how do I fertilize?

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barbur Port Lavaca, TX(Zone 9a) Sep 08, 2004

After a year of serious gardening, after 30 years of passive gardening :^) I realize I don't know much about how to fertilize properly. In the past I have added compost to the soil every few years and didn't know that had anything to do with fertilizing. I thought adding compost just made the soil have a better texture. This past year I have used Miracle Grow regulaly. But I'm thinking I'd rather use some sort of slow realease fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season. How do I use it since I have mulched my flower beds? Do I fertilize before I plant and then again at regular intervals during the year? Is it possible that adding compost each year is all that I should do? Also I keep reading about feeding certain plants monthly etc. during their blooming season. What do I feed them with?

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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Sep 09, 2004

Sounds like you'll need to tell us more about what you are growing/planting, barbur.

Are you growing veggies? Flowers? Herbs? Shrubs? Also, are you container growing, or in-ground? If in-ground, what type of soil do you have? (Sandy? Clay? etc....)

That would help us be able to offer much more detailed info for any of those categories.

Good question, by the way...I'm sure others will also benefit from any answers forthcoming.

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BloomsWithaView Moab, UT(Zone 6b) Sep 09, 2004

If you've got decent soil to begin with, the continued addition of compost might be enough except for heavy feeders. In my poor soil the compost basically just disappears after a year or so. No sign I added all that wonderful good stuff. ...sigh.

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barbur Port Lavaca, TX(Zone 9a) Sep 09, 2004

Horseshoe, I am growing flowers, and shrubs in the ground (might plant some tomatoes in with the flowers). In the past I planted lots of annuals but am now trying to plant more perennials. Two of my beds that are farthest from the house are zeriscape.

The soil that was here is heavy black clay, pretty alkaline I suppose, since most of the soil in my area is alkaline (I've not had it tested). The in ground beds have been ammended with some compost. I have two raised beds that are clay with sand and compost added. My newest raised bed, only 1 year old, is a lasagna bed that is wonderful, and I'm in the process of building another.

BloomWithaView, How do you feed heavy feeders? What do you feed them with? Liquid like Miracle Grow or dry or something else?

This message was edited Sep 8, 2004 11:02 PM

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BloomsWithaView Moab, UT(Zone 6b) Sep 09, 2004

Like Maracle Grow only it wasn't. lol just add powder to water pour on. A lot of my stuff would as soon not get fertilized, and as I'm lazy I only do the ones that cry for it.

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