Now’s the time to fertilise plants

IHAVE been loving the weather this winter. With many days over 20 degrees, big blue skies and lots of sunshine, it’s looking like a great spring. And, with long-term forecasts of more good weather, it’s not too early to get the gloves on and feed your garden.

In nature, leaves fall and plants die and, when they break down, they put nutrients back into the soil.

We upset this balance in our gardens by weeding, mowing lawns and cleaning up, reducing the organic matter that returns to the soil.

So, to put back what hungry plants take out, it’s important to fertilise them on a regular basis.

No time is more important than now, at the start of the growing season.

There are two basic types of fertilisers: organic — from plants, animals and minerals — and synthetic, or man-made, chemical-based fertilisers.

Plants like both but I lean towards the organic because of the long-term benefits of keeping your soil healthy with good bacteria.

The three main elements of a fertiliser are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

If the ratio of these three are about the same, you are getting a well-balanced all-rounder.

If the fertiliser has a higher ratio of nitrogen, it will encourage leafy growth.

If the ratio of phosphorus is higher, it will encourage root development and if potassium is highest, it will encourage fruit and flower production.

Now I know it might sound a bit early to be feeding the garden but if you are seeing signs of new growth then it’s the right time.

My lawn is growing, my viburnum and lilly pilly hedges all have new growth on them and my gardenias are budding up.

So it’s on with the Dynamic Lifter and a good, deep watering.

The most important feed you can give any plant is when it’s just about to come to life.

For example, if you have citrus with fruit on the tree now, it’s too late to feed them but if your frangipani is just showing its first leaves, it’s the perfect time. Only feed what’s growing and happy. Fertilising a plant diseased or under distress can do more damage than good.

If you’re making a new garden bed, you can incorporate the food.

If you are planting seedlings or individual plants, you can mix a shovel’s worth of manure in with the existing soil to promote new growth.

In an existing garden bed, you can apply liquid or pellets.

Whichever way you go, water the garden well before, while and after feeding to activate the food and to make sure the plants are hydrated and healthy.

Products such as Dynamic Lifter, blood and bone and Rooster Booster are all pellet-form organic fertilisers that I like to use on my garden.

The easiest way to spread these fertilisers is lightly by hand to an entire area and then reapply until you have criss-crossed the garden or lawn.

It’s a great Aussie past time not to read instructions but, when it comes to fertilisers, it’s pretty important not to make liquid foods stronger than recommended or applying pellet forms too heavily.

Your plants won’t be able to use all that energy and, in some cases, will damage the plants by burning the roots.