Wolcott Garden Treasures
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When and How to Feed
Annuals
Annuals that are not planted in the ground REQUIRE regular fertilizing to keep them blooming. This is because container annuals have a limited amount of space to root and will become pot bound. The fertilizer keeps the plant healthy enough to stay beautiful and blooming, even when its roots can no longer expand out to in search of natural mineral sources and nourishment.
Annuals should be fertilized with a quick feed product like Miracle Gro, a slow release product like Osmocote, or a combination of both. Miracle Gro is found as a dissolvable powder or a premixed liquid (Liquifeed) that is automatically applied in the proper concentration when hooked up to your garden hose. Osmocote is in the form of small, round granules that are applied to the top of the soil. These granules release nutrients into the soil over time (up to four months) whenever they are activated by water via any vehicle: rain, hose, watering can, etc. Using both products will not hurt the plant at all. All of our pre-potted annuals are given Osmocote before they go on display.
If using Miracle Gro, here are the general guidelines for applying to annuals: during May & early June, use 1-2 times per week; during late June and July, use 2-3 times per week; during August, use 3-4 times per week. As the annuals become more and more pot bound throughout the season, they will require more fertilizer to stay healthy and blooming.
Perennials
Like annuals, perennials can be fertilized with a slow release product like Osmocote or a quick feed product like Miracle Gro, or a combination of both. Here's a strange, but fitting analogy: a quick feed product is like a sugary energy drink, whereas a slow release product is like a protein bar. Both products will give the plant energy in a different form. Miracle Gro must be applied often but will give quick boosts of energy to the plant that promote blooming and rooting. Osmocote will promote all-around good health throughout the season for up to four months in between applications. We find that Osmocote is better suited for gardens that are farther away from the house (since it doesn't require frequent applications), and Miracle Gro, especially the Liquifeed product, is great to just throw on the end of your garden hose and use while doing regular watering close to your house.
Trees & Shrubs
For trees and shrubs, here's our recommendation: either leave them alone, or use only a slow release fertilizer or plant specific soil additive. If you're going to fertilize, make sure to do it before summer, which is when the plants will need the help. A slow release fertilizer like Osmocote all purpose granules will feed for up to four months and is an excellent choice. Another great product is Miracle Gro's Tree & Shrub stakes, which are pushed into the soil around the plant and feed automatically throughout the entire growing season.
Soil additives can also be used exclusively or in conjunction with a traditional fertilizer. We have a whole line of Espoma, Bonide and Miracle Gro soil additives that do wonders. These powdered products are sprinkled around the base of a planted tree, shrub or perennial, or mixed into the soil around a plant just going in the ground. For more information, click here.
Annuals that are not planted in the ground REQUIRE regular fertilizing to keep them blooming. This is because container annuals have a limited amount of space to root and will become pot bound. The fertilizer keeps the plant healthy enough to stay beautiful and blooming, even when its roots can no longer expand out to in search of natural mineral sources and nourishment.
Annuals should be fertilized with a quick feed product like Miracle Gro, a slow release product like Osmocote, or a combination of both. Miracle Gro is found as a dissolvable powder or a premixed liquid (Liquifeed) that is automatically applied in the proper concentration when hooked up to your garden hose. Osmocote is in the form of small, round granules that are applied to the top of the soil. These granules release nutrients into the soil over time (up to four months) whenever they are activated by water via any vehicle: rain, hose, watering can, etc. Using both products will not hurt the plant at all. All of our pre-potted annuals are given Osmocote before they go on display.
If using Miracle Gro, here are the general guidelines for applying to annuals: during May & early June, use 1-2 times per week; during late June and July, use 2-3 times per week; during August, use 3-4 times per week. As the annuals become more and more pot bound throughout the season, they will require more fertilizer to stay healthy and blooming.
Perennials
Like annuals, perennials can be fertilized with a slow release product like Osmocote or a quick feed product like Miracle Gro, or a combination of both. Here's a strange, but fitting analogy: a quick feed product is like a sugary energy drink, whereas a slow release product is like a protein bar. Both products will give the plant energy in a different form. Miracle Gro must be applied often but will give quick boosts of energy to the plant that promote blooming and rooting. Osmocote will promote all-around good health throughout the season for up to four months in between applications. We find that Osmocote is better suited for gardens that are farther away from the house (since it doesn't require frequent applications), and Miracle Gro, especially the Liquifeed product, is great to just throw on the end of your garden hose and use while doing regular watering close to your house.
Trees & Shrubs
For trees and shrubs, here's our recommendation: either leave them alone, or use only a slow release fertilizer or plant specific soil additive. If you're going to fertilize, make sure to do it before summer, which is when the plants will need the help. A slow release fertilizer like Osmocote all purpose granules will feed for up to four months and is an excellent choice. Another great product is Miracle Gro's Tree & Shrub stakes, which are pushed into the soil around the plant and feed automatically throughout the entire growing season.
Soil additives can also be used exclusively or in conjunction with a traditional fertilizer. We have a whole line of Espoma, Bonide and Miracle Gro soil additives that do wonders. These powdered products are sprinkled around the base of a planted tree, shrub or perennial, or mixed into the soil around a plant just going in the ground. For more information, click here.
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