plants to produce more flowers. Remember to follow the instructions on the fertilizer packaging and stop feeding at the end of summer.

FAQs

Should I feed lantanas grown in in pots?

Yes, lantana plants grown in pots will require watering and feeding during the spring and summer. Remember that plants in containers rely on you, the gardener, so it is good to make watering and feeding a regular job as part of your summer gardening checklist.

Applying a small amount of fertilizer during the growing season can help to extend the lantana flower show, and who doesn't want more flowers in their yard? For more lantana information, see our guide on how to deadhead lantana and keep your plants looking their best this year.

Those closest to me know that my Monstera deliciosa is one of my prized possessions. When I first bought it about two years ago it was around two feet tall and has now doubled in both height and spread. Not only have I managed to keep it thriving by providing optimal growing conditions, but I also routinely fertilize my monstera to achieve more growth.

Caring for monsteras is fairly straightforward. These plants are hardy and won't complain too much if their soil is dry for a short period. However, if you notice your monstera leaves are drooping or perhaps there hasn't been a lot of growth, you might want to try using plant food to brighten up this plant's luscious dark green foliage and encourage new leaves to sprout.

Fertilizing indoor plants is a great way to give them some extra nutrients and improve the quality of their potting mix so that they continue to grow happily in your home. However, as with fertilizing garden plants, you need to be aware of how to feed houseplants correctly. Failing to do so may cause a number of problems for your plant. But don't worry, I've called on houseplant experts to provide their top tips for fertilizing monsteras and compiled everything you need to know right here.

When to fertilize monsteras

The first rule of thumb is to avoid fertilizing houseplants in winter, at least for the most part. One of the most common fertilizing mistakes is giving your plants food when they aren't actively growing. For monsteras, the active growth season is during the warmer months.

'Monstera plants should be fertilized regularly during their active growth period, which is from mid-spring to mid-fall,' says Nastya Vasylchyshyna, plant expert at Plantum. 'Typically, you should fertilize every two to four weeks during that period.'

However, there is an exception to this rule. 'Depending on where you live, you can even fertilize year-round,' notes Raffaele Di Lallo, plant expert from Ohio Tropics. If your indoor temperature remains around 65°F and higher, plus you notice your monstera is still growing into colder months, you may still be able to use fertilizer during fall and winter.

'But if you live in an area where the winters have short dark days and your plant's growth has come to a halt, then you can stop fertilizing until it starts to grow again in spring,' warns Raffaele.

I personally use a room thermometer to observe the temperature for my houseplant collection, like this thermometer and humidity meter from Amazon.

How to fertilize monsteras

For my monstera, I like to use a balanced houseplant fertilizer, available at Amazon, because I know it's providing my indoor plants with equal NPK plant fertilizer numbers - that is, equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, all of which encourage healthy growth. However, experts say you can also opt for one with a higher nitrogen number.

'Use a liquid complex mineral fertilizer formulated for foliage plants. It should contain more nitrogen than phosphorus and potassium,' says Nastya. 'Opt for an NPK fertilizer with a 3:1:2 or 2:1:1 ratio.'

Nitrogen helps with the development of chlorophyll, the chemical that keeps foliage looking green and aids photosynthesis. A nitrogen-rich fertilizer therefore encourages luscious leaf growth.

Depending on your intention, you can also choose a longer-lasting fertilizer. 'I recommend a slow-release fertilizer, occasionally supplemented by a half-strength liquid type to increase the growth rate and 'beef-up' the plant,' says Chuck Pavlich, plant expert and director of new product development with Terra Nova Nurseries.

When it comes to fertilizing your monstera, always follow the manufacturer's instructions for your chosen product. It's best to apply fertilizer when watering houseplants to allow the plant food to soak into the soil and reach the roots.

Aim to water your monstera around the root ball to ensure the plant food reaches the roots where the plant can soak up the nutrients. It's wise to avoid splashing fertilizer on the leaves, as it could scorch them in high volumes.

You should then wait a couple of weeks to a month to use fertilizer again, ensuring you aren't oversaturating your monstera's soil or risking houseplant root rot or burn.

Monstera fertilizer that we recommend

FAQs

Is it necessary to fertilize monsteras?

While it isn't an essential requirement to feed your monstera, fertilizing it during its active growth season will bring a range of benefits.

'Proper fertilization supports the plant’s development and helps the growth of new leaves. Nitrogen promotes the growth of green mass, while phosphorus stimulates root formation and helps the plant adapt to environmental factors,' says Nastya Vasylchyshyna, plant expert at Plantum. 'Phosphorus, in combination with potassium, also helps stabilize the water balance in plant tissue and strengthens the immunity of monstera plants.'

Why did fertilizer turn my monstera leaves yellow?

If your monstera leaves turn yellow after fertilizing it, it's an indication that you might have used too much fertilizer or applied it at the wrong time. If you use too much fertilizer on your monstera, it can cause root burn which in turn can kill off foliage. Likewise, applying fertilizer at the wrong time - i.e. when it isn't actively growing - can cause root burn and oversaturated soil, once again leading to discolouring and unhealthy foliage. The best thing to do is prune your monstera to remove discolored leaves and allow the soil to dry out before watering again. You should then only fertilize your monstera in the appropriate frequency and volume at the right time of year.

Fertilizing your monstera during spring and summer is a good idea if you want to boost its growth and add more jungle foliage to your interiors. Take care to only fertilize your monstera in spring and summer to ensure they benefit accordingly.

As your monstera grows larger, you'll need to give it a bigger home. Luckily, it's quite easy to repot a monstera, so you can provide it with enough space and prevent it from becoming pot-bound.

Famed for its fragrant blooms, wisteria is one of the most popular flowering climbers and it is easy to understand why. Whether grown across pergolas, arches or fences, wisteria adds impact to any space, notably producing a bounty of pendulous perfumed flowers in spring and summer. In the flowering climber Olympics, wisteria would be hard to beat, with full marks for vigor and verve.

Last summer, while working as a professional gardener in Tuscany, I maintained several white-flowering wisteria plants that adorned a long pergola walkway. This white-flowering variety -Wisteria floribunda 'Alba' - is particularly striking. As with any wisteria, the scent was both heady and intoxicating underneath the floral canopy. If you are seeking a floriferous and fragrant climber for your yard, this option won't disappoint.

When considering how to grow wisteria, these fragrant flowers are vigorous and resilient, often producing more than 10 feet of growth in one season. As a tough and self-reliant plant, it is not always necessary to apply fertilizer, and these plants can grow just fine without gardener interference. Here, one expert reveals when to reach for the fertilizer, and when to leave it in the garden shed.

Is it necessary to fertilize wisteria?

Wisteria climbers are notably vigorous and can be invasive if left unpruned. For example, the Chinese wisteria, Wisteria sinensis, is a prolific plant that can be grown in US hardiness zone 5 to zone 8. Without regular pruning, this species can cause problems. The native American wisteria, Wisteria frutescens, is less invasive and can be grown up to and including US hardiness zone 9. Whatever species you grow, knowing when - and when not - to fertilize wisteria plants is important.

When to fertilize wisteria

'While it seems natural to reach for the fertilizer during the growing season, it is sensible to consider first if it is absolutely necessary,' says plant expert Katie Sunderlage.

'Although it is really tempting to fertilize wisteria in the hope of more flowers, it's generally not needed,' Katie continues. 'Wisteria are tough and resilient plants, and can often find what they need in the soil themselves.'

As Katie says, many of us gardeners tend to think that feeding is just something that needs to be done during spring and summer, but this common fertilizing mistake can often do more harm than good.

'Wisteria plants are legumes, meaning they are part of the pea, or Fabaceae, family,' Katie adds. 'Legumes are nitrogen-fixing, so the roots of each plant can produce the nitrogen needed to survive and thrive.

'For this reason,' Katie continues, 'wisteria plants do not require additional nitrogen from fertilizers. If you do use a fertilizer high in nitrogen, you risk promoting additional foliage growth at the expense of flower production.'

While nitrogen is not needed by wisteria plants, other nutrients can be in short supply. Katie recommends using a soil test, available from Walmart, which will help you to understand the nutrient supply in your soil. If phosphorus levels are low, for example, flower production can be disappointing. There are ways to quickly eradicate this problem.

How to fertilize wisteria

If you want to encourage more blooms on your wisteria plant, it is best to use a bloom booster fertilizer. These products should be high in phosphorus, which is the nutrient conducive to flower development.

'When considering plant fertilizer numbers, you are looking for a fertilizer with the middle number of the formulation higher than the other two numbers,' Katie advises. 'Something like 10-20-10, for example.

