Wordless Wednesday

Slow-Release or Water-Soluble: The Best Fertilizer for the Job

One of the most common questions I hear from customers at the nursery is, "Which fertilizer should I use?" Annuals, shrubs, perennials, trees--all plants need proper nutrients to keep growing and looking their best. So why the confusion?

The fact is, you could probably go shopping for fertilizer and end up with a different product for each and every one of your plants. Discouraged by so many choices, many people end up choosing the easiest-sounding option: slow-release fertilizer. Feed once for the season and you're done. Sounds good!

But not so fast. Slow-release fertilizers, while great for many plants, may not be the best for what you need to feed. Annual flowers--especially hanging baskets--really need more nutrients than a slow-release fertilizer can provide at any one time. At Vander Giessen Nursery, our custom-blended potting soil has a slow-release fertilizer added--for the first month or so after planting our beautiful Lynden Baskets, we can rely on it to feed the young plant starts. After no more than six weeks, however, we need to start supplementing that with water-soluble fertilizer. The same is true for any annuals you plant--slow-release may be a good way to start, but don't rely on it exclusively.

Here's a good rule of thumb: if you wish to use slow-release fertilizer on your flowers, do so--but continue to feed with water-soluble fertilizer at half the recommended dose. That way your flowers will get the added boost on a regular basis while also benefiting from sustained release of nutrients in the event you forget to fertilize for a week or two.

So, then, which water-soluble fertilizer is best? Miracle-Gro is the most common, but as you may have heard us recommend, Jack's Classic is far better. Here's a quick breakdown of the different blends of Jack's Classic available:

• All-Purpose: Great for balanced growth and blooming on annuals. Also an excellent fertilizer for vegetables. Use weekly.
• Blossom Booster: True to its name, excellent for encouraging more blooms. Alternate weekly with All-Purpose for increased flowers and continued plant growth.
• Petunia FeED: Best option for petunias, calibrachoa ("Million Bells"), and bacopa. Added iron helps keep these plants from developing yellow leaves or becoming weak and spindly. Use any time, but be sure to start by mid-summer, alternating with All-Purpose and Blossom Booster as needed.  

Please note, there are no real "rules" to using these fertilizers--if you think your flowers need to bloom more, use the Blossom Booster blend for two or three weeks in a row. Likewise, All-Purpose may be used at any time for more growth, and Petunia FeEd can be used exclusively throughout the season. These are simply our recommendations based on the results we've seen. 

Now, for shrubs, trees, and perennials, slow-release fertilizers are a great option to provide season-long feeding. Osmocote is the most popular brand, but at Vander Giessen's, we like Jack's Classicote better--it does the same thing as Osmocote, just better. Another great slow-release option from Jack's is called Crystal Green. Made with nitrogen derived from waste water treatment plants, it's completely sustainable and helps to keep nitrogen from being released into our waterways. Either of these options would be great for your plants.

Ultimately, your plants will only be as great as the care they receive, and while understanding the best fertilizer for the job may take a little bit of work, the rewards of healthier, longer-lasting plants will be well worth the effort. If you have further questions, we're here to help!

Following Through With Plant Care

Lotus 'Amazon Sunset' --fertilize it and watch it bloom!

For many people, gardening each year goes like this: buy beautiful plants, admire how they look in the yard, tend to faithfully for awhile…and then, suddenly, they don’t look so great and you wonder what happened. Sound familiar? It’s happened to all of us—even the most experienced gardeners have failures.

In order to thrive, any plant needs three basic things: water, food, and a catch-all category we’ll call “care”—more on that below. First, commit yourself to keeping your plants watered. Annuals, while the brightest and most prolific bloomers of any plants in your yard, will require more regular watering than shrubs or perennials, and those in pots or hanging baskets need extra attention. At Vander Giessen Nursery, every Lynden Basket we grow and sell comes with a recommendation to water daily until the water starts to drip out the bottom of the basket. In cool, wet weather, that’s not necessary—but with that exception, plan to water often.

For shrubs, perennials and trees planted directly in the ground, take a two-step approach to watering. In the weeks immediately following planting or transplanting, expect to water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist. Young and recently-moved plants can stress easily if left to dry out. As many plants start to grow, however, it’s a good idea to encourage deeper root development with less frequent and longer watering intervals; for plants like roses, they prefer deep, more infrequent soakings anyway. There are exceptions, however, so always consult a nursery professional if you’re unsure how much to water and when.

Now, for food. Plant nutrition is a huge subject in itself, so I don’t intend to offer information for how to feed every plant in your yard. But note this: if it’s alive and growing, it probably needs food. Like with water, annuals require the most consideration, so take time once a week to use a water-soluble fertilizer like Jack’s Classic to promote growth and flowering all summer long. This is especially true for hanging baskets as flowers can quickly deplete nutrients available in the pot.

Perennials and shrubs also benefit from feeding, although for most, once a year is usually sufficient. Mix compost or slow-release fertilizer into the soil around the edge of the plant each spring to promote healthy new growth. Some plants have specific needs—acid-loving plants like rhododendrons and azaleas, for instance, prefer specialized fertilizer for their needs; roses also require a more specialized fertilizer. Ask a nursery professional for recommendations if you’re unsure what to feed your plants.

Lastly, the catch-all category: care. Some people might call this “TLC,” others, simply “love.” Plants perform best when you take some time to keep them looking good. Maybe it’s deadheading spent flowers or spreading slug bait before your hostas get chewed up. Maybe it’s taking time to prune out some dead branches in a tree after last winter’s hard freezes. Whatever the task, in this aspect, plants are a lot like people and pets—they just want to be loved. Take some time occasionally to simply wander around your yard and note what could use a light pruning, what might need an extra boost of fertilizer or where you might need to spray for bugs. Ultimately, a little investment of time can go a long way toward a nicer yard.

Whether you’re finished planting for the season or have just started in the last couple of weeks, make the most of your investment by offering your plants faithful care through the summer. In the end, they’ll be happier, and with beautiful flowers and lush plantings all season long, so will you.

Wordless Wednesday

A small selection of plants that just arrived--including more 'Orange Rocket' Barberry!

Wordless Wednesday