Spring Feeding for Your Garden: Essential Tips and Product Recommendations
As spring awakens your garden with fresh growth and colourful blooms, it’s time to ensure your plants receive the nourishment they need to thrive. Feeding your garden in spring is not just a seasonal task—it’s a crucial step in promoting healthy growth, abundant flowering, and robust plants that can withstand the challenges of the growing season. Here’s why spring feeding is important and how to do it effectively using specialised products.
Why Feed Your Garden in Spring?
Spring is the season of renewal and rapid growth, making it the perfect time to provide your plants with essential nutrients. Here’s why feeding during this period is vital:
Supports Active Growth: As plants emerge from dormancy, they require a steady supply of nutrients to support new foliage, stems, and root development. Proper feeding helps ensure vigorous growth.
Enhances Flowering and Fruiting: For flowering shrubs, trees, and fruit-bearing plants, the right nutrients are essential for producing abundant blooms and healthy fruits. Feeding in spring sets the stage for a productive season.
Builds Plant Resilience: Well-nourished plants are better equipped to resist pests, diseases, and environmental stresses such as temperature fluctuations, which are common in spring.
Improves Soil Health: Feeding your garden with organic fertilizers and soil conditioners not only benefits your plants but also enhances soil structure and microbial activity, creating a healthier growing environment.
Best Practices for Spring Feeding
To maximise the benefits of spring feeding, consider the following best practices:
Assess Plant Needs: Tailor your feeding approach based on the specific requirements of different plants in your garden. Non-flowering shrubs, flowering plants, fruit trees, and vegetables all have unique nutrient needs.
Use Organic Products: Organic fertilizers and soil conditioners provide a slow-release source of nutrients, minimising the risk of over-fertilization and supporting long-term soil health.
Correct Application: Follow product guidelines for application rates and methods. Distribute fertilizers evenly over the drip zone or planting beds, and water thoroughly to help nutrients reach the root zone.
Timing Is Key: Begin feeding early in the spring when plants show signs of new growth. Depending on the plant and product, additional feedings may be required throughout the growing season.
Recommended Products for Spring Feeding
Vita Green 5:1:5: This organic fertilizer is ideal for non-flowering trees and shrubs. Apply 100g over the drip zone, adjusting for the size of the plant. It provides a balanced nutrient mix to support healthy, leafy growth.
Vita Fruit & Flower 3:1:5: Designed for flowering shrubs, trees, and fruit trees, this fertilizer promotes abundant blooms and fruit production. Apply 100g over the drip zone and in planted beds, adjusting for plant size.
Use Talborne Organics Vita Grow 2:3:2 for new plantings of shrubs, roses, trees, lawns, and vegetables. Feed as a general fertiliser to promote vigorous healthy growth in established gardens
Urban Farms Earthworm Castings (Humus): This carbon soil conditioner is an excellent addition to your spring feeding routine. Earthworm castings improve soil structure, enhance nutrient retention, and boost microbial activity.
Talborne Organics Vita Veg 6:3:4: Ideal for planting and feeding vegetables and herbs, this general-purpose fertilizer also works well for lawns, leafy plants, and tropical gardens. It provides essential nutrients to support robust growth and productivity.
Gardener’s Gold-Dust is organically certified and contains high-quality gypsum and seaweed that is specially designed to improve both clay and sandy soils and should be applied every 6 weeks.
Biotrissol: Derived from the natural fermentation of sugar beet, Biotrissol contains essential nutrients, vitamins, and growth-promoting substances that strengthen plants and support the formation of healthy blooms.
Bioneem Seabrix: This powerful fertiliser mixture combines kelp, fish hydrolysate, amino acids, and triacontanol to maximise plant health and growth. It is especially beneficial for improving overall plant vigour and resilience.
Spring feeding is a vital step in ensuring your garden flourishes throughout the growing season. By using high-quality organic products like those from Talborne and Biogrow, you not only meet the nutritional needs of your plants but also contribute to the long-term health of your soil. Tailor your feeding approach based on the specific needs of your plants, and follow best practices for application to achieve a garden that’s vibrant, resilient, and full of life.
With the right care and nourishment, your garden will reward you with lush growth, beautiful flowers, and a bountiful harvest. Happy gardening!