Feeding fruiting or heavy flowering plants is totally different to feeding shrubs, as we've said. That's why using compost/manure/leaf mould etc is used to improve the soil. Using tomato food would be pretty pointless for shrubs or trees, and Miracle Gro is generally not always suited to those either, except when it's a specific type targeted at acid lovers or similar, as already said earlier. Seaweed is far better for a foliage heavy plant, if you don't have access to something like nettles or comfrey to make your own food for flowering perennials/annuals etc.
Neither Tomorite or Miracle Gro in any form are organic though, whereas adding organic matter certainly is, and does the job far more effectively than any artificial additive. The soil quality, long term, is what matters for shrubs and trees
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I've used calcified seaweed on every perennial which is staying in it's place and that appears to be effective. For context, I use Performance Organics Miraclegro and Organic Tomorite rather than the usual ones so I don't get the crumbly buildup I used to sometimes get last year. I don't have any acid lovers right now (I think my Jalapeños and raspberries might appreciate acidic treatment instead) but if I did I know I'm not meant to feed them with regular feed (or at all for that matter). Organic Tomorite has appeared to increase the flowering in my shrubs so I wouldn't say it's useless, am I right in saying it supports wisteria flowering (for the spring after)?
Liquid fertilisers on open gardens is a complete waste of money, it’s washed through before it’s done any good.
Even the TV gardener will tell you that.
Most of my plants are in pots (except for around 4 or 5) so I thought it would do some good. Interestingly the companies don't mention they are useless on plants in the ground, really is false advertising if that is the case.
How is it false advertising? There's nothing to stop you using it on plants in the ground, but as @Lyn says, it's often wasteful because it runs through quickly, especially in wet areas, and is largely wasted. That's why I never use it on anything in the ground, apart from clematis, but it's pretty pointless using it on anything woody/shrubby, as we all keep saying, because it's the soil condition that matters for those. It could be useful for Wisteria as it's a heavy flowering plant, but that's one of the few exceptions. A slow release food is better for shrubs, and even then, it comes back to what they're growing in. In the ground, it's mainly beneficial when initially planting, and then it's rarely necessary afterwards. Pots are different in that instance, because the plant is totally dependent on you for it's needs, but a granular food is usually still better because of the amount of watering needed to keep most of them happy. Nutrients can still be washed through more quickly in a pot even with a granular feed, which is why the growing medium is important. Anything potted long term needs far more attention regarding the medium it's growing in, especially if it's woody. It's a totally different way of growing from them being planted in the ground. They can't stay in the same soil mix without it being refreshed and/or amended regularly. That's why it can also be far more expensive to keep them happy in containers.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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Seaweed is far better for a foliage heavy plant, if you don't have access to something like nettles or comfrey to make your own food for flowering perennials/annuals etc.
Neither Tomorite or Miracle Gro in any form are organic though, whereas adding organic matter certainly is, and does the job far more effectively than any artificial additive. The soil quality, long term, is what matters for shrubs and trees
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
There's nothing to stop you using it on plants in the ground, but as @Lyn says, it's often wasteful because it runs through quickly, especially in wet areas, and is largely wasted. That's why I never use it on anything in the ground, apart from clematis, but it's pretty pointless using it on anything woody/shrubby, as we all keep saying, because it's the soil condition that matters for those. It could be useful for Wisteria as it's a heavy flowering plant, but that's one of the few exceptions.
A slow release food is better for shrubs, and even then, it comes back to what they're growing in. In the ground, it's mainly beneficial when initially planting, and then it's rarely necessary afterwards. Pots are different in that instance, because the plant is totally dependent on you for it's needs, but a granular food is usually still better because of the amount of watering needed to keep most of them happy. Nutrients can still be washed through more quickly in a pot even with a granular feed, which is why the growing medium is important.
Anything potted long term needs far more attention regarding the medium it's growing in, especially if it's woody. It's a totally different way of growing from them being planted in the ground. They can't stay in the same soil mix without it being refreshed and/or amended regularly. That's why it can also be far more expensive to keep them happy in containers.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...