Fertilize plants: tips & procedure

Fertilizing also needs to be learned. We will show you how to optimally supply your plants with nutrients and when, how and with what to fertilize properly.

Regular and correct fertilization is a basic requirement for healthy and natural growth. What happens in cycles in natural sites is complicated in our gardens by the regular removal of clippings, fruit or foliage. Because the nutrient supply can sometimes seem a little puzzling, we would like to provide you with general information in this article to clear up this forest of questions.

When are plants fertilized and what is the best way to supply nutrients? We answer both questions and also explain how and how much should be fertilized.

When to fertilize plants?

There are better and worse times for fertilization - both in the course of the year and in the course of weather periods and days. A general fertilizer rule is that dissolved nutrients should only be present in the soil if plants can use them. Fertilization is therefore only done in spring, summer and autumn. Weather periods influence the timing of fertilization to the extent that in particularly dry or particularly rainy phases there tends to be no fertilization or only in appropriate amounts. In the best case scenario, you should fertilize during the course of the day when the sky is overcast and the heat and sunshine are low.

Fertilize plants in spring

Fertilizing in the spring is most likely to do justice to the principle of need-based fertilization. At the beginning of the year, the nutrients for the supply of the plants in the current year are applied. The adjacent soil influences the date of the first fertilization: Light, sandy soils are fertilized before they sprout - for example between February and March – while heavy soils are fertilized after budding, as soon as the first growth spurt subsides. This is roughly between April and May. Based on this, an organic fertilizer is used about a month earlier than a mineral or organo-mineral fertilizer. This is because organically bound nutrients must first be made available to plants in soil microbial and chemical processes. Because there are a wide variety of landscapes, zones and microclimates in German-speaking countries, this information is unfortunately not universally valid. The spring shoot takes place much earlier in milder regions, so that fertilization can also take place earlier. This occurs later in harsh zones and those at risk of late frost.

Tip – fertilize the lawn in spring: A lawn that is poorly cared for in spring can all too easily be crowded out by less demanding wild herbs. These simply start to sprout earlier and compete with the lawn plants for water, light and nutrients. Here you can read how to make your lawn after winter care properly. By the way, you can have yours Prepare the lawn for the winter tooby avoiding frost damage to the lawn with the right fertilization. For example through ours Plantura Organic Autumn Lawn Fertilizer.

Fertilize plants in summer

For mineral fertilizer applies: if you don't long-term fertilizer use, several fertilizer applications per year are necessary to optimally care for your plants. How many fertilizations you ultimately have to carry out depends on the preparation used, the corresponding manufacturer's instructions and the fertilized plant. However, you should definitely make sure that you no longer fertilize perennials and shrubs in the garden with a lot of mineral nitrogen when summer is drawing to a close. Quite a few plants can be stimulated to continue growing by the good supply of nutrients, which, however, neglects the formation of frost hardiness. It is better to use potassium-rich and nitrogen-reduced fertilization from July and not to fertilize at all from August at the latest.

And you can also divide the organic fertilization into two doses: A spring fertilization with an emphasis on nitrogen Ideally, potassium-rich fertilization should follow later in the summer to prepare for the colder seasons to prepare.

Tip – fertilize chili in summer: If you in the summer Fertilize chili plants, ensure a sufficient supply of potassium and phosphorus for a good blossom and fruit set. If the soil is light, you should include the bed in advance compost prepare.

Fertilize plants in the fall

You should stay away from mineral fertilizers in autumn if possible. At this point in time, all outdoor plants have long been prepared for the end of the growing season due to the cooler temperatures or shorter day lengths. Mineral fertilization at this point in time would no longer be used. In addition, during heavy autumn thunderstorms, there is a risk of nutrients being washed out into deep layers of soil that are not rooted, and the frost hardiness of the fertilized plants may suffer.

Organic Fertilizers you can distribute them in the fall with less hesitation if you didn't get around to it in the summer. The soil organisms work much more slowly at cool temperatures anyway, so that the nutrients contained are released in much smaller quantities. However, you should be careful with very nitrogen-rich or liquid organic fertilizers. These have such a fast rate of action or such high nutrient contents that it is also relevant here warmer autumn days can lead to the release of large amounts of nutrients - and then there is also a leaching possible.

Tip – fertilize strawberries in autumn: If your Fertilize strawberries, harvest higher quality fruit. The perennials are fertilized when they are planted and then twice a year. One takes place in the spring and ensures good fruit set. The second gift falls in September and is smaller in scope.

Summary: when to fertilize plants?

• Plants are ideally fertilized in spring and late summer.
• Mineral fertilizers should no longer be used in autumn.
• Organic fertilizers can be used more safely from spring to autumn.
• The fertilization at the beginning of the year should tend towards nitrogen, the fertilization in late summer/autumn towards potassium.
• In very dry or very wet weather phases, there is little or no fertilization.
• During the day, times with overcast skies and moderate heat should be chosen.

What to fertilize plants with?

Of course, we cannot and do not want to dictate what you use in your own green paradise and what you prefer to exclude. However, the current state of research clearly shows that purely mineral fertilization harms the fertilized soil and, in the long term, indirectly also the plants growing on it. For this reason, we hope that you will observe the information on mineral fertilizers compiled below or possibly opt out of one natural fertilization convince.

