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Fertilizing to
Create more Blossoms on Your Flowers, Flowering Shrubs, and
Trees
by Michael J. McGroarty -
www.freeplants.com
The secret to making your flowering trees, shrubs, annuals,
and perennials bloom more is in the numbers. All fertilizers
have analysis numbers on the package. These numbers
represent the percentage of each chemical the product
contains.
For example, 12-12-12 is a typical garden garden fertilizer
that would contain 12% nitrogen, 12%phosphorous, and 12%
potassium. The quick explanation is; nitrogen produces
vegetative, or top growth, phosphorous produces flower buds,
fruit, and root development, while potassium builds strong
healthy plants.
Most lawn grasses are vigorous growers and therefore require
significantly more nitrogen than the other plants in your
yard. A lawn fertilizer would have an analysis of 26-3-3,
indicating a fertilizer high in nitrogen. You would not want
to use a fertilizer containing such a high percentage of
nitrogen on landscape plants because it would be very easy
to burn them. You must also keep in mind that many lawn
fertilizers contain broad leaf weed killers, and most
ornamental plants have broad leaves. The fertilizer doesn’t
know the difference, and it will damage or kill ornamental
trees and shrubs.
During the summer months the growth rate of most plants
slows down, and when plants are not actively growing, they
need very little nitrogen. Although not vigorously putting
on new growth, many plants such as Dogwood Trees,
Rhododendrons, and Azaleas are quietly working to produce
flower buds for next year. Annual and perennial flowers are
also busy making new flower buds.
To encourage flower bud production you can apply a
fertilizer that contains a small percentage of nitrogen, a
higher percentage of phosphorous, and a little potassium. I
recently purchased a liquid fertilizer with an analysis of
5-30- 5, ideal for flower production. Because the product is
sold as a bloom producer, the manufacture also added a
little chelated iron, manganese, and zinc, all good for your
plants as well.
Most garden centers and discount stores carry similar
products. I chose a liquid fertilizer because liquid
fertilizers are absorbed both through the roots and
systemically through the foliage, so they work quicker. I
used a sprayer that attaches to the end of the garden hose
to apply the fertilizer, but do not use the same hose end
sprayer that you use for lawn fertilizers. There could be
residual weed killer still in the sprayer.
About those hose end sprayers. I purchased one that is
supposed to automatically mix the proper ratio for you. I
used it to apply a general insecticide, and it worked, but
it sure seemed like I went through a lot more insecticide
than I needed. When I used it for the fertilizer the screen
on the little pick up hose inside the jar kept getting
clogged with the tiny solids in the fertilizer. I recommend
using a solution of one part liquid fertilizer to one part
water in the sprayer jar, and applying at a heavier rate.
Watch the liquid in the sprayer jar, and if it isn’t going
down remove the lid and clean the little screen by spraying
it with water from the garden hose. Read the application
instructions on the container to determine how much
fertilizer to apply, and how often. A fertilizer high in
phosphorous will increase flower production. You will see a
difference.
Remember the golden rule of applying fertilizers. “Not
enough, is always better than too much.” |
