Go to fertiliser

Hi all,

what’s your go to fertiliser and why.. and the prices have shot up

mine is Vitax Q4 use on nearly everything outdoors.

I also use to mix with multi-purpose compost and coir to make up my own mixes. At the moment 20k is from £41 but you have to look around to get the best price some are £72.00 and not including p&p for the exact same product.

Spruce

 

Blood fish and bone because it’s organic and slow release, but I only use it where needed . I also use seaweed extract on my tree fern and whenever my box hedge looks a bit tired!

 

As a result of no more peat when moving certain small plants into their finale pot some sites recommend you mix 10 parts multi- purpose compost with 1 part manure ( bags can be bought from GC) and 1 part perilite.

 

I have tried the peat free composts don’t rate them will stick to peat based plenty still available in our garden centres where I live.
UK Government confirms ban on all peat-based gardening products will not be implemented until 2030.I add blood fish and bone and seaweed meal.

 

I very rarely fertilise trees or shrubs, maybe some chicken pellets or grow more on veg.
I do fertilise pots, mostly for summer use I add slow release to potting compost.

For liquid feeding I use chempak in summer months mostly but have used tomorite if its on offer.

 

Like @pete I don't feed woody shrubs/trees as such, they get compost or leaf mould around them now and again, but I don't plant them without making sure the site is nicely amended enough so that they establish well from the start. On planting, I use a little B,F&Bone. If I put new perennials in an existing border, that's what they usually get, then the same treatment with spent compost etc.
Climbers [mainly clematis] get some slow release food or tomato food depending on what type they are. The early ones get nothing.
For heavy flowering plants in pots, I use tomato food. I also make comfrey tea and use that as well for various plants - and the tomatoes. Most of my annuals are potted and they get one or other of those, or some slow release granules. The sweet peas get slow release food on planting, then tomato food later on as the slow release stuff only lasts until later summer or so.

 

Source for this ,please ?

 

Use compost (home waste), stable manure (free locally-'just help your self' and have chicken pellets , bfb and Q4 (now seems to be chicken based ?) for use on demand. Almost all veg raised as plants before planting out in no dig beds, mulched in Sept/Oct/ as cleared, or top dressed to planted areas.
Seedlings/plant modules watered with rainwater containing seaweed extract (Doff) until planted out. Nutrition is not recognised here as a reason for crop failure. Pigeons and slugs are !

 

Wildlife trust and internet pages.some will be banned in 2027 but not all.

 

I use BF&B ,Growmore, Chicken Manure pellets and FYM...

 

I used to swear by BFB for planting and a spring boost in the garden. It's way too expensive here so just sprinkle some agri pellets (the equivalent of growmore) around greedy plants like clematis. Miracle-Gro everytime for all my potted plants and citrus trees. Once a month through the winter, once a fortnight the rest of the year.

 

I've actually stopped using FBB because I've never noticed any effects when using it.

 

I saw 40 ltrs of Jacks Magic, peat free on sale for £7.99, at Notcutts garden centre today.
It said on the pack 25% extra free.

They must be having an after Christmas sale.

 

Like others have said, I don't generally fertilise shrubs & trees, excluding roses - though on occasion I might deviate from that. On those few occasions I prefer organic options. I do sometimes add some well rotted manure, but I tend to avoid chemical fertilisers.

That is not the case for potted plants, where I use slow release non organic fertiliser, as I think the organic ones are more difficult to break down without the eco system which exists in the ground.

I am not really faithful to any brand specifically.

Personally I don't have issues with peat free compost. If I need compost, I always go for peat free. Having said that, there is a big difference in quality between supermarket peat free compost (I had gotten some from Aldi /Asda in the past that was rubbish) and better - albeit a bit more expensive - options.