'The best time to apply a bloom booster fertilizer is in spring when the foliage is starting to unfurl,' Katie adds. 'Slow-release fertilizers are a good option, as they can help feed your plants throughout the season.' Slow-release bloom boosters are available from Amazon.

Other options include water-soluble fertilizers that can be applied during the spring and summer months, such as this organic bloom booster fertilizer, available from Walmart.

'Always follow the instructions on any fertilizer,' Katie cautions, 'to avoid fertilizer burn and long-lasting damage to the plant. In addition, always apply these feeds at the base of your wisteria to avoid leaf burn and encourage the best nutrient absorption.'

FAQs

My wisteria has yellow leaves - should I fertilize it?

If your plant has yellow foliage during the growing season, this can be a sign of nutrient deficiency. Any standard soil testing kit, available from Amazon, will be able to identify nutrient problems, so I recommend completing a test before applying any fertilizer. Problems can be easily resolved with soil treatments and conditioners. For example, if your soil is low in iron - which can cause the foliage to turn yellow - applying fresh compost and mulch will help.

Fertilizing plants when it is not necessary can often do more harm than good. If your wisteria plants are healthy and flowering well, I recommend keeping the fertilizer in the garden shed this year. For more plant care advice, see our guide on how to grow wisteria from cuttings, for patient gardeners who want to try propagating this fragrant climber.

Often considered some of the best cottage garden plants, hollyhocks never fail to dazzle. These flowering titans can reach up to 7 feet tall, with stems producing hundreds of saucer-like blooms that last from spring until the first frost. Hollyhocks are renowned for their colorful display, with blooms ranging from deep maroon to lemon yellow. One of my favorite varieties is Alcea rosea 'Nigra', with dark red - almost black - flowers. This is the variety to grow if you are looking for impact in the borders.

When considering how to grow hollyhocks, these plants are easy to grow from seed. In the UK, I often see them thriving along the roadside or in green fields and parks, happily self-seeding wherever they like. For beginner gardeners and experts alike, hollyhocks are an ideal pick for a low-maintenance yard.

While hollyhocks can grow just fine without much fertilizer, the occasional application of feed - particularly for those plants grown in pots - can help to maintain a brilliant and long-lasting display. As a former professional gardener, I have grown these flowers in many different gardens across the UK and Italy, and here, I share all I know about how to fertilize hollyhocks.

Is it necessary to fertilize hollyhocks?

Hollyhocks grow best in US hardiness zone 3 to zone 8, typically seen in sunny borders with tall flower spikes. These tough self-seeding flowers are unsurprisingly self-reliant, usually thriving without much care. As a gardener, I would always caution against using fertilizer when it is not necessary, as over-fertilizing plants can cause considerable damage. However, there are some instances when it can help to fertilize hollyhocks.

When to fertilize hollyhocks

Hollyhocks are biennials or short-lived perennials, meaning they will flower in their second year, possibly returning to bloom for a third year, but any longer is unlikely. Fortunately, they are prolific self-seeders, so you should have a continuous supply of new hollyhocks to keep your borders full.

'For hollyhocks in their first year, whether grown from seed or purchased as a small plant from a garden store, it can be beneficial to add some goodness to the soil,' says Drew Swainston, former professional gardener and gardens content editor at Homes & Gardens.

'This is best done in the spring, either with a good covering of mulch or a liberal sprinkling of slow-release fertilizer,' Drew adds. Slow-release fertilizers are available from Walmart.

For hollyhocks that are in flower in their second year, whether grown in pots or borders, Drew recommends 'feeding throughout the growing season, as this can help extend blooming.' Regularly applying a small amount of feed from spring right through until fall, as Drew says, can encourage extra flower stems toward the end of the season.

'If your hollyhocks are in good health and producing plenty of flowers, it might not be necessary to fertilize them,' Drew continues. 'Over-feeding is a fertilizing mistake that many gardeners make, so I would always err on the side of caution, sticking with a light amount of feed for hollyhocks.'

How to fertilize hollyhocks

For a slow-release fertilizer, use a balanced 10-10-10 feed, such as this slow-release fertilizer from Amazon. This is recommended for younger plants either in pots or beds, mixing into the soil in the spring.

Using a slow-release fertilizer will help to feed your plants over an extended period. I tend to mix a small handful of granules with fresh potting soil when planting up my pots in the spring.

Hollyhocks in their second or third year can also benefit from an application of fertilizer. Feeding them from spring until the fall will maintain flower production. For these hollyhocks, it is better to use a fertilizer with high phosphorus content, this is the middle digit of the plant fertilizer numbers and should be clearly labelled on the packaging. Many products are available in-store or online, such as this organic bloom booster, available from Amazon.

To improve the quality of your garden borders, it is good practice to make mulching an annual job. Applying even a thin layer of decomposing plant material - whether homemade or store-bought - can dramatically improve soil health and feed the soil for the year ahead. While mulching can be done at any time of year, I find it is best to do so in the fall or winter, when you begin to cut back and remove fading plants.

FAQs

Is it better to use slow-release or water soluble fertilizer for hollyhocks?

The choice is up to you! Both products will help to feed your plants. Slow-release fertilizers are useful for those gardeners who are short on time, as you only have to apply feed once per season. Water-soluble fertilizers, however, are a monthly task and part of the summer gardening checklist. Water soluble feeds are faster-acting but short-lived, whereas the slow-acting but long-lasting granules can feed plants for up to three months. Both do a good job of feeding plants, so personal preference will determine what you use.

Learning how to fertilize hollyhocks can help to encourage more blooms during the growing season. However, if your plants are thriving and producing plenty of flowers, I would caution against using fertilizer when it is not needed.

For more hollyhock information, see our guide on how to combat hollyhock rust, and keep your plants looking good all summer long.

If you are looking for low-maintenance shrubs that won't disappoint when it comes to summer, weigela is the plant to grow. Weigela shrubs are celebrated for producing brightly colored trumpet-like blooms for much of the late spring and early summer, typically blooming in May, June, and July.

The flowers can be found in a range of colors, from deep red to pale yellow, and will prove to be a hit not just with garden visitors, but passing pollinators too. What's more, these vibrant shrubs are tolerant of most soil conditions and can handle both direct sun and part shade. Who doesn't like a low-maintenance plant?

When considering how to grow weigela, these fast-growing shrubs are native to Asia, eventually reaching 6 feet to 15 feet tall. When positioned at the back of a sunny, sheltered border, weigela shrubs will thrive. Here, gardening experts advise on the best approach to feeding your weigela plant, including the best products to use.

Discover how to fertilize weigela

Weigela are prized for producing brilliant blooms in late spring and early summer. Growing best in US hardiness zone 4 to US hardiness zone 7, these shrubs will illuminate backyards with pink, red or yellow flowers that can measure up to 1 to 2 inches in length. Learning how to fertilize weigela and the right time to do so is important when caring for these popular plants.

When to fertilize weigela

'Weigela are low-maintenance shrubs and are not considered to be heavy feeders,' says plant expert, Katie Sunderlage. 'For this reason, I would suggest feeding once - and only once - each year.'

Katie recommends fertilizing in 'late winter or early spring, just when buds and shoots start to emerge from the ground.'

Applying fertilizer - such as this shrub fertilizer, available from Walmart - in February or March is the best approach, giving your weigela plants a boost before they bloom in late spring.

While it can be tempting to feed your weigela shrubs during the summer, this is not recommended. Feeding your plants when it is not necessary is a common fertilizing mistake to avoid. Instead, it is best to follow a light feeding schedule, and fertilize only once in the spring which will help to maintain healthy plants.

For weigela plants grown in pots, I would suggest feeding once in the spring, as Katie recommends, and using a small amount of feed once or twice during the summer. I would half the recommended dosage of fertilizer, but some feed can help plants grown in pots that can often be starved of nutrients.

How to fertilize weigela

'In late winter or early spring, just before the plant breaks dormancy, that is the time to feed weigela,' Katie continues. 'It’s best to use a slow-release fertilizer that will continue to feed throughout the Spring and Summer months,' such as this shake and feed fertilizer from Walmart.

'Using a feed with balanced plant fertilizer numbers is a good idea,' Katie says, 'any product with a 10-10-10 label is best.

'It’s really important to follow directions on whatever type of fertilizer is used,' Katie continues. 'Regardless of the type of feed, whether it’s water soluble, granular or powder form, be careful to avoid applying too much or directly on the plant itself, as this can cause the fertilizer to burn on the leaves or stems.'

Katie recommends carefully applying any fertilizer to the base of the plant, which will ensure the best nutrient absorption through the roots.

'It is important to note that weigela do prefer a soil pH level between 5.5 to 7.5,' Katie continues. 'So if your plant looks unhappy, do not automatically think it needs feeding. It is a good idea to test the pH levels of the soil, as your plant could be struggling with soil acidity or alkalinity.' Soil tests are available from Amazon.

