Overfeeding does as much damage as any other kind of over cossetting IMO.
Improving the growing conditions by adding organic matter is always better, but container plants [of any kind] will always need help compared to anything in the ground - simply because they can't access what they need to thrive, and are reliant on whoever has planted them in the containers. If they're flowering or fruiting plants, that's also very different from shrubs/trees because their needs are different
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I am coming to the opinion that excess feed is unnecessary. By excess, I mean over mere replacement level.
I will not change my opinion for just one anecdotal story. But as more come in they add up. With a more statistically valid sample size, I might change my mind. But these would have to be supported by peer reviews, blanks/placebos, and background information.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
M33R4 From a different standpoint, i.e. selective nutrition, I bought myself a 80cm 'walking Stick' dibber shown in the pic for €8 some years ago. Amongst its applications, I use it to make 30cm deep holes alongside individual plants which I then fill with liquid feed or granules + water. My mindset is to help the plant, not adjacent weeds, but should help in your situation. A mini-watering can would be lighter, or a household spray would apply a concentrate in lesser volume.
Just to add to my anecdotal evidence: I don’t randomly spray the whole bed willy-nilly.
The reason I use a hose attachment is because of the shape and content of my beds. I can’t easily walk to the plants I feed with a full watering can. Much easier to tiptoe/balance/contort myself whilst holding a relatively light hose + attachment.
@M33R4 Just wonder what your soil is like, Chicken pellets can also help break up heavy soil. I have used them in the past just as a spring feed. If you have a dog I understand they can be attracted to them. The blue stuff is no benefit to plants at all just stains your hands blue.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Feeding the soil is always a better option - wherever possible. I appreciate that might be difficult for @M33R4 - lifting/carting heavy bags of manure/compost etc is hard enough when you're not coping with an injury, or it's after effects. Manure is undoubtedly the best thing for poorer soil, and leaf mould is probably the next best, but getting a balance is by far the best solution for long term planting, especially in lighter, sandier soil. A bit of extra nutrition is fine, but many people simply add far too much and that's a waste, and counter productive too.
Re liquid food - yes, the main problem with using that on open beds/borders is the washing through of it in wetter conditions. It's just a waste. I only use it on clematis in borders, and only if I've forgotten to add organic matter or BF&B earlier on in the year, or similar. It's only done occasionally too, and not once they're budding up/flowering.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Certainly feeding in pots is required as the potting compost usually has only enough nutrition for three months. Last year I had an osteospermum in a pot. I cut it down and took cutting last October and put them in the greenhouse. The original pot is in flower, but very small flowers compared to the cuttings which went from plug tray to 4 inch pots of fresh compost and are nnow also in flower. I've put the original pot outside up against a house wall but given it a good feed.
The main veg garden gets BFB when I dig it over. The flower garden gets some if I dig a bit over for new plants. Established shrubs and trees get a bit of mulch if they are lucky.
Of course I understand that foliar feed is targetted by its very name.
But what happens to excess feed of any type: foliar, scattered on the surface, forked in, orgainc, inorganic, manure, garden compost, mulch, wood ash ... ?
What is not taken up by the plant builds up in the soil or runs off into the rivers. Some may be capture by deep- rooted plants like comfrey and trees, but most is just washed down and away.
Leaving plant debris and pulled-up weeds on the surface, even ploughing adds to the nitrogen load on the rivers.
If you think in terms of an NPK (and the others) "mass balance", over a couple of years time period. Some fertiliser is taken up by the plant temporarily some is exported as produce, the rest is wasted, or worse.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
@M33R4 Just wonder what your soil is like, Chicken pellets can also help break up heavy soil. I have used them in the past just as a spring feed. If you have a dog I understand they can be attracted to them. The blue stuff is no benefit to plants at all just stains your hands blue.
Unfortunately my old dog, and previous dog, found those very tasty
Posts
Improving the growing conditions by adding organic matter is always better, but container plants [of any kind] will always need help compared to anything in the ground - simply because they can't access what they need to thrive, and are reliant on whoever has planted them in the containers. If they're flowering or fruiting plants, that's also very different from shrubs/trees because their needs are different
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Absolutely
Thanks TheGreenMan
I will not change my opinion for just one anecdotal story. But as more come in they add up. With a more statistically valid sample size, I might change my mind. But these would have to be supported by peer reviews, blanks/placebos, and background information.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
The blue stuff is no benefit to plants at all just stains your hands blue.
Manure is undoubtedly the best thing for poorer soil, and leaf mould is probably the next best, but getting a balance is by far the best solution for long term planting, especially in lighter, sandier soil. A bit of extra nutrition is fine, but many people simply add far too much and that's a waste, and counter productive too.
Re liquid food - yes, the main problem with using that on open beds/borders is the washing through of it in wetter conditions. It's just a waste. I only use it on clematis in borders, and only if I've forgotten to add organic matter or BF&B earlier on in the year, or similar. It's only done occasionally too, and not once they're budding up/flowering.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
But what happens to excess feed of any type: foliar, scattered on the surface, forked in, orgainc, inorganic, manure, garden compost, mulch, wood ash ... ?
What is not taken up by the plant builds up in the soil or runs off into the rivers. Some may be capture by deep- rooted plants like comfrey and trees, but most is just washed down and away.
Leaving plant debris and pulled-up weeds on the surface, even ploughing adds to the nitrogen load on the rivers.
If you think in terms of an NPK (and the others) "mass balance", over a couple of years time period. Some fertiliser is taken up by the plant temporarily some is exported as produce, the rest is wasted, or worse.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."