In
order for the plants to enjoy their appearance and tasty fruits, we must power
them. However, there are plenty of
fertilizers on the market. Which one to choose? How to use them correctly?
To keep planting in the best
condition, we have to provide them with water, minerals, carbon dioxide and
sun
Properly nourished plants are
stronger. Thanks to this, it will be better
to withstand the attack of pests, fungal diseases, drought, chill and excess
water. In addition, they give a more abundant harvest, and their
fruits are tastier, richer in nutrients, vitamins and minerals (which is
important for us, consumers), and also store better. If we fertilize our ornamental
plants properly, they will repay us with a beautiful look. Leaves and needles will be healthy,
nicely stained, the plants are more magnificent and the flowering process is
abundant and longer. To keep planting in the best
condition, we have to provide them with water, minerals, carbon dioxide and
sun. With the availability of these factors there is no major
problem, however the presence of minerals depends on the substrate in which the
plants grow. These components are divided into
macronutrients (they constitute more than 0.1% of the dry matter of plants) and
microelements (they constitute less than 0.1% of the dry matter of plants).
Good macroelements
Macro elements are elements such as
nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and
sulfur (S). Each of them has a different role
in the proper functioning of plants. Nitrogen affects the production of
the right amount of shoots and leaves, which increases yields. In addition, it improves the
quality of fruits and their coloring. Remember, however, that excess
nitrogen delays the beginning of fruiting and promotes paralysis through
diseases. Phosphorus determines the overall
condition of plants and their growth, as well as the proper development of the
root system. It is also important in the
transition of plants to the fruiting phase. Young seedlings show the greatest
demand. Potassium is responsible for proper water management.With
good nutrition, plantings are more resistant to drought and cold. The fruits are more sweet and
aromatic, better stained and store well. Potassium is the most important
ingredient in flowering plants, fruit plants, peppers and tomatoes. Calcium affects water and protein
metabolism. It is not as indispensable to
plants as the soil itself (it should contain its appropriate amount throughout
the year), because it regulates its pH (acidity), and as a result, the
availability and degree of absorption of other minerals. Magnesium regulates energy and
water economy, ensures proper coloring of leaves, and its quantity depends on
the content of vitamins in fruits and vegetables. For legumes (beans, broad beans, or
lupins), sulfur is very important. Well fed with this element are more
resistant to stress (drought downpours, fungi and others), less susceptible to
diseases, and as a result they yield better. In addition, sulfur improves soil
properties - it reduces its compactness, which is especially important in heavy
soils, such as clay or clay.
If we fertilize our ornamental
plants properly, they will repay us with a beautiful look
Micronutrients are also important
In this group there are elements
such as: iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B) and
molybdenum (Mo).Although they occur in trace amounts, their presence has a huge
impact on the growth and development of plants. They affect their condition and
resistance to harmful atmospheric and biological factors. The absence of one of these
elements disturbs the functioning of the plant.
Time for nutrition
Spring feeding of plants is very
important. Hungry after the winter, warmed up
by the first rays of the sun, they want to develop intensively. So we spread the compost (if we did
not do it in autumn) and we use mineral fertilizers in a loose form. In the following months we also
fertilize plants, because during the growth they use minerals we give, they
create shortages and as a result they are weakened. In the summer, water or spray with
liquid fertilizers - mineral or organic diluted in water - or in a loose form. We make the supply by mid-July at
the latest. From now on, we only use special
autumn fertilizers, because plants are already preparing for winter and it is
better not to stimulate them to grow. You do not need to feed plants if
you have used slow-release fertilizer in spring. Autumn fertilization is also
important, because in this way we supplement minerals. Plants need elements that will make
their tissues harder, become more woody and, as a result, will be more
resistant to frost. This is the best time for liming. Organic fertilizers, such as
compost and manure, can also be used. However, they must not be mixed
with liming, because as a result of chemical reactions between them, compounds
unreliable to plants will be created. Between the liming and the organic
fertilization, a 2-3-week interval should be maintained. In the autumn, multi-nutrient
fertilizers are not worth using, because some of the ingredients will be washed
deep into the ground by the winter and the plants will not benefit from them. The only exceptions are autumn
fertilizers.
It is best to use multi-component
fertilizers in home gardens
Mineral fertilizers
They provide nutrients to plants,
but they do not improve the quality of the soil, so when using them, do not
give up organic fertilizers. In home gardens it is best to use
multi-ingredient fertilizers that contain the necessary macro- and
microelements.Universal fertilizers. They are intended for all plant
species. They have a loose or liquid form. The
latter are mainly used in the summer for feeding plants. Specialized
fertilizers. Their
composition has been developed for specific species. So
we can buy fertilizers, for example azaleas and rhododendrons, hydrangeas,
roses, magnolias, hedges, deciduous shrubs, conifers, blueberries,
strawberries, vines or lawns. Slow-acting
fertilizers. It
is enough to add them to the soil once a year - in the spring, because the
minerals will penetrate the soil for several months as they are collected by
the roots of the plants. Foliar
fertilizers.They can be used on a regular basis or when rapid intervention is
needed - the leaves turn pale and turn yellow, although there is no sign of
feeding for pests. The
reason may be the lack of minerals (mainly nitrogen or iron). Such
a phenomenon can be observed in azaleas, azaleas, pieris, kalmia, bunches,
blueberries, cranberries, magnolias and hydrangeas growing in too little acid
soil. In
this case, we spray them several times with a solution of foliar fertilizer. It
passes through the skin to the inside of the leaf, which quickly improves the
appearance and condition of the plant.