Finally, as with any shrub, it can be a good idea to mulch your borders in the fall, helping to improve soil health and nutrients in the ground. Organic mulch is available from Walmart.

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FAQs

Can I fertilize weigela plants in the summer?

For any weigela plants grown in the borders, fertilize only once per year in the spring. Do not feed these plants in the summer. If you have missed this window, do not worry, just remember to add this job to your spring gardening checklist next year. For weigela plants grown in pots, feed once in the spring with a slow-release fertilizer, and then apply a very light amount of water-soluble fertilizer once or twice during the summer.

Feeding weigela once a year will help your shrubs produce brilliant blooms and plenty of new growth. Do not be tempted to over-feed your plants, as this can do more harm than good. For more weigela gardening advice, see our guide on how to prune weigela, to keep your plants in tip-top shape this year.

Often considered one of the best flowering shrubs for full sun, crepe myrtle never fails to put on a colorful show in the yard. Come summer, brilliant blooms hum with pollinator activity, with pink, purple or yellow flowers attracting bees and butterflies with their nectar-rich offerings.

These shrubs are common in warm and southerly regions, thriving in US hardiness zone 6 to zone 9, typically seen growing in sunny front yards and borders with their bushy shape and firework-like flowers. When considering how to care for crepe myrtle, these shrubs are relatively easy to grow, preferring plenty of sunshine and free-draining soil.

Crepe myrtle plants are remarkably self-sufficient, doing just fine in the summer without much water or feed. While we might think that applying fertilizer in the growing season will give our plants a boost, it is often not necessary. Here, plant experts share how best - if at all - to fertilize crepe myrtle, to ensure that your plants are not loved to death.

Should you fertilize crepe myrtle

It is possible to over-fertilize plants, and sometimes this can cause considerable damage, burning the roots with excessive amounts of fertilizer when it is not needed. While we might think that feeding will help our plants, many popular shrubs, like crepe myrtle, are self-sufficient.

Is it necessary to fertilize crepe myrtle?

'Crepe myrtle are self-reliant plants that can grow without much need for fertilizer,' says Gail Pabst, gardening expert and Marketing Director for the National Garden Bureau.

'Typically, I would advise that only light fertilization is required, if at all, once your crepe myrtle is established in the yard,' Gail adds. 'Over-fertilizing can damage your shrub, and will cause the plant to produce more leaves and fewer flowers.'

As Gail says, over-fertilizing is a common fertilizing mistake that many gardeners make. Feeding plants excessively can shock the shrub into producing lots of new leafy growth, diverting energy away from bloom production. What's more, too much fertilizer in the soil can chemically burn the roots, causing the plant to show signs of stress, wilt and in the worst case, die.

If you are wondering why is my crepe myrtle not blooming, do not automatically assume that fertilizer will help. Often, the lack of blooms might be a result of poor sunlight or poorly draining soil. As a gardener, I always recommend inspecting your plant and ensuring that the position and conditions are suitable before applying any feed.

So, while you might want to make use of the fertilizer bottle in the shed, it is often best to leave your crepe myrtle to fend for itself. The only time you might want to use fertilizer is for plants that are young or grown in pots. For these plants, it can be a good idea to provide a small amount of fertilizer.

How and when to fertilize crepe myrtle

If your crepe myrtle was planted in the last two years, or grown in a container, you can apply a small amount of fertilizer during the growing season. 'If you want to fertilize crepe myrtle, it is best to apply a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 in early spring before the new growth emerges,' Gail advises. Organic fertilizers are available from Walmart.

Plant fertilizer numbers can seem confusing, but, as Gail says, using a balanced 10-10-10 solution, with equal parts nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, is recommended.

'If the crepe myrtle is growing in fertile soil, then often, no additional fertilizer is needed,' Gail continues. 'With younger specimens, we often need to be patient while the shrub grows, allowing time for it to establish roots and produce lots of flowers.'

'Do not fertilize crepe myrtle in the late fall,' Gail says, 'as you want to give the crepe myrtle a chance to harden off for the winter. Sticking to springtime is your best bet.'

To improve the quality of your borders, it is a good idea to apply leaf mold in the winter, helping to improve soil structure and feed the soil with plenty of rotting material. Mixing in mulch is also recommended for pot plants too.

So, why not learn how to make plant fertilizer in the form of mulch and leaf mold this year, composting pruned material such as perennial stems, leaves and twigs in a composter? Compact composters are available from Walmart, ideal for smaller yards and gardeners looking to create their own mulch.

FAQs

Should I fertilize crepe myrtles that are grown in pots?

As with any plants grown in pots and containers, it is a good idea to use fertilizer. These plants cannot access water or nutrients in the ground, so rely on you more so than plants grown in borders. I recommend feeding any crepe myrtle plants grown in pots in the springtime, using a slow-release feed suitable for flowering shrubs. Feeding at this time should provide all your plant needs for the growing season.

While we might think that feeding our beloved plants will always generate extra growth and flowers, it is often not necessary. If your crepe myrtle is growing well and blooming happily, leave the fertilizer in the garden shed. For more information on feeding your plants this year, see our guide on how to fertilize bougainvillea, for a bounty of blooms this summer.

As summer rolls on, the garden reaches a vibrant and colorful peak in July. Perennials, annuals and shrubs produce masses of blooms and new foliage this month, and your garden borders will feel full and bountiful.

In July, we will typically see some of the warmest days and nights, and while there is still garden work to be done, it is a good time to stop, slow down, and admire your hard work. As a gardener myself, I find that by July, there is little digging or planting left to be done. As the mercury rises, taking your foot off the gardening pedal is sensible, allowing for a calmer month to enjoy your home-grown crops and flowers.

While watering will be at the top of your summer gardening checklist, another easy gardening job for this month is fertilizing. There are many plants to fertilize in July, and this quick task will ensure that your yard remains in good health and will last as long as possible through summer into fall.

Plants to fertilize in July

Fertilizing your borders and containers during the growing season is vital to maintaining healthy plants. Feeding foliage plants, like ferns and hostas, with a fertilizer high in nitrogen will help them produce plenty of new leaves in the final months of summer. In addition, feeding fruiting and flowering plants with a feed high in potassium will prolong the bloom period.

While a common fertilizing mistake is feeding plants that it is not necessary to feed, many hungry plants can benefit from fertilizer this month.

1. Clematis

Learning how and when to fertilize clematis plants is essential for good growth and plenty of blooms. Whether you are growing the pink-flowering Clematis montana or the winter-flowering Clematis armandii, these climbers are hungry plants.

'I tend to mulch my clematis plants with a good quality compost early in the spring,' says Cindy Tibbetts, plant expert and owner of Hummingbird Farm Nurseries. 'Once your clematis plants are actively growing, during the spring and summer, I recommend feeding once a month.'

'The best product to use is a rose fertilizer,' Cindy adds. 'I use a granular fertilizer that also contains mycorrhizal fungi, but there are many different rose feed products that would do the job.' Miracle-Gro rose feed is available from Walmart.

'Whether you grow clematis in containers or borders, I would advise feeding the same way,' Cindy continues, 'although, with plants grown in pots, I would give them an occasional extra dose of liquid fertilizer, for a summer boost.'

2. Canna lilies

Tropical and vibrant, canna lilies are a colorful addition to any yard. Native to the equatorial regions of the Americas, canna lilies can be grown in borders or containers. These tender plants will not survive cooler winters, typically growing best in US hardiness zone 8 to US hardiness zone 10.

While you may know how to grow canna lilies, remembering to fertilize your plants during summer is important. When working as a gardener in London, we grew several large clumps of Canna × ehemanii, a pink-flowering variety that can reach up to 8 feet tall. Like all canna lilies, these greedy plants needed regular feeding through the growing season.

For plenty of lush new foliage and impactful flower spikes, I would recommend using a balanced organic fertilizer, available from Walmart.

3. Jasmine

Learning when to fertilize jasmine is relatively simple, and with minimal effort, you can ensure that your fragrant climbers continue to produce masses of perfumed flowers.

'Jasmine can be fertilized in the spring and summer,' says plant expert Katie Sunderlage. 'I recommend a bloom booster fertilizer, making sure the phosphorus levels, or the middle number, is the higher figure of the plant fertilizer numbers.'

'Once the plant stops producing flowers in August or September, I would cease fertilizing,' Katie adds. Jasmine fertilizers are available from Amazon.

4. Citrus

Citrus trees are hungry plants, particularly when they are producing fruit in the summertime. Learning how and when to fertilize citrus trees is important, and will ensure that your lemon and avocado trees are in fine health and produce plenty of tasty fruits.

