Easy way to fertilize

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

For years I've grumbled on fertilize day because I hate those contraptions where you put the dry granular fertilizer in the receptacle abd then supposedly after you turn the hose on it measures out the fertilizer as you water. I don't believe it because when I start to water it comes out quite blue and later on it's quite a bit lighter. So my guess is the plants don't all get it equally.

Last year I started doing it differently. I just sprinkled the fertilizer (and Epson when needed) in the beds and around the shrubs and then watered well. Works great! Anyone else do this?

Featured Answer

Brad Edwards

7 years ago

I learned from some old timers about the PARMESEAN SHAKER TRICK. Take a parmmesean shaker and label it with your fertilizer etc 10.10.10, Camemila/Azalea/Blueberry, citrus, rose, Phosphate, Phosporus, Epsom Salt, Ammonia Nitrate, are all I carry and label old parmesean shakers. I place them in a box and then put the entire box inside my rolling dump bucket. I then walk around the beds and apply a little. I also have chickens and add a little bit of chicken manure. I try and fertilize about 7-8 times a year like this and it works wonders done lightly and focusing on Nitrogen in spring, flowering at proper times like Camelias in late fall, and then fertilizing right before rains. +1 for the above post on worms, had a vermicomposting and it added so many worms to the yard its insane. You can also use cardboard boxes wet them down to kill grass, put compost on top, then apply pinestraw for instant beds.

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Comments (8)

girlnamedgalez8a
7 years ago
Yep, I have done the same for years. I do not have the patience or time to mess with their applicator.
irma_stpete_10a
7 years ago
Yes, in my annuals garden. My yard is mostly unimproved and unmulched (i.e., sand) so I scratch dry fertilizer in around the plants. I, also, tried the hose-jar method and felt the same way you did.
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mr1010
7 years ago
yes, do the same, just be careful not to get too much fertilizer near the stalks.
sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I do the same with dry fertilizers etc. I felt lazy but it beats lugging a five gallon bucket around plus another pitcher to scoop out the water. Who has time for that!

Fish fertilzer, I still do the old fashioned way lol.

I only did the hose jar method one season but I also didnt think it was getting divided evenly and it went to quickly, it seemed wasteful.

I used to do spray n grow w bills perfect fert in my sprayer, ( foliar spray) now people are saying foliar spraying doesnt work but it SURE worked for me! I just hate when the sprayer periodically clogs up. Such a PIA to unclog everything. I bought a new sprayer a few yrs ago and havent used it once.
dirtygardener
7 years ago
I've never done it because I don't fertilize the entire garden, only the ones that need it. I heard someone talking about doing it in line at WalMart the other day, but with all the leaves around my plants, I don't think it would work for me. Right now, I mix up a 5-gallon bucket of fertilizer, put some in 1-gallon containers, and water plants individually. It usually takes me about 15 gallons for the entire garden & courtyard.

One bucket is for container plants, the rest is for in-ground plants. I fertilize the bloomers, the brugs, and any new plants that need a boost. My plants grow so well anyway with all the worms in the beds, that I hardly have to fertilize the rest. I figure the water carries the fertilizer to other plants, or their roots reach out and grab some of it, since the beds are planted so densely.
bea (zone 9a -Jax area)
Original Author
7 years ago
Brad great idea on the shakers! I will do that as soon as I have two empty ones. One for fertilizer and one for epsom salt. Thanks for sharing.
jane__ny
7 years ago
I buy 5 large bags of 10--10-10-. Dump a bag in the wheel barrow and use a coffee can to throw it around everything. Bushes, trees, flowers, etc. I don't measure or get fussy. Just throw it everywhere.

The soil in Florida is so poor, this really should be done 3X a season.

Granular is better than liquid. Liquid is like a vitamin shot. Granular lasts longer and feeds more slowly.

Did the same when we lived in NY. Always fertilized everything with granular in spring.

Jane