What kind of fertiliser should I use to encourage a hawthorn to flower? + other plants

Pink678 · 17 February

I have an old hawthorn tree and I would like rejuvenate it a bit to encourage more flowering and leaves. It didn't produce much last year. I have just trimmed it, and was wondering what kind of fertiliser I should use for it? Also it is right next to a pavement where dogs go, so I am wondering if smelly fertilisers like chicken pellets would encourage or discourage them from mucking the area or make no difference.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/qh/3ioqhoc5gtnk.jpg

The ones I have are:

Liquid:
tomato food
miracle gro food
vitax growmore food
affordable excellence multi purpose food
affordable excellence feed for roses
rose focus
Non-liquid:
powdered tomato food
bone meal
chicken manure pellets

This is the first time I have ever done fertilising, and I was also wondering if I should fertilise other things, like a mini apple tree/stump, a viburnum where I have just cut out the dead bits, a ceanothus, a mahonia on its last legs, a cistus bush, and various smaller plants like salvia, rosemary, geraniums, lavender, and what to use for them.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/14/lul861e2vksc.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/or/yl1l3e5rpznl.jpg

Thank you very much.

Pete.8 · 17 February

If plants need additional feed, and that can be a big IF, then the best method is to feed the soil, then the soil will feed the plants.
The best way to feed the soil is to use well-rotted manure or home-made compost (not bagged multi-purpose compost).

The powdered tomato feed would be good for all flowering or fruiting plants.
Bone meal is a good all round general fertilizer that will last about 3 months.
The pelleted chicken manure is also a good general fertilizer

Pink678 · 17 February

Thank you @Pete.8. So maybe a tomato fertiliser would be good for the hawthorn ... maybe for all of them ...

I wonder if the powdered tomato feed better than the liquid or not ...

Here are pictures of them:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/l9/x1r830g1qfnq.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/5j/sj3qxnbbqj09.jpg

Fairygirl · 17 February

The hawthorn may just have reached the end of the road in terms of it's lifespan. I've never fed that kind of shrub/tree once established, and the only feed they ever get is some bonemeal on planting. Prepping and improving the ground, as @Pete.8 says, is always the best method for anything shrubby.
Adding mulches every year, or whenever you want really, of organic matter is the best way to proceed with anything woody, whether the ground is heavy clay, or light and sandy.

I only use tomato food for heavy flowering plants - clematis etc. Even the tomatoes get very little of it!

Pink678 · 17 February

Thank you @Fairygirl! I see, so tomato feed might well not do any good for the hawthorn, and I should do mulches for woody things. I would have to buy mulch at the garden centre. I wonder if digging some chicken manure into the ground and maybe covering with some compost would have a similar effect for the hawthorn, if I want to try and give the hawthorn a chance.

It sounds like I don't need to concern myself with fertilising the other plants then, that's good. I was feeling like I ought to feed them!

punkdoc · 17 February

I don't think there is any point feeding a Hawthorn that big.

Most shrubs are best fed with a mulch in Spring time, plus maybe a hand full of a general purpose fertiliser, when they are young.

Fairygirl · 17 February

Tomato food would be pointless for hawthorn

You can use spent compost from pots of annuals as a mulch. Homemade compost is also ideal, but it depends on whether you have that. Bark is also good.
A lot depends on your conditions to start with. If the ground's free draining and light, that's not so ideal for anything woody, so it may be that there's a lack of moisture or something similar. If so, add any mulch after there's decent moisture - this time of year is usually ideal.
Rain can't get through a hefty canopy on shrubs and trees, so it may be struggling after the recent summers many areas have had. Mature trees can really find it difficult if they're in drought conditions for long spells, so if that's the case where you are, it may just be that lack of moisture that's the problem. Trees dispense with potential buds/flowers/fruits when that happens, in order to stay alive. Not much you can really do about that - other than move....

Pink678 · 17 February

Thank you punkdoc, I am realising it's not going to be so easy to make it produce flowers!

Pink678 · 17 February

Thank you @Fairygirl I am learning a lot here. I was hoping I could just give it some food, and maybe flowers would result!

So I can apply some spent compost to the bottom of that hawthorn at least. I am guessing that would be just to give the tree more soil matter, as spent compost wouldn't have much in the way of nutrients in it I am thinking. I also have some fresh compost in a sack that would be easier for me to apply. Hope that local dogs won't think it's a great place to do their business though

I think it gets enough water, though the soil underneath is a bit shallow and poor.

Plantminded · 17 February

There’s a good summary here on the use of fertilisers @Pink678. If your soil is in good condition, there should be no need to use fertilisers.

https://www.hardysplants.co.uk/news/fertilisers-how-and-when-should-we-use-them

Pink678 · 17 February

Thanks so much @Plantminded I just read that and saved it in my garden file. That makes a lot of sense, that actually it is more the pots that would need fertiliser.

What kind of fertiliser should I use to encourage a hawthorn to flower? + other plants

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