Which plants should I use this on.

Hi,

I have just planted an Inkharo root stock Rhodo. in my garden. these are the lime tolerant ones but I was advised by the garden centre that it would still be best to put down an ericaceous compost and food from time to time. So I bought some miracle grow Azalea, Rhododentron and Chamelia liquid food which I intend to use sparingly but regularly every few weeks on the new plant as well as an Azalea placed near-by.

So, my question, if anyone here can help, is, which of these following other plants and trees that I have in my garden would also benefit from an occasional application of the above mentioned liquid feed?

Apple trees, pear trees, Leylandii, Pinus Sylvestris, Japanese maple, Laburnum, Yew, Lilac, Acer, Hebe, Rhus, Red Robin, Clematis, Wysteria, Hydrangea.

I'm not too sure what type of soil I have (really must find that out) but a dwarf Rhodo that I plnated a few years ago didn't really grow much and then died a slow, lingering death. Most of the above listed trees and shrubs seem to do reasonably well with just an occasional liquid feed, but I was juts wondering if they'd do any better with the ericaceous food?

Thanks in advance.

My quick choices would be Hydrangea and Japanese Maple.

Look at it this way:
Leaf litter that accumulates for many many years gradually turns the soil acidic. You find this sort of leaf litter in forests. And forests are shaded.
So... plants that grow in the shade are the most likely plants to prefer acidic soils.

The other way soils become acidic is in areas with high rainfall. The rain dissolves the calcium carbonate leaving whatever other minerals may be there. This is much slower than the way a forest will make acidic soil, though.

My next choices would be Hebe, Clematis, Yew and maybe Red Robin. (Is this last Weigela?).

Unless your soil is very alkaline, I would not use this on fruit trees, or most other trees, or shrubs that originated in the sun.

Thanks for the reply, Diana. Your reasoning makes sense. I have read elsewhere that Hydrangeas and conifers do well with an acidic feed so I think I shall use sparingly on those and continue feeding the others with regular plant food.

You can buy for a few Dollars, soil testing kit's from the garden store, these are easy to follow and give you quick results with instructions even I could understand. For best results do several tests in various areas of the garden as soil PH can vary even in a small garden, then you will have a clearer idea of what your soil requires by way of types of additives for various plants, there is a danger of adding acidic feeds to plants that are already in an acidic soil and also adding to plants that don't like that type of soil, you could kill by over feeding and kill by not offering feed, BUT, there is more danger by using stuff in the wrong places. I would recommend finding out what type of soil you have where and add the nutrients best suited by things like peat, leaf-mould and more natural substances over a period time rather than a rush of other stuff unless it's absolutely needed.
Best regards.
WeeNel.