Content
- How to fertilize your hedge properly
- Hedges need nutrients
- These nutrients are important
- Timing for fertilization
- Organic fertilizer
- Mineral fertilizer
Compost is an excellent fertilizer for hedges
How to fertilize your hedge properly
Nutrients ensure that your hedge grows healthy. Decisive for plant health is the time of fertilization and the choice of the right fertilizer.
Hedges need nutrients
Hedges form far-reaching roots to extract as many nutrients from the soil as possible. A fertilizer supply supports the growth of young plants. When fertilizing tact is needed, because too many nutrients damage the plants. There is a high risk of mineral fertilizers. The salts contained in it extract fluid from the roots, causing the plants to dry out and die off.
These nutrients are important
The shrubs use carbon dioxide to develop glucose during photosynthesis. Nitrogen is important in the formation of proteins. The plants use this nutrient to form chlorophyll. Phosphorus is essential for healthy plant growth. As a structural element, it ensures energy transfer together with other substances.
Potassium protects the organism from external influences. It makes the plant resistant and reduces diseases. In addition to these nutrients, the roots need oxygen and a range of trace elements. With the water, the nutrients are transported in the channels of the plants and brought to the respective places.
Timing for fertilization
During the growing season, fertilize your hedges between March and August when the plant needs nutrients for growth. The ideal time is when the plants sprout. In autumn, you should give up fertilization. The late availability of nutrients causes the hedge to drive out again. The wood does not fully mature. It stays soft and is therefore prone to frost.
Organic fertilizer
Suitable organic fertilizers are compost, horn meal or horn shavings and organic whole fertilizers from the trade. Compost improves the soil, as it has a positive effect on the air and water balance and on its structure. Not every plant can tolerate compost fertilization, as this slightly raises the pH of the soil. Rhododendrons should not be fertilized with compost.
Horn meal and horn shavings are of animal origin. Horn meal is finer than horn chips and develops its effect faster. This fertilization supplies the hedges mainly with nitrogen and phosphate. Since the products decompose only slowly in the soil, a long-term nutrient supply is guaranteed. Fertilize your hedges in autumn so that the substances in the soil can dissolve.
Organic whole fertilizers have these advantages:
Mineral fertilizer
Blue Grain is a mineral fertilizer rich in nitrate, phosphate and potassium. While original compounds were less environmentally friendly, new formulations are characterized by less environmental impact. Magnesium sulfate is also known by the term Epsom salt. It is suitable as root fertilizer and deficiency symptoms on the leaves as foliar fertilizer. Potassium fertilizers are mainly used in ornamental shrubs. Evergreen plants benefit from a potassium fertilizer before winter, which acts as a natural antifreeze.