Organic
fertilizers
They
provide the necessary macro- and micronutrients and decompose, enrich the soil
with humus and improve its properties.They contain various compounds from the
plant and animal world, thus the natural circulation of matter is preserved. Compost.It
provides the necessary minerals as well as humus, which improves the structure
of the soil - it is plump and airy and easily collects water. Mature
compost can be used without fear that the plants will be fertilized. It's
best to do it yourself, but you can also buy it packaged in bags. Biohumus
preparations. They
contain vermicompost made from organic remnants processed by California worms. It
has all the necessary nutrients, as well as enzymes and microorganisms
associated with the metabolism of earthworms (they improve the condition of the
soil). After
dissolving the fertilizer in water (as recommended on the packaging), it is
sprinkled with water or sprayed with plants. Bird
fertilizer. The
sale is a fertilizer and guano of sea birds in the form of granules or meal. It
is very concentrated - it contains a large amount of minerals, especially
nitrogen. It
should be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions: overdose can
harm plants. It
is usually used after dissolving in water. Manure. It
is sold as dried and crumbled, without any unpleasant smell. It
contains easily digestible nutrients, and also improves the soil structure. It
can be used in a loose form or after dissolving in water.
Correct
fertilization
When
using mineral preparations, the instructions on the packaging must be strictly
observed. Too
much fertilizer causes the salinity of the soil, which contributes to the death
of beneficial microorganisms, and if the concentration is high, also damage to
the roots of the plant. As
a consequence, it begins to deteriorate, leaves appear discolored and
discolored, it is less resistant to frost and more susceptible to diseases and
pests. Then,
the excess fertilizer is washed into groundwater, where it is already out of
reach of the roots, but it pollutes the environment. The
most common fertilizer doses are in the range from to (e.g. 30-60 g / m2). Lower
is used on sandy soils, and higher on clayey and high content of humus. After
spreading the fertilizer, the soil around the plants should be watered. You
have to be careful not to pour it on the list, because after dissolving in
water it could cause local damage. Damage
can also result in uneven fertilizer spreading on the lawn - where there is a
lot of it, the concentration of mineral salts can be so high that the turf will
be burned.
In
the home gardens, hand sprayers are most often used
Garden
sprayers
With
their help, we can distribute fertilizers, plant protection products or
biological preparations. In
the backyard gardens, most often manual, shoulder and backpack sprayers are
used. Hand
sprayers. We
service them holding directly in the hands. They
usually have a capacity of 0.5 to 2
l - they
will prove themselves in small gardens. There
are hand-operated pulse or pressure sprayers. The
first spraying of the liquid occurs only when you press the lever with your
hand. The
pressure equipment is equipped with a pump that produces pressure in the tank
before spraying. As
a result, the work is more efficient and the spray is uniform. Shoulder
sprayers. They
are hung with a shoulder strap. They
have a capacity of 3 to 12
liters . In
these sprayers, the air is forced into the tank by pressing the pump handle
held in the hand. After
the air is filled with the liquid-free space, we can start working. The
liquid escapes through the nozzle attached to the lance, so
it has a much larger range than manual devices. The
shoulder sprayers are valued for the safety valve that protects against
excessive pressure in the tank. Some
models also have a pressure gauge. Backpack
sprayers. We
put them on the back, thanks to which we can move freely. They
have a capacity of 12 to 20
l . They
are useful in large gardens or small orchards. The
pump drive lever is located on the side of the tank. Backpack
sprayers can be equipped with a pressure gauge placed on the handle of the
lance. Some
models also have a pressure regulator, which allows you to work with a
different range - we can control the amount of liquid and the degree of its
fragmentation. Newer
types of sprayers can also be equipped with a mechanism with electric drive, so
you do not have to pump the tank manually.
Why
is lime important?
Once
every few years, it is worth checking the pH of the soil (using its pH) using
an easy-to-use chemical field or electronic acid meter. Most
plants grow best in neutral soil (pH 6-7). The
exception are heather (azaleas, azaleas, kalma, bunches, pieris, heathers), as
well as hydrangeas and magnolias, which feel good in acidic soil (pH 3.5-5). The
pH of the substrate depends on the calcium content - the less it is, the more
acid the soil is (the pH is lower). Calcium
is taken up by plants and washed deep into the soil, which is why its amount
decreases over time (the fastest in sandy soils) and needs to be replenished. For
liming, it is best to use chalk or dolomite, which contains magnesium (the lack
of this element is quite common in sandy soils).
Spread
the fertilizer by hand or a seed drill
We
can spread the fertilizer by hand, protecting it with a glove. It
is worth dividing its surface into several parts, doing the same with the
fertilizer. Thanks
to this, it will be evenly spread all over the surface. Remember
to spread the fertilizer in two intersecting directions. And
of course never during the wind. The
use of a seed drill is more convenient.
