i usually put some down every (late) spring

i like the organics but will use anything i get a good deal on

it is more important to water well

Megaul, I generally stick to compost and rotted manure that I can get from the local farms. Once in a while, I spread some commercial fertilizer, but I try to keep it organic, because there are a lot of kids around here. Then I mulch well & try to keep everything damp all season.

its root growing time ....

but also... less than 60 days to first frost.. shocking eh ...

WHATEVER you put down.. has to be spent.. and allow your hosta to slow down and harden off before that frost ...

plants that go into frost in lush vegetative growth.. may rot and die over winter ... or in spring ...

which roughly translates into low nitro ... if you can find something like 6-24-24 ... and go easy on it.. it cant hurt ...

do NOT contemplate a time release this late in the year ... in the great white north..

ken

I like to brew a alfalfa pellet tea and pour about 1/2 gal (depending on the size of the plant obviously) I do this once in June and then again in mid to late July. I also don't let my hostas dry out. I live by a lake so I can really spoil them!
Peggy

Ken (or anyone),

Since it is root development time what about applying root stimulator fertilizer in the root zone? I'm thinking of the liquid concentrate that one would apply diluted in the planting hole when placing a plant. I have a few hostas that are dwindling a bit and wonder if that would give them better footing next year.

if they are dwindling.. because some tree has too many roots underneath. it ... then all you would be doing.. IS FEEDING THE TREE ...yes????

so first you have to dig it up.. and find out what the problem is.. then act accordingly ....

i am a cheapskate .... plain old N-P-K .... is as good as any fancy schmancy expensive product... why pay for advertising.. packaging.. and nonsense.. when plain old costs about 12 bucks for 50# ?????

figure out which in NPK is for roots.. and use a formula that is skewed that way..

N is for green and leaves.. think grass ... 30-3-3

P and K i always get mixed up.. one for flowers.. one for roots ...

hence the suggestion of 6-24-24 ... its the too high nitro that is not good late in the season ....

ken

Thanks! I'm a cheapskate, too. Prices seem to be much higher here at retail for "plain old NPK," so I watch for sales and use coupons. I buy the fancy stuff only at garage, moving, and estate sales for pennies on the dollar.

The dwindling is partly owing to root competition and partly to back-to-back extremely dry spring/summer seasons. Probably the best thing would be to lift the tree-thugged ones and improve their situations, and run the soaker hoses for a few days by the ones that are hard to reach with normal watering.

How about another opinion? I don't fertilize my plants,except when first planting,and then I give them some time release fertilizer,under the root ball. After that,they are on their with falling leaves,and the earhworms help,too. Phil

I was given this memory aid for fertilizers

G = Green leaf = Nitrogen
R = Roots = Phosphate
O = Other = Potash
W = WATER!

It ain't perfect, but it helps this chemistry-impaired soul head in the right direction!

Jakki

BTw.. here is a pic of maple roots ...

if a hosta were in there. do you think any amount of fert would help it???

ken

{{gwi:208954}}

Ken, your point stands up very well. I'd hang my hat on it too.

I don't use commercial fertilizers at all since we use well water here. I do throw down a little added compost around the hosta in the spring, work it in a bit and let the worms do the rest.

I grow hostas in maple roots and they do well with extra attention. My husband dug the holes with a pickaxe. I planted them in a mix of one half compost and one half peat moss.

They get 5-10-10 every spring and extra watering throughout the season. They are big and lush and have been there many years--at least two dozen cultivars.

Would they be bigger and lusher without the maple roots? No doubt, but they look pretty darn good in a place where almost nothing else will grow, and I know because I've tried.

Phosphorus is for blooms and roots. :)