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Feed, Feed
and More Food
1 August
2003
By now plants will be running out of steam.
The early rain leached a lot of fertilizer out
of the top soil to a level below where the roots
are working. The warm period which followed
encouraged growth. Without nutrients they will
become leggy with pale foliage.
 LAWN:
While I have no sympathy for lawns
they do have to put up with more than most other
plants. Constant wear and tear through walking
and play is hard on grass. Without regular feeding
the constant removal of foliage depleats the
soil and plants of nutrients. A summer feed
containing nitrogen, phosphate and potash will
keep it going and help green it up. In early
autumn a high potash feed will be necessary
to curb growth and steady up the lawn in preparation
for the winter.
 TOMATOES:
Greenhouse tomatoes will have been having regular
feeds of high potash to slow growth and encourage
fruit. By the height of summer growth has almost
stopped. One liquid feed of a higher nitrogen
fertilizer will kick start the plants allowing
them to crop well into the autumn.
 HANGING
BASKETS and CONTAINERS: Most potting
composts contain enough fertilizer for the first
few weeks. After that liquid feeding
should be undertaken weekly. By now a high potash
feed can be applied every second day. Remove
dead flowers to encourage more bloom.
 PERENNIALS:
By mid-August the herbaceous border
can look a bit sad. A granular feed with a balanced
fertilizer such as Growmore will keep the plants
growing and ensure the plants build up a good
root system for next year. A mulch of old, well
rotted farmyard manure will be benificial.
 FRUIT:
Bush fruit will have finished fruiting
and blackcurrants and gooseberries should be
pruned removing the older branches. Feeding
with a balanced fertilizer will allow the plants
to form strong branches to fruit next year.
Early summer flowering shrubs such as weigela
and philadelphus can be treated in the same
way.
Remember to apply at the rate stated on the
container. An extra dose is more likely to cause
harm than good.
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