When working as a gardener in Tuscany, I fed our extensive citrus tree collection every two weeks during May, June, July and August. Towards the end of the growing season, I would reduce the amount of fertilizer applied.

I recommend using a fertilizer intended for citrus plants, providing all the nutrients needed for foliage, flower and fruit production. Citrus feed is available to buy online from Amazon.

5. Star jasmine

Star jasmine is a versatile and reliable evergreen climber, providing interest across all four seasons. 'This tough vine is low-maintenance and easy to grow,' says Jen McDonald, garden expert and a co-founder of Garden Girls.

'Growing best in US hardiness zones 8, 9 and 10, 'this popular plant is a common sight across much of the southern states, growing vigorously here in Texas,' Jen adds.

While you might know how to grow star jasmine, 'feeding your plant during the growing season is a good idea,' Jen adds. Apply a balanced fertilizer once every 6 weeks during spring and summer, making sure to dilute the feed as necessary.

6. Ferns

Ferns are quintessential shade plants. Whether you grow large tree ferns, Dicksonia Antarctica, or smaller hart's tongue ferns, Asplenium scolopendrium, feeding your plants during summer can help them to produce plenty of lush, new growth.

Learning how to grow ferns is relatively straightforward, and these Jurassic plants prefer a moist, shady spot in the yard, performing best when kept out of direct sunlight and away from dry soils.

As with other foliage plants, such as hardy bananas - Musa basjoo - fertilizing in July will encourage more green growth. I would recommend a light feed, as generally, ferns grow just fine without the need for excessive amounts of fertilizer.

7. Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are a staple of the summer border, celebrated for producing large blooms that last for the entirety of the growing season. One of my favorite hydrangea varieties to grow is Hydrangea macrophylla, otherwise known as lace-cap hydrangeas. Native to Japan, this species is slightly more refined than traditional hydrangeas, producing delicate, downward blooms.

Knowing when to fertilize hydrangeas can help prolong the summer flowering show, and ensure that your shrubs remain in the best health for years to come. From April, I would suggest feeding hydrangeas once a month up until the fall.

It is best to use a general-purpose plant feed, such as this slow-release fertilizer, available from Walmart. Avoid using fertilizers high in nitrogen as this will encourage foliage growth at the expense of bloom production.

FAQs

When is the best time of day to fertilize plants in July?

During the summer, I recommend fertilizing plants in the early morning or late evening, when the temperature is cool. Always follow directions on the packaging, and aim water and feed away from foliage towards the soil (unless using a foliar feed), which will help to prevent leaf scorch.

As temperatures rise, watering and feeding your plants is an important task this month, ensuring that your plants continue to thrive for the remainder of the summer months. For more gardening help and advice this month, see our guide on the plants to prune in July, to keep your yard healthy and looking good.

Q: I have bought a few tender geraniums in pots, which I plan to keep on the patio during summer. Is it a good idea to feed them, and if so, how and when should I do it?

A: Tender geraniums, also known as pelargoniums, are a fabulous choice for container gardens. And fertilizing them can promote abundant flowering and healthy foliage, as Autumn Janus from Perfect Plants Nursery points out. According to gardening expert Tony O'Neill, fertilizers also provide essential nutrients that support the resilience of the plants, helping them withstand pests and diseases.

However, it's important to feed your plants in the right way, as well as at the right time, for the best results. This guide explains how to do it, so you can enjoy these blooming beauties at their best.

Expert advice on how to fertilize geraniums

Whether you're a big fan of the Pelargonsjuka trend or just have one or two of these cheery plants, these top tips will help them thrive.

Fertilizing geraniums in pots

Anna Ohler, the owner of Bright Lane Gardens nursery, recommends feeding pelargoniums in pots every two to four weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). Reduce feeding to once a month in the fall, and stop during the winter, she adds.

Slow-release fertilizers should be applied at the beginning of the growing season, following the package recommendations for the amount and frequency, she adds.

'Always apply fertilizer according to the package instructions,' she continues. If using a liquid fertilizer, she says to water the plants with it, ensuring even distribution around the base. 'Avoid getting fertilizer on the foliage to prevent burning.'

If you're using a granular feed, Anna recommends evenly spreading it over the surface of the soil, avoiding the plant stem and leaves.

Fertilizing geraniums in borders

Pelargoniums also make good summer plants for flowerbeds. Those planted in this way will benefit from a feed, too.

Autumn suggests fertilizing them every four to six weeks during the growing season. 'Same as the potted plants, I would recommend focusing the fertilizer at the base of the plants, near their roots, avoiding pouring the fertilizer on the leaves or flowers,' she adds.

Like with potted plants, slow-release granular fertilizers should be applied at the beginning of the growing season, notes Anna. 'Follow package instructions for the appropriate amount based on the size and number of plants.'

FAQs

When is the best time to fertilize geraniums?

Remember, you won't need to apply fertilizer while overwintering geraniums. Autumn says they can be fertilized up until the first frost of fall. 

'It is best to apply liquid fertilizer during your regular scheduled watering, which should be in the morning or evening,' she adds.

What fertilizer should you use to feed geraniums?

Tony O'Neill recommends using a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 for general feeding, but then switching to a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content, like 15-30-15, during the flowering season. 

We like the look of the Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster Flower Food, available from Amazon for the latter, which has lots of great reviews. For a balanced one, consider the popular Jack's Classic 20-20-20 all-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer, also from Amazon.

If you prefer using an organic fertilizer, Anna says compost tea or blood meal are both commonly used with geraniums.

How can you tell if you've overfed your geraniums?

Being overzealous with feeding can do geraniums more harm than good. Anna says to watch for signs such as yellowing leaves, burnt leaf edges, or reduced flowering, which can indicate over-fertilization. 

If your pelargonium is in a pot and is showing the signs above, she recommends flushing the soil with water, until it starts to flow from the bottom of the container. This will help to remove excess nutrients. Remember to adjust your fertilization schedule going forward.

The soil around over-fertilized plants in flowerbeds can also be 'flushed', with the help of a garden hose.

Feeding gives many types of plants a boost, both indoors and out. Just be sure to steer clear of the common fertilizing mistakes.

Roses are much-adored plants grown for beautiful and often fragrant blooms that capture the imagination of romantics worldwide. There are thousands of different varieties and types to grow; it is safe to say there is a rose suited to any size or style of garden.

If you grow and care for roses, they can be high-maintenance plants and require a lot of care and attention. That includes fertilizing roses in spring and the summer to achieve that long display of beautiful blooms.

Garden center shelves are stocked with different rose feeds at this time of year, however, if you fancy trying something different, you can make your own rose fertilizer from kitchen waste, other garden plants, or even common household items.

4 ways to make your own rose food

Making a homemade plant fertilizer for any rose variety in your backyard is a simple process. Here are four methods as recommended by gardening experts.

1. Make homemade compost

Making compost is easy, you can turn food scraps, plant waste, lawn clippings, leaves, and more into nutrient-rich food for your plants. Homemade compost can be used as a mulch, whether your plants are in flower beds or you are growing roses in pots.

The experts at David Austin Roses say that mulching roses with compost helps to retain moisture in the soil and ‘provide valuable nutrients for your roses as they grow’. This task should be done after you give your roses their annual spring feed.

‘Compost contains lots of nutrients, including the important three of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and releases them slowly to plants as it enriches the soil,’ says Rachel Bull, head of gardens at Homes & Gardens.

‘You can easily build a compost pile in your yard, purchase bins in different shapes and sizes, or even use a hot compost bin to make your homemade compost faster than the traditional methods’.

Homemade compost should be incorporated into the soil when you plant roses to improve its structure, fertility, and moisture-holding capacity. The compost will break down slowly and release nutrients to enrich the soil and feed your roses.

2. Brew tea from plants

You can make an excellent rose fertilizer from comfrey or nettles, both plants rich in nutrients. These can be effortlessly turned into nutrient-rich teas that make great plant fertilizers.

Nettles are particularly high in nitrogen, as well as other minerals. and making a plant fertilizer from this common weed will encourage the growth of healthy stems and leaves on leafy plants.

Comfrey is hugely beneficial as this perennial plant contains high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other important nutrients, that are all important for healthy roses and can keep them blooming all summer long.

Samuel Davis, an experienced horticulturist, explains how to make this rich liquid tea for your roses. He says: ‘It simply involves filling a container with leaves, adding water, and letting it settle for some weeks.

‘Then, dilute the obtained liquid in the ratio of 1 part tea to 10 parts water, and use it for watering your rose plants.’

Wear gloves when handling nettles or comfrey to avoid stinging or agitating your skin. Never add the resulting tea undiluted either, as this could overfertilize plants or cause a nutrient imbalance that can cause rose leaves to turn yellow.

