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What Type of Liquid Fertiliser do I use on Winter Flowering Shrubs in Spring and Summer?

elliotp981elliotp981 Posts: 105
in Problem solving
Hello gardener's world forum, I have a question regarding my winter-flowering shrubs (sweet box and winter honeysuckle). What liquid fertiliser should I use on them at this time of year? I'm wondering because they do not flower now so using a feed which encourages flowers (such as Tomorite) seems to be pointless. Would it make sense to use something nitrogen-heavy like miracle gro to encourage the plants to get bigger before its next flowering season? 
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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @elliotp981 I would keep away from the liquid feeds. For a mature plant it is all about taking care of the soil. A mulch in early spring whilst the soil is moist helps. I use Blood fish and bone in spring too. You can over feed plants, lots of soft growth can lead to pest and disease. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    If the soil is basically good and the site is not overplanted  then I can't see why you would particularly need to liquid  feed the plants you mention unless you can see an obvious problem.
    I'd go with @GardenerSuze 's advice - BFB is a slow acting fertiliser and is most beneficial when used in Autumn/Spring. A good mulch will help too.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree with @GardenerSuze - it's the soil you feed with shrubs and trees - anything woody. Overfeeding those sorts of plants does more harm than good in most cases - leading to weak growth which then suffers in prolonged colder/icier spells.
    I don't think I've ever fed shrubs once they're planted. Maybe the odd hydrangea once or twice, if they're in a more confined area like a raised bed, but even then, it would be rare. 
     
    If they're flowering shrubs, a slow release feed can be useful as said, but liquid food is pointless and unnecessary. For the ones mentioned food wouldn't be needed if the soil's in good conditions   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • elliotp981elliotp981 Posts: 105
    I gave them both plenty of Blood, Fish and Bone yesterday, is that enough for them?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    More than enough. A small handful, sprinkled generally around the base, is plenty for something large. Half that is plenty for anything that's smaller.
     
    The size and maturity of the plants, and what else is around them, also has an effect. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ERICS MUMERICS MUM Posts: 627
    I reserve liquid feed for my summer bedding - liquid tomato food for flowering plants or general for plants I grow for their leaves.

    The only shrubs I feed, only once a year, are the acid lovers - camellia, rhodo, pieris & skimmia.  A liquid ericaceous feed around now to keep yellow leaves at bay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I would leave them unfed.

    Why do novice garderers ( and some who should know better) insist on using fertilisers?  The commercial propaganda has got tthrough to you/
     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."
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    No - if you look at most of the responses, you'll see that other methods are suggested as more appropriate.
    There is no way that you can avoid "commercial propaganda " these days so the best bet is to ask on a decent gardening forum such as this which is exactly what the OP has done.
    No one knows everything - mot even you as is made clear by some of your queries so don't try to make others feel guilty when asking for advice/help.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @bede Do you feed anything in your garden or do you limit your use of any application to things that kill wildlife? From previous posts I haven't noticed that you garden organically or am I missing something and your attitudes are changing?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • elliotp981elliotp981 Posts: 105
    I agree, I think it is partially commercial propaganda but at the same time, it seems to work. Compared to before I fertilised my plants, the performance/amount of flowers being produced has doubled (I have a habit of regularly giving Tomorite to plants that flower in summer including my crops such as tomato and strawberries). However, specialised feeds are a rip off in my opinion, you can easily use a general feed like Tomorite (for fruit + flower) on flowering plants and Miracle-Gro on foliage-based plants, however, always use organic so you don't ruin your soil. 
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