Choosing the right fertiliser

As the growing season gets into full flow, mid-spring is the time to think about which fertiliser will help give seedlings and plants the best start and sustain growth over the next few months.

All plants need moisture and plenty of nutrition. Whether you are planting out or sowing seeds direct into the ground, a good fertiliser will provide all the nutrients and elements to support strong vigorous growth.

Soil condition plays a major role in deciding which fertiliser you should choose. Clay or silt-like soils retain nutrients better, so a good dressing of garden compost or manure could be sufficient.

Sandy, free-draining soils do not retain nutrients as they are easily washed away, so a pelleted fertiliser such as Vitax Q4, or a natural slow-release fertiliser like Organic Bonemeal is ideal. 

Choosing the right fertiliser

Which fertiliser you use will not only depend on the soil type, but also what you are growing and where. 

The good all-rounder

Used by professional and amateur gardeners Vitax Q4 is a good, all-round fertiliser which meets the needs of most plants and crops. Pelleted, it is ideal for use in all soil types and has balanced levels of nitrogen to discourage sappy growth and make plants hardier. 

High in potash and phosphate, it also contains added trace elements which are not present in most fertilisers. Vitax Q4 can be applied all year round and if you want to use just one fertiliser for plants, fruit, vegetables, trees and shrubs, then Vitax Q4 is ideal.

Organic

If you are an organic gardener, 6X Natural Plant Feed is a great option.  Six times richer than farmyard manure, 6X Natural Plant Feed opens up claggy soil to prevent water-logging or bulks lighter soils to hold nutrients and moisture more efficiently.

Containing humus and natural trace elements, 6X Natural Plant Feed doubles-up as a soil conditioner with one application lasting a whole season. 6X Natural Plant Feed is best used before planting out and thoroughly dug into the soil. If you have already planted your seeds, then it can be lightly dug into the surface of the soil and watered in so the nutrients filter down.

Many organic fertilisers are multi-functional such as Organic Bonemeal, a slow release fertiliser which can be used prior to planting out or as a top dressing for established plants such as roses. The slow releases of phosphate and nitrogen will aid root development for healthier plants.

Once plants and crops are starting to root, use Organic Liquid Seaweed which will help plants withstand the elements and disease.

Liquids & Soluble

Granular and pelleted fertilisers are great for digging in to the ground in preparation for planting out, or lightly turning in once a plant is established and needs additional nutrients.  

However, if you have sandy soil which does not retain nutrients well, adding a liquid or soluble feed regularly throughout the growing season will sustain plants through their growth cycle.

Q4 Soluble Rootmore is a great supplement to soluble feeds. Containing mycorrhizal fungi, beneficial bacteria, seaweed and biostimulants, it promotes healthy root growth and gives plants the best start. 

The solution can be watered in both before or after planting out, and will help roots withstand stress in the early spring months and better utilise available nutrients.

A good fertiliser will support plants throughout the growing season, but Liquid Q4 All Purpose Plant Food is a great top up which can be used regularly as a nutrient boost.  It helps rooting and nutrient uptake to produce bumper crops and blooms.

There is a huge range of fertilisers available and for those looking for specific plant solutions, Vitax’s specialist feed range for plants such as Japanese Acers, Buxus (Box), Azaleas and Hydrangeas etc will provide the specific nutrients required to keep them healthy and free from disease.