3. Use common kitchen scraps

Why not use your kitchen waste in the garden? Some common kitchen scraps can be hugely beneficial as rose fertilizers, including banana peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds.

• Banana peels make a good fertilizer as they are high in potassium, which can mean healthier and bigger blooms on your roses
• Eggshells help plants as they provide calcium and this strengthens the cell walls of your rose plants
• Coffee grounds are also good for plants as they can provide nitrogen that will help grow leaves and stems

Each of these three can be used separately. Banana peels can be chopped up and buried, eggshells crushed and spread, or coffee grounds sprinkled around the base of your roses.

They will all offer something separately, however, Tony O'Neill, gardening expert and author, advocates for making a rose fertilizer by combining all three into one feed. He says: ‘To make this fertilizer, chop up banana peels and eggshells, mix them with used coffee grounds, and spread the mixture around the base of your rose bushes.

‘In my garden, I’ve found that using a combination of banana peels and coffee grounds has made a noticeable difference in the health and vibrancy of my roses.’

All three kitchen waste items can be added to your compost pile - along with other fruit and vegetable scraps - to break down and boost the resulting nutrient levels within.

4. Mix Epsom salts with water

You might have a potential rose feed currently in your bathroom cabinet, as did you know that you can fertilize with Epsom salts?

The popular bath time accompaniment to soothe aches and pains can be beneficial as it is high in magnesium. That nutrient aids with photosynthesis and can help keep roses healthy and blooming profusely.

‘Once a month, mix up 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts with 1-gallon water and use this to water your plants,’ says Andrew Carberry, food systems expert at the Wallace Center. ‘You can use a tablespoon of salt for each foot the rose bush is tall, mixing in a gallon of water and using twice a year - once the leaves appear and right after the first series of blooms.’

This liquid feed will help your roses produce large and healthy blooms. Deadhead your roses regularly and you will be rewarded with a long and stunning display of flowers.

FAQs

What natural food is good for roses?

Compost and manure are great natural feeds for roses, just make sure that the manure is aged and well-rotted rather than being added fresh. Fish emulsion and bone meal are also very beneficial options. The former is made by blending fish scraps with water - which needs to be diluted before being added to roses - and a bone meal fertilizer can be made by grinding dried animal bones into a fine powder. Alternatively, you can buy bone meal from Burpee or other retailers.

Neglecting your plants is a rose-growing mistake that robs you of blooms and leads to unhappy plants. Remember to enrich the soil and feed plants regularly throughout the growing season, however, do not fertilize roses in late summer.

Roses want to be preparing for winter at this stage of their cycle. Feeding late in the season is a fertilizing mistake. It encourages the growth of new shoots that are damaged by frosts.

Fertilizers play an important part in keeping plants healthy and thriving. Whether you are growing trees, shrubs, flowers, fruits, or vegetables, maintaining soil health and using fertilizers is a key part of any annual gardening cycle.

The three main nutrients for plant health are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but calcium, magnesium and sulfur are also important along with certain key micronutrients. Fertilizers contain specific mixtures of nutrients depending on their purpose, some are balanced and ‘multi-purpose’ while others can be focused on developing fruit or encouraging leafy growth.

Whether you opt to use organic or inorganic fertilizers, fertilizer provides essential nutrients that plants need to develop healthy growth and perform at their best. However, it is vital to use the right fertilizers, at the right time, and in the right quantity - as failing to do so will cause potentially severe problems for your plants.

7 fertilizing mistakes to avoid

When you fertilize flower beds for great displays of blooms or fertilize a vegetable garden for a bumper crop of homegrown food, you want any feed to benefit your plants and not harm them. To help you avoid making any mistakes that could risk the health of your plants, we speak to experts to uncover some key potential errors to avoid.

1. Fertilizing at the wrong time

Each plant has an ideal time for fertilizing. Applying the same rule to all plants is an error and you cannot expect all plants to respond the same - you cannot fertilize evergreen shrubs the same way as you fertilize garlic and expect both to prosper.

Tony O’Neill, gardener and author, claims fertilizing at the wrong time not only leads to wasted nutrients but can cause potential harm to many plants. He warns: ‘Fertilizing too late in the season can encourage new growth that may not harden off before winter, making plants vulnerable to frost damage.’

Plants want fertilizing at the beginning of their growing season and again during the year. Thoroughly research your plants to time their feeds based on their growth stages and specific needs.

2. Applying the wrong fertilizer

Certain plants thrive with different fertilizers and not all feeds are created equal. It is important to understand the plant fertilizer numbers, which will show the makeup of nutrients in the feed. Applying the wrong fertilizer to a plant can create a nutrient imbalance and impact the growth cycle.

Diane Kuthy, the founder of How To Grow Everything, explains how too much or too little of certain nutrients can ‘drastically’ affect a plant’s growth cycle and create ‘undesirable results’. She says: ‘Applying too much nitrogen to fruit trees could stimulate the plant to produce more leafy green growth and less fruit.’

‘Magnesium is a critical nutrient for healthy tomato plants, but too much magnesium can cause calcium deficiency which leads to blossom end rot,’ adds Diane.

Pick fertilizers according to the nutrient requirements of plants and always apply feeds at the recommended rates. High nitrogen fertilizer will be useful for leafy vegetables, such as kale, but not for flowering plants that will prefer feed with a higher phosphorus content.

3. Using too much fertilizer

Adding too much fertilizer can be a case of too much of a good thing. Plants can be sensitive to nutrient imbalances and you could be killing them with kindness.

Too much fertilizer can burn plants, leading to issues such as root damage and leaf scorch. In extreme cases, the build-up of salts in the soil caused by overfertilizing can cause wilting, defoliating, and even death of plants.

Always follow the recommended rates outlined on any fertilizer packaging. ‘It comes back to understanding the plant's nutrient needs and providing the correct blend of fertilizer at the right time to meet those needs,’ says Diane Kuthy.

4. Using too little fertilizer

Under-fertilizing leaves plants lacking in nutrients. They may grow poorly, have discoloured foliage, and not flower or yield as well as you would expect. This can either be down to a lack of feeding at all or not using enough fertilizer - either way, the plant is suffering from nutrient deficiencies.

Soil tests will tell you if your soil is deficient in any particular nutrient - which will need addressing through the use of feeds. Using balanced fertilizer at the recommended rates is a good way to give a well-rounded, and often slow-release, dose of nutrients.

5. Applying fertilizer to dry soil

The soil wants to be moist when you apply fertilizers. Never apply feed, especially a granular fertilizer, to dry soil. This would be a mistake that risks harming the health of your plants.

Plants cannot take in any nutrients if the soil is dry and slow-release fertilizer products in particular need moisture to dissolve and release any nutrients.

‘Applying fertilizer to dry soil can burn the roots,’ warns Tony O’Neill. ‘Always water your plants before and after applying fertilizer to help distribute the nutrients and prevent root damage.’

6. Fertilizing in the wrong weather

There are some weather conditions in which it is unwise to apply fertilizers. This includes any extreme weather, such as extreme heat or cold, which stress plants and they do not take in nutrients at that time.

Radek Babicek, a gardening specialist at Fantastic Services, also advises that rainy days should be avoided ‘because the rain can wash away all the fertilizer you have applied’. They add: ‘It's best to fertilize about three days after it has rained. This will give enough time for the moisture to evaporate off the soil’s surface without it being too dry.’

Plants are also less able to absorb nutrients on hot days, so if you do have fertilizing plants on your summer gardening checklist it is best to do the task during cooler early morning hours or the late afternoon.

7. Putting fertilizer too close to the plants

Be very careful where you put granular fertilizers when applying them to plants. Granular products need to be dissolved in water, which is why they need to be watered in, and can physically harm plants if they touch them.

Samuel Davis, a horticulturist and the CEO of London Gardeners, warns how any fertilizers touching stems or leaves with the products can burn them. He advises: ‘Spread it well around the base of the plant and avoid the stems and the leaves as much as possible.’

Only products designed to have contact with leaves, such as foliar feeds, should be applied directly to the plants. Do not merely throw granular products over plants from above as any feed touching the leaves can cause leaf scorch.

FAQs

What are the signs of over-fertilizing?

When you over-fertilize plants it can show through discolored leaves that turn yellow or brown due to fertilizer burn, while the edges of foliage can blacken. Plants can also show stunted growth, drooping, or wilting, and shed leaves, flowers, or fruit. You may also notice a crust on the soil surface.

If you favour having a natural garden and using organic feeds, then you can make plant fertilizers to use on shrubs, flowers, and vegetables around your garden. This includes making comfrey fertilizer or plant fertilizers from weeds, such as nettles. Such liquid feeds must be diluted before being used to avoid overfertilizing plants.