Fertilize plants with minerals

Mineral fertilizers contain nutrients for plants in a pure, concentrated form. When applied to the soil, the fertilizer salts are dissolved by the water in the soil and the individual nutrients can be immediately absorbed by plants. The soil as a mediator between nutrient input and roots is largely ignored. Normally, this complex ecosystem is responsible, among other things, for the recycling of nutrients from organic material. The fact that its function remains unused ensures that the soil becomes less fertile in the long term because it loses its vitality and thus the ability to convert and store nutrients itself to provide. In addition, there is a loss of water holding capacity, aeration and root penetration due to the degradation of humus. For this reason, you should use mineral fertilizers with caution – if at all:

• Have a sample of your soil analyzed. Knowledge of the type of soil and the nutrients it contains will help you to fertilize as required.
• If the dose of mineral fertilizer exceeds what the plants need, fertilizer damage and leaching are likely. Always strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• The only way to slow down the decrease in humus content is to apply structural material at the same time, such as wood chips, straw or bark mulch.
• If mineral fertilizers are used during drought, the soil should be kept well moist in the days that follow. Otherwise, the increasing concentration of nutrients can damage your plants.
• Mineral fertilizers should not be mixed with each other or with lime, otherwise undesired chemical reactions can lead to outgassing or soil fixation.
• Mineral fertilizers act quickly, but only for a short time. If you want to protect your soil a little and save yourself work, you should choose the higher-priced slow-release fertilizers.
• Mineral fertilizers never bring all trace nutrients with them. With long-term use, a floor can become depleted of these, which leads to deficiency symptoms that are difficult to identify.

Fertilize plants organically

The simpler and more natural way to fertilize plants is the organic one. Organic fertilizers consist of more or less heavily modified organic material, in whose grown structures the nutrients necessary for plants are integrated. If such a fertilizer gets into the soil, exactly the same processes take place that also ensure the supply of nutrients in natural locations. During the conversion by soil organisms, nutrient surpluses are created that are used by plants. In addition, after the death of the microorganisms involved, nutrients are also released again. Parallel to the release of the nutrients and even after the materials have been completely broken down in molecular building blocks, complex “humus molecules” can form, the so-called humic acids. These form the basis for fertile soil humus. The use of organic fertilizers has the following advantages for you:

• Soil life is encouraged and ensures a loose, structured and well-aerated soil. This makes it easier for the plants to absorb nutrients.
• The resulting humus is a storehouse for water and nutrients, which both protects against over-fertilization and provides supplies for plants when needed.
• With organic fertilizers, there can be no severe over-fertilization, since all the nutrients are never available at the same time. Due to the natural long-term effect, the amount of fertilizer required is reduced to one or two doses per year.
• In addition to the main nutrients, various trace nutrients are always included.
• Compared to the production of mineral fertilizers, the production of organic fertilizers uses less energy and resources, so it is more environmentally friendly.
• Organo-mineral fertilizers are also available that combine fast action and soil care. These include ours Plantura organic fertilizer, in which only animal-free raw materials are processed.

Fertilize plants with home remedies

Some household or garden home remedies are also suitable for fertilizing plants. Of course, one made from garden and kitchen waste delivers compost all the nutrients your plants need. And a fertilization with ash or eggshells can supply your plants with calcium and increase the pH of the soil if necessary. coffee grounds fertilizer In addition to smaller amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, it primarily provides structural material for building up humus. Horse manure as fertilizer is also a potent supplier of all three main nutrients, although you can find them on more frugal plants should not use and which, for hygienic reasons, has no place with vegetables that have been cultivated for a short time Has. The same is of course true for animal or human fertilizer from urine, which contains valuable plant nutrients, but also various bacteria and even medication. In this article you can read how Easily produce fertilizers such as plant manure yourself be able.

When using home remedies, you should be aware of the nutrients they contain. Some of the concentrations are very low or surprisingly high - in any case, reliable information cannot be found anywhere. In almost all cases, supplementary fertilization with a full-fledged fertilizer - like ours Plantura organic fertilizers appropriate.

How much and how to fertilize plants?

Whenever you want to tackle the care of a plant or an area, you should follow these four steps:

1. In the field, there should always be a soil analysis at the beginning. Depending on the extent, this tells you whether your soil is sandy, loamy, silty or clayey, what the pH value is and what the humus content is. In addition, the nutrients present in the soil are given approximately and even fertilizer recommendations are made.
2. Find out about the nutrient requirements of the fertilized plants. Follow the fertilizer recommendations of the soil analysis and the information provided by the fertilizer manufacturer.
3. Choose a fertilizer that suits the needs of the plant at the time. With a predominantly organic fertilizer, the risk of incorrect fertilization is lowest.
4. Fertilize in the evening or morning when sun exposure is low and the soil is moist. After fertilizing, water profusely to allow the nutrients to release.

Tip – Soil pH affects nutrient availability: Soil pH is a measure of the acidity of the soil solution. It influences the availability of nutrients via chemical reactions and affects soil life. For optimal availability, a pH value of 5.5 to 6 is aimed for on light soils, while a value of 6.5 to 7.5 is considered optimal for heavy soils. Outside of these ranges, it is more difficult for many plants to absorb nutrients. Determining the pH value is part of a soil analysis or you can do it yourself with simple test kits.

General fertilizer rules: summary

If you follow these general rules, nothing stands in the way of successful fertilization:

• Fertilize as needed and find out about the needs of your plants and the condition of your soil.
• Fertilize with organic long-term fertilizers because the soil is an important factor for good plant growth. If possible, avoid mineral fertilizers.
• Only fertilize during the growing season and if possible not in the earliest spring and late autumn.
• Use home remedies wisely and supplement them with a wholesome fertilizer.
• Spread fertilizer in the morning or evening and then keep the fertilized soil moist.
• To avoid mistakes when fertilizing, you can also learn from the mistakes of others. The five most common mistakes when fertilizing can be found here in our special article.