How to feed your plants

You will need

Fertiliser: granular, liquid, powder, or organic manure
Watering can (for liquid application)
Spade or fork (for digging in manure)

Do it: March - August

Takes just: 20 minutes

Project categories

Overview

Plants are able to make their own food by capturing the energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar. But in order to stay healthy and give the best results they take additional nutrients out of the soil or compost, so it's important to provide them with supplementary fertiliser. The basic nutrients required by plants are nitrogen (N) for leaf and stem growth, phosphorus (P) for root growth and potassium (K) for flowers, fruit and to maintain healthy growth.

How to do it

1Well-rotted horse and cattle manure contains plenty of nutrients for plants. It can be added before planting or used as a surface mulch around established plants.

Adding fertiliser to the base of a planting hole

2Adding fertiliser to the base of planting holes for new plants will encourage good root establishment and growth in the first season.

Applying granular fertiliser around base of plant

3Balanced granular fertiliser can be applied around all established plants in spring. Distribute it around the base of plants at the rate recommended on the packaging. Avoid getting granules on soft stems and leaves as it may scorch them.

Adding slow-release granular fertiliser to compost in pot

4Slow-release granules or pellets can be mixed with the compost in pots when planting summer bedding to provide nutrients for the whole growing season.

5Fertilisers are also available to mix up with water for liquid application. Liquid concentrates and ready-to-use liquid feeds are also available. These are quick acting as the plant roots can take in the dissolved nutrients with the water.

6Recycle the nutrients that you apply to your garden by composting leafy prunings, dead flowers, vegetables peelings and any other suitable material.

Adam's tip

For best results apply fertilisers when the soil is moist.

Apply high-potash fertilisers to encourage flowering of all plants and a good crop of any plant grown for its fruit.

Diluted liquid feeds or fertilisers can be applied to the foliage of many plants for quick results. Always check packaging for details.

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Talkback: How to feed your plants

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kaycurtis 24/11/2011 at 15:27

It is good to be reminded to feed the plants in the garden especially the ones in pots as they can't fend for themselves, when we've trapped them in pots.