Main Office                        Centerville Garden Center           Beavercreek Garden Center

         3001 Catalpa Drive                        6000 Far Hills Avenue                     2074 Beaver Valley Road

         Dayton, OH  45405                       Centerville, OH  45459                     Beavercreek, OH  45434

                274-1154                                     434-1326                                         427-4110

 

FERTILIZING LANDSCAPE PLANTS

 

The reason for fertilization is to supply nutrients to deficient plants.  A soil test should be done prior to planting to help you to determine the correct fertilizer you may need.  Contact your local county extension agency for information on soil testing.  The soil test will show the soil type, nutrient status, current pH and desirable pH ranges for the plant in question.  Fertilization rates will be based on these results, which for most shade trees will range from two to four pounds of Nitrogen (N) per thousand square feet.  Additional soil tests every few years are recommended to monitor the fertilizer program and prevent mineral element deficiencies that could result in a decrease in plant growth.

 

Trees, shrubs and groundcovers should be fertilized once a year, after the first hard freeze in October and before the ground freezes in December or prior to growth in early spring, between February and early April.  A slow release fertilizer, for example, Tree-tone or Plant-tone by Espoma, should be used according to the manufacturer’s directions.  If fertilizer is not applied during these times, applications may be made up to July 1st.  Do not fertilize after this midsummer date, as it would delay the plant’s acclimation to winter weather conditions.

 

Perennials should be fertilized in the spring with a slow release fertilizer, for example, Osmocote.  If we have a very wet spring, fertilize perennials again in late spring/early summer. 

 

Annuals should be fertilized more frequently as needed throughout the growing season.  Osmocote may be applied to your annuals as a slow release fertilizer at planting time and you may also want to use a water-soluble fertilizer, for example, Miracle Gro. Follow directions on package for application rate.

 

Lawns should generally be fertilized three to five times a year during the growing season.  Please contact our garden centers for a fertilization schedule and follow the recommended intervals and application rates for best results.

 

A complete fertilizer contains at least three major elements: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K).  Fertilizer can be applied in the landscape by: 1) liquid injection, 2) drilling holes in the soil, 3) surface application, 4) fertilizer stakes, 5) foliar sprays, and 6) tree trunk injection or implantation.  Each method serves a specific purpose depending on the site and plant health.  Regardless of the method selected, the soil should be moist at the time of fertilizing to prevent fertilizer injury.  Our garden center technicians will assist you in obtaining the correct fertilizer for your planting needs.