@newbie77 inorganic is best for pots but organic for use in the ground so ideally you would be looking at (vegan?) organic plant/mineral based fertilisers rather than those based on chicken manure or other animal by-products like BFB. Non-organic is fine for the odd year but continued use can cause a build-up of salts in the soil, which is not good long-term.
I couldn’t use BFB or pure chicken manure pellets because our old girl used to go mad digging for it, but neither she nor the odd fox we get in the garden went for the old DA or Vitax fertilisers.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
OK, fertiliser/soil nerds🤓 (cough @Nollie cough) my soil varies from 5.8 to nearly 7.0 in some areas, according to a possibly dodgy pH meter I bought. The water here is hard, so in summers where the garden has to be watered from the tap, I expect the overall alkalinity rises over time- is this true or not?
And I have some sulphate of iron (marketed as an ericaceous booster, below) which I have applied here and there to camellias, azaleas and a hydrangea. Is there any benefit in adding this generally to my beds? Will it help make elements more available to my plants, even though my soil is not extremely alkaline? Thanks.😊
PS. Which other forum, @Nollie? That's a nifty chart.
That scent from heavens gorgeous!! I lost bridge of sighs before it ever got going due to the weather so might put that scent from heaven on the list instead!
I usually use empathy rose feed on mine twice a year, spring and summer. They get a well rotted manure mulch in spring too. Regular Tomato feed in summer.
Thanks @zugenie Hopefully will withstand the rain/ sun better than markers..
does your meter measure anything above 8 @WhereAreMySecateurs The one I have has max pH of 8.. if that has to be believed, then my pots stay between 7 and 8.. this is after frequent watering as all are in pots.. the pH meter I have was a cheap Amazon buy.. helps me with checking water requirements.. not sure if they are reliable or properly calibrated in other aspects..
Home pH tests are not very accurate but based on your readings you have acidic - neutral soil. Yes hard (alkaline) tap water can exacerbate the effects of soil alkalinity, but really only when your pH is comfortably above 7. Unless you see a lot of yellowing on leaves you won’t need it - too much iron for non-ericaceous plants causes leaves to overly darken and negatively effects photosynthesis.
Chlorosis is an easier indicator that your soil is lacking in iron or other micronutrients or it’s too alkaline for it to take them up. Since you’ve bought a general NPK fert, probably better to supplement with liquid seaweed feed which contains most of the main trace elements. There is one + iron which gives a gentler dose for general use.
The chart was on houzz rose forum somewhere but couldn’t tell your where or when, I took a screenshot of it last year.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I've twice had my soil tested by the RHS, it cost me £30 a time a few years ago, currently £40 from Feb 1st. I thought it was worth it then as I was curious.
I was shocked by the findings on the first one, which is why I sent a 2nd sample from a different part of garden the following year..
Same result.. high ph 8.1 soil high in Phosphorus, which is apparently usual for British soils, but low in Nitrogen and Potassium, so I was advised to use a fert. high in N and K but lower in P.. Can't remember what else was on it, some wasn't relevant so much, like fruit and veg.. Link if anyone is interested.. you don't have to be an RHS member.. https://www.rhs.org.uk/membership/rhs-gardening-advice/soil-analysis-service
Done with re-labelling last years roses.. new ones and other plants for another day.. I write on plastic plant labels with a permanent marker.. yet, by the end of year most are faded.. wonder if there is a better/ permanent solution to that..
I found the same and so purchased a Demo tape machine and I stick that onto the plant labels - so far so good.
Posts
I couldn’t use BFB or pure chicken manure pellets because our old girl used to go mad digging for it, but neither she nor the odd fox we get in the garden went for the old DA or Vitax fertilisers.
And I have some sulphate of iron (marketed as an ericaceous booster, below) which I have applied here and there to camellias, azaleas and a hydrangea. Is there any benefit in adding this generally to my beds? Will it help make elements more available to my plants, even though my soil is not extremely alkaline? Thanks.😊
PS. Which other forum, @Nollie? That's a nifty chart.
I usually use empathy rose feed on mine twice a year, spring and summer. They get a well rotted manure mulch in spring too. Regular Tomato feed in summer.
does your meter measure anything above 8 @WhereAreMySecateurs
The one I have has max pH of 8.. if that has to be believed, then my pots stay between 7 and 8.. this is after frequent watering as all are in pots.. the pH meter I have was a cheap Amazon buy.. helps me with checking water requirements.. not sure if they are reliable or properly calibrated in other aspects..
Home pH tests are not very accurate but based on your readings you have acidic - neutral soil. Yes hard (alkaline) tap water can exacerbate the effects of soil alkalinity, but really only when your pH is comfortably above 7. Unless you see a lot of yellowing on leaves you won’t need it - too much iron for non-ericaceous plants causes leaves to overly darken and negatively effects photosynthesis.
Chlorosis is an easier indicator that your soil is lacking in iron or other micronutrients or it’s too alkaline for it to take them up. Since you’ve bought a general NPK fert, probably better to supplement with liquid seaweed feed which contains most of the main trace elements. There is one + iron which gives a gentler dose for general use.
The chart was on houzz rose forum somewhere but couldn’t tell your where or when, I took a screenshot of it last year.
I was shocked by the findings on the first one, which is why I sent a 2nd sample from a different part of garden the following year..
Same result.. high ph 8.1 soil high in Phosphorus, which is apparently usual for British soils, but low in Nitrogen and Potassium, so I was advised to use a fert. high in N and K but lower in P..
Can't remember what else was on it, some wasn't relevant so much, like fruit and veg..
Link if anyone is interested.. you don't have to be an RHS member..
https://www.rhs.org.uk/membership/rhs-gardening-advice/soil-analysis-service
And thanks @Nollie... it's very useful, all of that.
It was this, @cooldoc...
Undoubtedly a load of rubbish. When I am next flush with cash, I'll give Marlorena's RHS thing a go.
...Though I am mindful of @pitter-patter's excellent and illustrative 🥀=❌🏝❌👗❌🍞 warning. 😄 (The condensed Reader's Digest version)