What frequency are we fertilising over the growing season?

[siddhar]

Hi all, Im currently liquid feeding all of my trees on a weekly basis, and have also applied a solid feed in the form of seamungus. I've searched the forum which resulted in limited information regarding the fertilising of trees, so I thought Id ask and see what everyone else is doing. From what I have read, I understand that fertilising should be reduced in the summer months, and using a high nitrogen fertiliser can result in poor autumn colour for deciduous trees.

[Luke308]

I found this a while ago and thought it was very insightful especially with the lack of organic matter in most peoples "soil substrates"
http://walter-pall-bonsai.blogspot.com/ ... glish.html

[craigw60]

Hiro Saito told me you feed lightly in spring moderately over summer and heavily in autumn, the reason for heavy autumn feeding is thats the time over year the trees are making buds for the next seasons growth, so more food more buds and more ramification.
Craigw

[siddhar]

I found this a while ago and thought it was very insightful especially with the lack of organic matter in most peoples "soil substrates"
http://walter-pall-bonsai.blogspot.com/ ... glish.html

Thanks Luke, Ill have a read through this later. Very thorough with lots of good advice there.

Hiro Saito told me you feed lightly in spring moderately over summer and heavily in autumn, the reason for heavy autumn feeding is thats the time over year the trees are making buds for the next seasons growth, so more food more buds and more ramification.
Craigw

Thanks Craig, that makes perfect sense. I might split my collection in two, and see how different the results are with both groups by winter.

[kcpoole]

That will be an interesting test Sid, be sure to update us next year with your results

I am very unscientific with my feeding - Not enough of it

I do Charlie card fortnightly - three weeks and either miracle grow or Seasol in between, I add Neutrog Sudden impact for Roses as a surface feed evey 4- 6 weeks depending on when it dissolves and vary the amount on each tree tho suit. ( Natives and Azaleas get less each time).
I tried Semungus pellets last year and found they stayed solid for ages as if they were not breaking down so not using them again this year.

I will be heading outside soon to feed to day as the rain has departed now.

Ken

[Andrew F]

Look forward to your results Sid.

I havent been feeding enough but i intend to start a routine after summer.

Iv been using slow release with fortnighly applications of seasol and powerfeed, expensive exercise.

[Luke308]

I tried Semungus pellets last year and found they stayed solid for ages as if they were not breaking down so not using them again this year.

Do yourself a favour and get some seamungus "crumble" it has green on the bag/bucket instead of the blue. It breaks down a lot faster as it is mostly crumbeld pellets, and only leaves a little bit on top (a lot better than the mess dynamic lifter leaves)


I have been rotating my feeding since meeting Peter Adams. He recommended something along the line of once a week full strength application of miracle gro for three weeks, then switch to another fertiliser. I have been mixing it up between Fish emulsion, Yates Thrive, Miricle Gro, Worm Juice, Powerfeed, and now the Debco Plant food (used to be phostrogen). I must say all my trees are in grow boxes, so I am trying to fatten them up, but the results have been great, particularly on my tortured willows. one of them had only "whip" size branches, which are now as think as my little finger.

I think the key to remember is, it depends on how often you water, and what kind of substrate you use as mentioned in Walter Palls blog. Also we all live in different micro-climates, and use different substrate mixes, so results will vary. But I have to agree with an open inorganic mix, when you are watering twice everyday, you can't over-feed your trees. I wouldn't be using more than the recommended dosage, but I certainly feed more frequently than recommended.