Gardening:
Fertilizing to
Create More Blossoms on Your Flowers, Flowering Shrubs and Trees
The secret to
making your flowering trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials bloom
more is in the numbers. All fertilizers have analysis numbers on the
package. These numbers represent the percentage of each chemical the
fertilizer contains.
For example,
12-12-12 is a typical garden fertilizer that would contain 12%
nitrogen, 12% phosphorous, and 12% potassium. The quick explanation
is; nitrogen produces vegetative, or top growth, phosphorous produces
flower buds, fruit, and root development, while potassium builds
strong healthy plants.
Most lawn grasses
are vigorous growers and therefore require significantly more
nitrogen than the other plants in your yard. A lawn fertilizer would
have an analysis of 26-3-3, indicating a fertilizer high in nitrogen.
You would not want to use a fertilizer containing such a high
percentage of nitrogen on landscape plants because it would be very
easy to burn them. You must also keep in mind that many lawn
fertilizers contain broadleaf weed killers, and most ornamental
plants have broad leaves. The fertilizer doesn't know the difference,
and it will damage or kill ornamental trees and shrubs.
During the summer
months the growth rate of most plants slows down, and when plants are
not actively growing, they need very little nitrogen. Although not
vigorously putting on new growth, many plants such as Dogwood Trees,
Rhododendrons, and Azaleas are quietly working to produce flower buds
for next year. Annual and perennial flowers are also busy making new
flower buds.
To encourage
flower bud production you can apply a fertilizer that contains a
small percentage of nitrogen, a higher percentage of phosphorous, and
a little potassium. I recently purchased a liquid fertilizer with an
analysis of 5-30-5, ideal for flower production. Because the product
is sold as a bloom producer, the manufacture also added a little
chelated iron, manganese, and zinc, all good for your plants as well.
Most garden
centers and discount stores carry similar products. I chose a liquid
fertilizer because liquid fertilizers are absorbed both through the
roots and systemically through the foliage, so they work quicker. I
used a sprayer that attaches to the end of the garden hose to apply
the fertilizer, but do not use the same hose end sprayer that you use
for lawn fertilizers. There could be residual weed killer still in
the sprayer.
About those hose
end sprayers. I purchased one that is supposed to automatically mix
the proper ratio for you. I used it to apply a general insecticide,
and it worked, but it sure seemed like I went through a lot more
insecticide than I needed. When I used it for the fertilizer the
screen on the little pick up hose inside the jar kept getting clogged
with the tiny solids in the fertilizer. I recommend using a solution
of one part liquid fertilizer to one part water in the sprayer jar,
and applying at a heavier rate.
Watch the liquid
in the sprayer jar, and if it isn't going down remove the lid and
clean the little screen by spraying it with water from the garden
hose. Read the application instructions on the container to determine
how much fertilizer to apply, and how often. A fertilizer high in
phosphorous will increase flower production. You will see a
difference.Remember the golden rule of applying fertilizers. "Not
enough is always better than too much."
About The Author
Michael J.
McGroarty is the owner of FreePlants.com.
Visit his site and sign up for his excellent gardening newsletter.
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