Plants may survive without regular fertilising but the possible lack of results in growth, cropping, flowering and health will soon become apparent.
Just like any living thing, nutrition is key to healthy active growth. Continued fertilising after planting is required because nutrients will need topping up as plants utilise them from the soil profile. Rainfall (especially heavy rainfall) and watering will also naturally cause nutrients to leach from the soil.
What can I fertilise with?
Pelletised Fertilisers
Rocky Point ActivGrow Fertiliser Pellets / Poultry Manure Pellets. These are best applied at planting and as side dressings throughout the growing season. When applying to larger trees and shrubs it is best to apply at the dripline of the tree/shrub. This is where the majority of the new feeder roots will be. Pellets can be applied every 4-6 weeks depending on your plants feeding requirements.
Soil Improvers/Composts
Rocky Point Cow Manure Plus and ActivGrow Soil Improver are types of organic matter that you can dig into your garden beds before planting. They will add to the soil structure and health and provide nutrition for microbes, fungi, and other soil dwellers such as worms.
Liquid Fertilisers
These can be applied at the root zone or as a foliar feed. Organic liquid fertilisers can come as fish emulsion, liquid blood and bone, liquid worm castings, fish, and kelp combinations and more. They can be done on a regular basis such as fortnightly from planting and continued throughout the growing season.
How do I fertilise when there’s mulch?
Liquid fertiliser easily permeates through the mulch layer to reach plant roots. But compost and pelletised fertilisers will take much longer. To ensure your plants get access to these types of fertilisers quickly, pull back the mulch layer, water, apply fertiliser pellets or compost/manure, water again and push the mulch back over.
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