The Best Way to Fertilize Established Flower Beds

 

Even though your flower bed is growing and doing well, it still needs to be fertilized from time to time. Fertilizing will ensure that the plants continue to thrive by receiving all the nutrients they need. Fertilizing an already established flower bed is not as hard as it may seem. By taking the proper steps, your garden will be ready to be fed in no time.

1. Wait Until Spring

   • When fertilizing an already established flower bed, wait until spring. Many plants do not require fertilization during the cooler months of winter; some will even be harmed by it. Wait until all signs of freezing have passed. In spring plants are entering their growing season and the time they want extra nutrition.

   Clear the Area

   • Before applying fertilizer, get the flower bed in tip-top shape. Rake any existing mulch away from the base of the plants. This will assure that the fertilizer gets to the root systems and doesn't just sit on top of the mulch. If your mulch is still fresh and doesn't need replacing, you can rake it back over the bed once the fertilizer is applied. If the mulch is old, now is the best time to replace it with fresh. Once you get through, your flower bed will look like new.

   Prune and Divide

   • Sharpen your pruning shears, if you haven't done so since last fall. Cutting branches with a freshly sharpened blade will make a cleaner cut, which lessens the chance of disease entering through the wound. Trim away any dead branches from the plants. Shape up any bushes that need a trim. By trimming your flower bed now, you will not have to do maintenance as soon as the new mulch is laid and the fertilizer spread. Rake up and remove all the leaves, branches and other debris once the pruning is complete.
     Divide any plants that have grown too full for the bed. This will assure that the fertilizer reaches all the plants and will also give the flower bed a cleaner and tidier look. Replant the divided plants to another section of the garden, if you wish.

   Fertilizing

   • Assess the plants your have in the bed and determine their particular needs. If you have basically blooming plants, you will want to give the plants a high-quality fertilizer designed for flowers. Choose a fertilizer with a high middle number. This is the amount of phosphorus the fertilizer contains, which is what a flowering plant requires to bloom. You can also spread compost, manure or other organic matter around the base of the plants to fertilize them. Granular fertilizers will take longer to leach into the soil and reach the plant's root system than organic blend fertilizers. Water in the fertilizer well.
     Spray the flower bed once a month with a water-soluble fertilizer. These come in a range of blends, so be sure to pick one designed for the specifics of your garden. If you have mainly blooming plants, choose a water-soluble fertilizer specific for flowering plants.

Posted in: Flower Basics