Hey all,
So I've been doing a lot of plantings this year and last. As of now I've got ROD, apple trees, pears, and ninebark in the ground. I know that each of these will have different "nutritional" requirements, so I'm just wondering what you all know/think of using different NPK values, and forms of fert. I've got sandy soil, so I'm mainly looking at organics so that it doesn't leech after a few wet weeks. Here are my thoughts, what I've done, and what I plan to do.
Ninebark, ROD and elderberries, and hazelnut (planted this year)- For now, I'm mainly focusing on growth, so I'm using the basic 3-1-2 ratio that you use for foliage plants. This year I tried something kinda risky, and put some crab grass preventer/lawn fert (32-5-5) around some of my ROD, and my elderberries. This was about a week or two ago, so I'll update you all on whether or not it burned them. Fingers crossed, they're alright. I also used some "plant food" that was extended release 12-4-8.
Next year, I'm planning on using a mix of 2 -1-1 blood meal (preferably feather meal): bone meal: greensand and kelp meal. The next year I'll only apply the first two portions of the mix.
Apple and Pear- This year I used some of the 12-4-8 slow release fert, and then a bit of age horse manure. For my young trees, I'll continue this, until fruiting age. For my larger trees (already bearing), I'll use greensand, which is supposed to supply K for up to 5 years. I'll apply it every few years. This year I might have done more N than needed by using the 12-4-8.
I've also thought of using alfalfa meal, which is supposedly one of the more balanced organic fertilizers at roughly 2-1-2. Does anyone have any experience with these or other fertilizers? We've got lots of veggies, perennials, and shrubs, so I'd likely buy a 25 lb bag of each and use it for the next 5 years.
So I've been doing a lot of plantings this year and last. As of now I've got ROD, apple trees, pears, and ninebark in the ground. I know that each of these will have different "nutritional" requirements, so I'm just wondering what you all know/think of using different NPK values, and forms of fert. I've got sandy soil, so I'm mainly looking at organics so that it doesn't leech after a few wet weeks. Here are my thoughts, what I've done, and what I plan to do.
Ninebark, ROD and elderberries, and hazelnut (planted this year)- For now, I'm mainly focusing on growth, so I'm using the basic 3-1-2 ratio that you use for foliage plants. This year I tried something kinda risky, and put some crab grass preventer/lawn fert (32-5-5) around some of my ROD, and my elderberries. This was about a week or two ago, so I'll update you all on whether or not it burned them. Fingers crossed, they're alright. I also used some "plant food" that was extended release 12-4-8.
Next year, I'm planning on using a mix of 2 -1-1 blood meal (preferably feather meal): bone meal: greensand and kelp meal. The next year I'll only apply the first two portions of the mix.
Apple and Pear- This year I used some of the 12-4-8 slow release fert, and then a bit of age horse manure. For my young trees, I'll continue this, until fruiting age. For my larger trees (already bearing), I'll use greensand, which is supposed to supply K for up to 5 years. I'll apply it every few years. This year I might have done more N than needed by using the 12-4-8.
I've also thought of using alfalfa meal, which is supposedly one of the more balanced organic fertilizers at roughly 2-1-2. Does anyone have any experience with these or other fertilizers? We've got lots of veggies, perennials, and shrubs, so I'd likely buy a 25 lb bag of each and use it for the next 5 years.
