I'm glad you asked this, Kim, and I hope someone who knows more than I do answers!

I always kind of wondered why we were supposed to stop fertilizing perennials so early. I mean, I know it's because you don't want tender new growth coming out that may be killed by a frost, but come on - it's August. Even now, we have at least 6 to 8 weeks of warm weather yet. Isn't that enough? I'm not trying to be sarcastic - I'm really asking, lol! Isn't that still plenty of time for new growth to get established? I don't know...

As far as annuals and vegetables, I would hazard a guess to keep on fertilizing. After all, they are going to get killed with the frost anyway, so it seems to me we should enjoy them as big and healthy as possible for as long as possible.

I just fertilized my tomatoes yesterday...

:)
Dee

First frost for my zone is Oct 15. If I fertilize plants now they will start pushing lots of new green growth and it might not be mature enough so I will be facing heavy dieback come spring. Now is the time to concetrate on your perennials getting more root growth not spend their energy on leaves and flowers. They need to prepare for winter and giving them fertilizer to boost their growth now will give them mixed signals- not a good a idea.
What I do is add compost to beds somewhere in Oct and sprinkle bulb fertilizer at that time for my multiple large and small bulbs which will need some food to store over winter.

Yep- in my mind- now is the time for the perennial plants blooming or not, to feed the seeds- and feed the roots and get ready for a long nap. The shorter days now- and the cooler weather soon will tell them what they need to do. Stimulating new growth now with chemical fertilizers will cause more harm than good- almost like giving kids candy and telling them to go to bed- and expect them to sleep now- because they will have a busy day tomorrow.
Now the annuals- those that you know will die this winter- you can fertilize them (which usually causes top growth) till they are dead and gone. But the ones you are planning to winter over in your house (technically, those are tender perennials) should also be allowed to rest up for the cold short dry gray days ahead.
Do not feed new seedlings now- They need to concentrate on growing under ground to establish their roots in their new surroundings quickly to make it through the winter. The same goes for transplants. Mulching them well- and watering often is their best friend now.
Amending the soil with plenty of composted material before planting- or top dressing in the established beds is almost every plants best ally in growing- more so than any chemical fertilizer will be. At least that is what I have learned to believe.
I hope this helps-
Julie

Thanks, folks - I do have some compost I can spread around now, too. Hoping to have even more next year.

As with many gardening questions, there is no single answer to your question. There is also no single fertilizer. Some stimulate general plant growth, while others stimulate root growth, blooming and fruit development.

Everything depends on the plants in question, where they are in their cycles, and the type of ferts being used.

Does it also depend on where you are located? Julie's zone 4 is different than my zone 6 which is different than someone else's zone 8. Do we use the "6 weeks before frost" as a guideline? But my thought (again) is that that 6 weeks seems like an awful long time...

Just wondering.
:)
Dee

I just planted alot of campanula seedlings in a holding area till spring using alfalfa for root growth.
After the 3+ inches of rain we just got they are looking happy, happy!

I just gave my veggie garden a fertizing with veggie fertilzer. I also gave a booster to the containers. I've got three more months of growing season.

Everybody's garden is different and our needs are also different.

T

I agree- we all have different ways of approaching gardening- and what I have learned- and how I go about it is only one way.
I am always learning and trying new and different things- but I must admit, fertilizing with store bought chemicals is not a usual practice of mine- Compost and bunny poop are my favorite ways to prompt and coax my plants. I believe that is also why my girlfriends Brugs are (seemingly) always in bloom- and mine don't even try till October...
I had tried using a 10-10-10 broadcast lightly in the beds in the spring- and a bump again in the summer for a while and my gardens did not behave like I thought they would- Some plants loved it and took over- and others burned up early or burned out and did not make it through the winter. I was not very happy with the results for a few years. The soil consistency had changed as well- fine tree roots from Maple and Lilacs seemed to rise to the surface and invaded the beds, the structure and friability of the soil in many beds seemed different as well. After working in some amendments, compost and B.P. primarily- I am much more pleased with the results.
To each their own I guess.
I am glad Donn mentioned some the different types of fertilizers available as well, and how they can correspond to different parts of the plants. It is amazing just how vast the world of gardening and even fertilizing is!
DiggerDee- I don't have the right answer for you- I can only say- do what seems right for you and your gardens. I think you are on the right track with paying attention to frost dates- and as Donn mentioned, the individual plant's cycle as well. For instance- Daffodils need to put out new fall roots to absorb nutrients into the bulb before the winter and will actually push a small bit of green growth out of the bulb in the fall as will some fritilaries. That is why they need to be planted earlier in the fall than tulips or lilies, and why a fall feeding is best for them.
Well- at least for those of us in the north country....
I agree- 6 weeks is a long time- unless that is all the time left to wintersow....
You know- while I wintersow, it is about the only time I don't have zone envy! Huzzah for wintersowing!