Fertilizer Facts...

I just wrote an article on fertilizing your plants for our qr77 webpage and a community newsletter. I was supposed to write it in 300 words or less - I wasn't even close - had to cut it off at about 600. I didn't realize how much could be said about the what, where, how and when of fertilizing. Exciting stuff, hey!?!? The article should be up on Monday May 11th on the Let's Talk Gardening site, so check it out.

To get you excited, here's a few snip-its:

• all trees, new and old will benefit from a fertilizer program


• the time to fertilize trees, shrubs and perennials is right now. I do a second application in mid-June and a third in mid-July. Then I stop to allow the plants to harden off before winter


• the formulas of the fertilizer change all of the time, and bigger numbers don't always mean better. When looking at the three nutrients, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), think 'Up, down, and all around'. This means that the first number promotes leaves, the second number promotes root development, flowers and fruit, and the third number promotes overall health. Decide what you need most in the plant you want to fertilize


• there are many eco-friendly options that I will be talking about in a future blog, but come to the garden centre and ask about them

New products I am excited about:

CocoEarth - alternative to peat moss - holds moisture in your pots and containers - allows you to water your containers on Friday and leave town until Sunday without getting a plant-sitter!

Earth Renew - concentrated organic matter fertilizers - remarkable results for your garden soil containing nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and several micronutrients