Bougainvillea are long-flowering climbing plants renowned for producing brightly colored blooms for much of the spring, summer, and fall. These vibrant climbers often remind me of holidays in southern Europe, cascading over white-washed walls on sun-drenched streets. While your reality might be a little different from this postcard-like image of a Greek island, growing bougainvillea can help to beautify any outside space and transport you - even if only for a minute - to a faraway place.

When considering how to care for and grow bougainvillea, these plants are native to warmer regions and zones and grow best in sheltered spots and full-sun positions. With the right conditions and care, bougainvilleas can grow up to 3 feet in a single growing season. It is no wonder that they are often thought of as some of the best climbing plants to grow for color, impact and vigor.

Knowing how to fertilize bougainvillea plants is important, and while these tropical-looking climbers can often grow just fine without regular fertilization, feeding in the spring and summer can help support plant growth and extend flowering. Here, plant experts advise on the most suitable timing and best approach to feeding your bougainvillea.

How to fertilize bougainvillea

If you are looking for a colorful climber, planting a bougainvillea in your yard is sure to make a bold statement. Whether growing these climbing plants at the front of the house or perhaps vining over a structure in the backyard, vibrant pink, purple, or yellow blooms will undoubtedly add impact to your space.

These plants are native to South America and tend to grow best in US hardiness zone 9 and US hardiness zone 10, so be sure to position them in a sunny and protected area in the yard. If you have an established climber, or a recently planted one, fertilizing bougainvillea is a job to add to your summer gardening checklist.

When to fertilize bougainvillea

'Bougainvilleas are light feeders and can often go years without needing fertilization,' says Sam Niemann, garden expert and founder of Grown by Design, a boutique landscape design firm based in San Diego.

However, if your bougainvillea is not flowering or blooming has been poor this year, it can be a sign that your climber could do with some fertilizer for a boost.

For bougainvilleas growing in the ground, Sam says the 'best time to fertilize is in early spring.' Following a 'light feeding schedule helps maintain healthy blooms without over-stimulating foliage growth,' Sam adds.

For bougainvillea plants grown in pots, I would suggest feeding once a month from spring until the end of summer. As with any plants grown in pots, bougainvilleas in containers need more watering and feeding than those planted directly in the ground.

How to fertilize bougainvillea

'Bougainvilleas love the sun but do best when they thoroughly dry out between waterings and feedings,' says Bert Bast, garden expert and owner of Bast Brothers Garden Center. It is important to remember that these tropical plants thrive with sunshine and prefer dry soils.

'If they are planted in the ground, you should not need to fertilize,' Bert adds, 'I usually just add some fresh mulch and compost to the borders each year to improve soil health.' Mulch is available to order online from Walmart.

'If your bougainvillea appears stressed, or you are seeing yellowing leaves or a reduction in blooming, it might be time to apply a small amount of fertilizer,' Bert continues.

For plants in containers, Bert recommends using an organic fertilizer 'to continually improve soil conditions.' Feeding consistently at regular intervals during the spring and summer is best, 'so that your plants remain healthy,' Bert says. Bougainvillea fertilizer is available from Walmart.

Typically, fertilizers high in nitrogen will help if you want to encourage leafy, green growth, while feeds high in potash - or potassium - will help boost flower production and intensify the color of the blooms. Many products that are high in potash are available to buy in garden stores or online, such as this tomato feed from Amazon.

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FAQs

What fertilizer will encourage leafy, green growth for a young bougainvillea?

If you have recently planted young bougainvillea in your yard, consider applying a fertilizer high in nitrogen. This is recommended for encouraging plenty of lush new stems and foliage. Fertilizers that are high in potassium will encourage flower production.

While feeding bougainvilleas is not always necessary, fertilizing can help improve plant health and blooming during the growing season, particularly for climbers grown in pots. For more bougainvillea growing advice, see our guide on how to prune bougainvillea, to trim and tidy your climbers this year.

Jasmine climbing plants are a garden staple. When you brush past a jasmine climber, it is impossible not to be enamored with the scent, helping to explain why this plant has been prized for its fragrance for millennia.

Most of us will be familiar with jasmine plants, Jasminum officinale, and many gardeners across the world would consider this one of the best climbing plants. When thinking about how to grow jasmine or jasmine care, this climber is both hardy and low-maintenance, and with a small amount of attention and care, your climber will reward you with a fragrant flowering show for much of the growing season.

While jasmine is not considered a heavy feeder, moderate fertilization during the spring and summer can help your climber to thrive. Here, plant experts provide all the information you need to feed and maintain your jasmine plants, including the right time to fertilize and the best products to use.

How and when to fertilize jasmine

Jasmine plants are grown across much of the temperate world, but typically do best in mild and warm regions, thriving in US hardiness zone 7 to US hardiness zone 10 plus. These plants can be grown in the ground, covering large surface areas such as exterior walls, fences, and pergolas, or jasmine can be grown in pots, making this climber suitable for large and small spaces.

However you grow jasmine, learning how and when to fertilize can help to improve plant health and guarantee better blooming the following year.

When to fertilize jasmine

While jasmine plants are not considered greedy, knowing how and when to fertilize jasmine can help to improve plant growth and blooming. If you are looking for a fast-growing flowering vine, jasmine can grow at extraordinary rates of 2 to 3 feet per year under optimum conditions. During the first year after planting, regular feeding and watering can help your plant settle and establish itself in your yard.

'Jasmine can be fertilized lightly during the active growing season,' says plant and garden expert Katie Sunderlage. 'Feeding is best done when the plant is blooming, which is typically from June to August, although this will vary depending on where you live.'

'Once the blooms have stopped in late summer, I wouldn’t recommend continuing to fertilize,' Katie adds. 'After your jasmine has finished flowering, this is also the time to tidy up your plants and get pruning,' so at this point, put the fertilizer away and get the pruning shears out.

How to fertilize jasmine

Jasmine flowers are long-lasting and can flower for many months. As Katie says, while your jasmine climber is in bloom, you can lightly feed your plant to keep the floral show going.

'I recommend using a bloom booster fertilizer,' Katie says, 'which will help your plant to keep producing brilliant blooms for much of the summer.' There are many products available online or in stores, such as this organic bloom booster by Dr. Earth, available from Walmart.

Katie recommends that gardeners 'make sure the phosphorus level, or the middle number in the fertilizer formulation, is high.' This is because phosphorus is a key nutrient needed by your flowering plants that helps them develop flowers and produce fruits.

'I also recommend using a slow-release fertilizer,' Katie says, 'to make sure your plants continue to feed throughout the active growing season.' This can be particularly useful for gardeners with smaller plots who grow in containers - using slow-release granules can help to reduce the amount of attention required for your flowering plants in pots. Slow-release fertilizers are available from Amazon.

It can also be a good idea to incorporate some fresh compost or mulch into borders and containers each year, and doing so will help to improve soil health in your yard. For example, this Miracle-Gro organic mulch, available from Amazon, can help suppress weeds, feed your soil, and retain moisture during the warmer months of the year. While you can apply mulch at any time of year, I find it best to do so in the fall and winter months, when you have cut back plants and cleared your borders, making it easier to access the soil.

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FAQs

What is the best product to use for feeding jasmine plants grown in pots?

All jasmine plants, whether grown in the ground or in pots, can be fertilized during spring and summer. It is best to feed your jasmine climbing plants when they are in flower, using a bloom booster product that is high in phosphorus. Once your jasmine begins to fade, it is time to stop feeding. As with all plants grown in containers, watering and feeding requirements will be greater than those plants grown in borders.

Feeding your jasmine plants during the spring and summer months can help to extend their bloom time and improve plant health. While jasmine climbers can grow just fine without regular fertilizing, sometimes this can help to give your prized plants a boost.

For more scented plant inspiration, see our guide on plants that make your patio smell nice, for a floral and perfumed backyard this year.

Tomatoes are a staple summer crop in vegetable gardens around the world and every grower strives for the best crop of tasty and juicy tomatoes each season.

Growing tomatoes is fairly simple, and as there is such a range of tomato varieties available to grow there will be a type suited to any size of garden. Fertilizing tomato plants plays an important role in getting a fantastic harvest, and every summer tomato feed will be on most gardeners' shopping lists.

However, if you want to garden as organically as possible - and save a bit of money - you can make your own tomato fertilizer. There are beneficial feeds that can be easily made from kitchen leftovers or plants you may already have around your garden.

6 ideas for a homemade fertilizer for tomato plants

If you want to make a plant fertilizer at home, there are some popular and simple methods to discover. The following DIY tomato fertilizers provide plants with beneficial nutrients that are important at different stages of the plant’s growing season.

