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Fertilizing... Please help as it's driving me mad!
CraighB
Posts: 758
Hi there, I am new to forum so hello everyone I am very new to gardening but I have recently planted lots of plants in my garden and it's all looking lovely. However I have been reading that I should use fertilisers and the best is usually a well balanced slow release. However I have been reading that for example the miracle gro slow release fertiliser is not actually well balanced even tho it says it is. So I would really like to know which fertilizer would be best for the majority of my garden plants and something I can buy in the UK. Also how often should I fertilize? One more thing... If I used well rotted horse manure as a top dressing to be soil.. Would I still need to use other fertilisers? Thanks and sorry if I haven't made any sense. Craigh
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Welcome Craigh, by the way , is it pronounced the same as Craig? sorry if not. never come across it before.
Fertiliser frequency is different from garden to garden. eg sandy soils need more than clay soils. Use something like Fish , blood and bone as a nice balanced slow release. Well rotted manure is a great top dressing, if it's a bit fresh , don't let it touch foliage / stems. The worms will bring it down into the ground.
Well rotted horse manure would certainly be the best overall and you would normally spread that on flower beds and shrubs in early spring. Put it on veg. beds in the autumn. However, fish, blood and bone fertiliser is an excellent slow-release organic fertiliser which you just need to tickle-in to the surface with a small rake, hoe or similar andis usually added in spring.
If you have clay or sandy soil, then a top-dressing of well-rotted manure will improve the soil structure as worms will pull it down into the soil. If you are lucky enough to have a good loamy soil then F,B & B will be enough but adding manure is good for any type of soil.
My name is indeed pronounced Craig but my mum thought it a good idea to put a h on the end to confuse people haha
Thanks for your advice btw. I shall definitely look into what you mentioned. The one I have actually bought is http://www.wickes.co.uk/Westland-Growmore-Garden-Fertiliser-3-5kg/p/104141
Would this be ok for now?
Thanks
With the blood, fish and bone fertilizer would I need to re apply every 6 weeks?
I have to say, II have learned a lot about gardening recently and I am loving it. It's so relaxing being out there and I'm seeing great results already. I'm only 31 years old so who said gardening was only for the oldies!
Hi Craigh, FB&B is long-lasting, so you only really need to use it once a year (apply as recommended on the packet) , although most of us will add a little to the planting hole when something new goes in. I started serious gardening in my mid-20s as an escape from technology (my work) but it has proven to be relaxing, exciting, keeps me fit and provides the tastiest fruit and veg I have ever eaten - what's not to like!