Homemade compost

Tomatoes prosper when given a slow-release and balanced fertilizer to provide lots of nutrients. Ahead of planting tomatoes, incorporating organic matter into the site can help get plants off to a great start. And what better way to feed your tomatoes than with homemade compost?

Save spending money on bags of pre-made compost by making your DIY compost at home. You can use all manner of kitchen and garden waste, as well as brown waste including straw, shredded cardboard, and newspaper, to create a nutrient-rich material. If you want to speed up the process, then hot composting can transform waste into rich compost in less than a month.

Nettle tea

Nettles can be the bane of many gardeners, but even common garden weeds can be beneficial, as making a plant fertilizer using weeds is an easy and cost-effective way to grow organically.

Nettles are high in nitrogen, a vital nutrient for leafy crops, such as spinach, lettuce or kale, and hungry plants, including tomatoes. Such high-nitrogen feeds, like nettle tea, need to be used in conjunction with other fertilizers high in phosphorus to encourage tomato plants to flower and fruit.

Thomas Rutter, a former professional gardener and content editor for Homes & Gardens, has made nettle tea in several gardens and reveals how he makes this wonderful concoction.

‘Be sure to wear thick gardening gloves, available from Walmart, to avoid getting a nasty sting,’ says Thomas. ‘When you are ready, simply gather fresh nettle growth, snipping stems and foliage into small pieces of no more than a few inches.

‘Place these cuttings in a large bucket, and fill it with water to cover the nettles. Use one or two large rocks or stones to weigh the nettles down, if needed. After 3 to 4 weeks, your nettle tea will be ready to use.’

Dilute one part of the nettle feed to 10 parts water and apply when you water plants. The fertilizer is very beneficial but does have a particularly potent perfume.

Comfrey feed

Similarly to how you make nettle tea, you can make comfrey fertilizer. It is a good DIY feed overall, but a particularly great homemade fertilizer for tomato plants.

Comfrey is a perennial plant that appears in spring and looks beautiful with its bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, pink, and white. As well as looking great, comfrey contains high levels of the essential nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other valuable trace elements.

Harvest leaves in spring, but do not take too many as to weaken the plant, and chop them up into a bucket that you fill with water. Just like with nettle tea, weigh the leaves down and leave the mixture to develop into a stinky brew for around three weeks.

The concentrated fertilizer should be diluted and then given to plants. The leftover leaves can be used to make compost or added as mulch around plants to break down and release further nutrients into the soil.

Coffee grounds

Do tomato plants like coffee grounds as a DIY tomato fertilizer? The answer is yes, they do.

Using coffee grounds as a fertilizer is a great way to provide plants with a boost of nutrients. Coffee grounds contain multiple beneficial nutrients, including nitrogen, potassium and magnesium.

‘You can easily make a tomato plant fertilizer with coffee grounds by sprinkling them around the base of the plant or mixing them into the soil of your tomato plant,’ recommends Tenielle Jordison, news writer for the gardens team at Homes & Gardens.

‘One thing to note is that you shouldn’t apply coffee grounds too heavily - it could attract pests or cause the soil to become too soggy by retaining moisture, which in turn could create fungal issues.’

Eggshells

Eggshells can be surprisingly good for plants. They contain many beneficial nutrients and the most useful for growing tomatoes is calcium, which can help prevent blossom end rot.

The nutritional disorder is caused by a lack of calcium and using eggshells can help ensure a great harvest of tomatoes and fewer blemished fruits that need to be discarded.

Tony O'Neill, vegetable gardener and author, advises to ‘crush eggshells into a fine powder and sprinkle it around the base of your tomato plants’.

Banana peels

The notion of using banana peels as a fertilizer might sound strange, but it is a great example of using kitchen waste in the garden and can be particularly beneficial as a DIY tomato fertilizer.

Banana peels contain a lot of potassium and also phosphorus, magnesium and calcium. As potassium is a vital nutrient to encourage fruiting and flowering, it makes banana peels good for plants that need to develop and ripen fruits, such as tomatoes. The calcium is also great for combatting blossom end rot.

Banana peels can be chopped up and buried in the soil around plants, or you can soak them in water to use as a liquid fertilizer when you water plants.

Tony O'Neil claims: ‘In my own garden, I've found that using a combination of compost tea and banana peel fertilizer has significantly improved the health and yield of my tomato plants. These natural fertilizers are easy to make and provide a balanced nutrient profile that tomatoes thrive on.’

FAQs

How long do you soak banana peels in water for tomato plants?

If you want to take advantage of how banana peels are good for plants, the leftover banana peel is cut into small pieces around one or two inches in size and steeped in water for two to three days.

Are tea grounds good for tomatoes?

Just like using coffee grounds, tea grounds can be beneficial for tomatoes. Remove them from the tea bag and let them dry out before spreading them around the base of the plants and mixing them in with the soil. If you have compostable tea bags, then used tea grounds can be added inside the bag to the compost pile.

Fertilizing is important, but take care not to over-fertilize plants. While product labels will have the NPK shown and recommended rates, it can be trickier with homemade fertilizers. Be cautious, do some research, and never add the likes of comfrey or nettle fertilizer undiluted. Also look out for any signs of yellowing leaves or stunted growth, which can indicate potential over-fertilizing.

Lilacs are hardy spring flowering shrubs and trees, producing masses of romantic blooms in shades of purple, mauve and white. These plants are famed for their scent, filling yards with a floral fragrance that is hard to beat. One of my favorite varieties of lilac is Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation', seen in the image below, which produces deep purple petals that each have a delicate white edge. Surely, it is impossible not to love this flower?

Native to Southern Europe and parts of Asia, the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, is typically found growing in scrubland or at the edge of wooded areas. When considering how to grow lilac, this deciduous plant has a preference for bright, sunny positions and well-draining soil. As a rule of thumb, the more sun your lilac shrub gets, the better it will bloom.

Lilacs are typically thought of as low-maintenance plants and are not considered heavy feeders. However, an occasional feed for your spring flowering shrubs can help with plant health and ensure that your lilacs bloom. Here, plant experts discuss how and when to fertilize lilacs, including the best products to use.

When and how to fertilize lilacs

Lilacs are often considered one of the best flowering shrubs, filling yards with fragrant blooms. Lilacs grow well in US hardiness zone 4 to US hardiness zone 7 and can be planted in borders or containers.

It is best to err on the side of caution when feeding lilac shrubs, fertilizing only once per year. Over-fertilizing your plants can often do more harm than good.

When to fertilize lilacs

'If you are going to fertilize your lilac you should do it in early spring,' says Sam Niemann, garden expert and founder of Grown by Design, a boutique landscape design firm based in San Diego. Fertilizing lilacs is another job to add to your spring gardening checklist.

'Lilac plants, while not considered heavy feeders, can benefit from occasional fertilization,' Sam adds, 'and if you are going to do so, the best time is early spring.'

Sam advises that a second feeding in mid to late fall can help if you think your plant needs a boost. 'This twice-yearly fertilization schedule has proven very effective in my garden, promoting healthy plants and abundant blooms.'

If your lilac shrub looks healthy, happy, and full of blooms, it is most likely doing just fine without any need for fertilizer. While you might think applying fertilizer once or twice a year will encourage even more blooms, over-feeding can often do more harm than good. Put simply, lilac plants will not bloom if you overfeed.

In the right position and with the right conditions, lilac plants will do just fine without the need for fertilizer. These plants can grow up to 3 feet per year, meaning that if you buy a starter lilac plant, available from Walmart, they will quickly grow into a small shrub within a few years without any need for fertilizer.

How to fertilize lilacs

Fertilizing lilac plants when they do not require any extra nutrients will harm flower production. 'Too much nitrogen in the soil will prevent the lilac from blooming,' says Bert Bast, garden expert and owner of Bast Brothers Garden Center.

Understanding the process of fertilization and soil health is, therefore, important. Excessive amounts of nitrogen in the soil will cause your lilac shrub to produce foliage at the expense of flowers. For this reason, it is a good idea to avoid using mulch that contains decomposed grass clippings or coffee grounds near your lilac plants, as this mulch will be extremely high in nitrogen.

'Lilacs should not need regular fertilization,' Bert says, 'so if you are going to feed your shrubs, stick with an organic product that is either an all-purpose fertilizer or one that is low in nitrogen.' There are many products found online, such as this organic fertilizer, available to order from Walmart, applying only once a year and using sparingly.

If your lilac shrub is displaying signs of stress, such as poor growth or defoliation, it might be a good idea to check the pH of your borders using something like this soil meter, available from Walmart. Lilac shrubs grow best in neutral to slightly alkaline soils (6.5 to 7.0 pH). Your lilac plant might benefit from adding lime to the soil which is proven to make the ground more alkaline. There are many products found in garden stores and online, such as this organic lime soil conditioner, available from Walmart.

FAQs

Should I fertilize lilac shrubs grown in pots?

Lilac shrubs prefer to grow in garden borders where their roots can spread freely. Dwarf or smaller varieties can be grown in containers, but they will require watering and feeding more than plants grown in the ground.

For lilacs grown in pots, I would suggest using a general-purpose fertilizer in early spring, carefully diluting the feed in water, and following the instructions on the back of the packaging.

Lilacs are not known to be heavy feeders, but an annual feed in spring can help provide your shrubs with the nutrients they need to thrive. However, if your plants seem happy and flower well, it might not be necessary to reach for the fertilizer. For more information on plants and shrubs to feed in spring, see our guide on how and when to fertilize hedges.

Fertilizing plants is a key part of nurturing them, especially if you want to see plenty of healthy blooms, fruit and foliage. Hibiscus is no different, as these beautiful plants enjoy plant food and will show off even more of their shapely flowers as a result.

Whether you grow hibiscus in your yard or grow hibiscus in pots, this plant, that is native to tropical climes of Mauritius, Fiji, Hawaii and more, will benefit from occasional fertilizing. This is true for all types of these spectacular flowering plants, which will display an abundance of their wonderful blooms after being fed.

However, it is important to avoid fertilizing mistakes with all plants because not doing it correctly could led to their downfall. That's why we've asked experts how to fertilize hibiscus and they shared their tips on when and how to do it successfully.

When to fertilize hibiscus

Timing is one of the most important elements of successful fertilizing. If you feed your plants when they aren't actively growing you might notice your hibiscus leaves turning yellow.

'Hibiscus should be fertilized frequently to optimize their growth,' says Lotte Berendsen, plant expert at PlantIn. 'We recommend feeding your plants in full ground once at the start of spring (before new growth emerges), once after the first round of blooming (typically mid-spring), once in mid-summer and then one last time at the end of fall,' she adds.

Hibiscus plants typically bloom from summer into fall, so it's a good idea to fertilize them when their active growth begins in spring. However, you should avoid fertilizing them in the colder months of winter when the plant is dormant.

This is a fertilizing mistake that can lead to roots burning and risking root rot as a result of your hibiscus plant's soil being oversaturated from fertilizer.

How to fertilize hibiscus

You should start by sourcing the right fertilizer for your hibiscus. Plant fertilizer numbers indicate how much nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is in the plant food (NPK).

'Most balanced fertilizers will be sufficient. Aim for a fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 or 12-12-12,' says Lotte.

Another option is to look for a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus number, as this is the nutrient that can boost the growth of blooms.

When fertilizing hibiscus, make sure to always follow the manufacturer instructions. Some of the most popular plant food is in liquid form , which you add to water before watering your plants.

'We recommend feeding at half the recommended strength or less. Simply follow the product instructions by diluting liquid plant feed with water and watering your plant with this mixture,' says Lotte.

'Do not feed your hibiscus too often, as excess fertilizing can lead to root burn. How often you feed your plants depends on whether your hibiscus grows in the ground or in containers,' she notes.

If you are growing hibiscus indoors or in pots outside, your plant can be fertilized more frequently due to better drainage. 'Container-grown plants can be fed every month at ¼ of the recommended strength, while ground-growing plants will grow fine when given fertilizer four times a year,' Lotte notes.

You can also try organic methods by making plant fertilizer from items in your kitchen - this includes using banana peels as fertilizer.

Find hibiscus fertilizer online

FAQs

Will fertilizer make my hibiscus rebloom?

Hardy hibiscus plants are perennial, meaning they will come back each year and their flowers will fade at the end of their blooming season in fall. Fertilizing your hibiscus is a great way to boost blooms and encourage new growth so that you can see returning blooms. Take care not to fertilize during winter, as this could cause root burn or rot and kill your plant.

You can fertilize hibiscus plants during their active growing season to encourage further growth and new blooms. Reduce feeding when your plant is dormant and always follow manufacturer instructions for application.

It can be a good idea to deadhead hibiscus flowers when their blooms fade to help them bloom again in the next season. You should also keep on top of pruning hibiscus to keep your plant in a healthy condition.

For more fertilizing information, see our guide on how to fertilize crepe myrtle, to keep your shrubs looking their best this year.

Hellebores are typically considered winter and spring flowering plants. When all else in the yard is quiet, calm and might appear void of life, hellebore blooms light up even the darkest corners. The Helleborus genus consists of approximately 20 perennial and evergreen species, most of which tend to bloom in winter and spring.

Most of us will be familiar with lenten roses, Helleborus orientalis, with numerous different cultivars of this species flowering in various colors, from yellow to deep maroon and every color in between. One of my favorite hellebore species is the 'stinking hellebore', Helleborus foetidus, so named for an unpleasant odor emitted when the foliage is crushed. This species has striking yellow-green flowers that seem to go on and on, and last long into the spring.

When considering how to grow hellebores, these hardy, low-maintenance plants can often do just fine without regular fertilization or watering. However, as a gardener, I have found that annually applying mulch to borders and the occasional feed can help hellebores to thrive. Here, hellebore experts discuss how and when to do this, and the best products to use for feeding your plants.

How and when to fertilize hellebores

Many different hellebore varieties and species are low-maintenance and easy to grow. Most hellebores are hardy, growing best in US hardiness zone 4 to US hardiness zone 8, able to tolerate cold, frosty winters and warm, dry summers.

Hellebores can be grown in borders, typically thriving in part-shaded areas, such as under large trees and mature shrubs. They can also be grown in containers, making for attractive winter pot displays. Whether grown in the ground or in pots, feeding your plants can support plant health, growth and blooming.

When to fertilize hellebores

Hellebores are not typically considered heavy feeders, but feeding can help to improve plant growth and floral performance in subsequent years. Most hellebore species are considered woodland plants, and so mimicking this environment can help to improve soil health and nourish your plant - whether that is with annual mulching or applying fertilizer to add nutrients to the soil.

Feeding is best done in the late springtime, once your hellebore has finished flowering. While this will vary from species to species and will be dependent on your US hardiness zone, this will usually be in May or June.

So, once the petals have faded and fallen, you can either snip stems down to the base of the plant, or leave these stems to go to seed if you are looking to grow your hellebore collection. At this point, you can then feed your plant.

How to fertilize hellebores

'The flowers of hellebores are long-lasting and can remain attractive into late spring,' says Doug Ruhren, plant expert and curator at Juniper Level Botanic Garden near Raleigh, North Carolina. 'As the flowers age, they will typically change color, from white, pink or red to green or mauve.'

'When the flowers eventually brown and become unattractive, the whole flowering stalk can be removed at ground level,' Doug adds. It is at this point that you can feed your plants.

'I always recommend using organic products rather than chemical fertilizers. You can use a general organic fertilizer most any time of the year, but I like applying it in spring to feed the microbes in the soil,' Doug says.

Much like Doug, I recommend using an organic general feed for fertilizing outdoor plants, and there are many effective fertilizers available to order online, including this natural and organic feed, available from Walmart.

Doug also recommends applying a 'good layer of compost or mulch to borders,' as doing so will help to improve the condition and quality of the soil. Not only will this help to feed the soil, but it will also help your borders to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

There are many mulches available to buy, including this pine mulch from Walmart. I would typically mulch during the fall, but this can be done at any time of the year.

Feeding hellebores grown in pots

'Hellebores can be grown for a short time, say a couple of years, in containers,' Doug says. 'While hellebores perform best in the long term if planted in the ground, it is possible to grow them in pots.'

'If choosing a container you want to make sure you choose a large enough container to allow for adequate root growth and ensure that you use good soil with plenty of drainage material,' Doug says.

For hellebore plants grown in containers, use an organic plant feed, such as this fertilizer from Plant-Tone, available from Amazon. Always dilute your fertilizer in water, following the instructions that are found on the reverse of the packaging. As with any plant that is grown in a pot, remember to water and feed more regularly than those plants grown in borders.

FAQs

What mulch should I use to feed hellebore plants that are grown in garden borders?

I would recommend using a homemade leaf mold or compost that is all-natural and organic. Applying this mix to your borders once a year will help feed the soil and add plenty of nutrients that are necessary for plant health and growth. If you do not have the space to make mulch or compost, all good garden stores will have organic mixes that you can evenly spread across your borders at any time of year.

While hellebores are not considered heavy feeders, the occasional mulch and feed will certainly help to give your plants a boost. For more information on caring for hellebore plants, see our guide on how to propagate hellebores, or our feature on plants that complement hellebores, to fill your yard with color.