In order for your plants to grow well, your beds must be well supplied with nutrients. You can achieve this with the right fertilizer. However, finding it is not always easy, because there are countless different fertilizers.
How should you properly fertilize a bed?
In order to optimally fertilize your bed, you should determine the nutrient requirements through a soil analysis. Choose the right fertilizer and pay attention to laboratory recommendations or signs from indicator plants. Compost is used for general soil improvement, special fertilizer is suitable for special requirements.
Determine nutrient requirements
In order to fertilize as needed, it is important that you know what your soil is missing. Have a soil analysis carried out in a special laboratory approximately every two to three years. It doesn't cost too much and you'll usually get fertilizer tips at the same time. At least the pH value, the humus content and the most important nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen and magnesium should be checked.
If you give your plants too much fertilizer, not only will they suffer, but the environment will also suffer. Because the fertilizers also end up in the groundwater. You can recognize over-fertilization on the plants by, among other things, yellow or wilted leaves.
Choose the right fertilizer
It is of little use if you simply apply any fertilizer to your bed, because too much can even cause damage. Therefore, be sure to follow the fertilizer recommendations from the laboratory. Without analysis you have to orientate yourself differently. There are so-called indicator plants that can provide information about soil conditions. Then you will know what your soil is missing and which fertilizer you should use.
Ranunculus likes to grow on wet, lime- and nitrogen-rich soils. The large nettle also indicates nitrogen-rich soil, while wild carrots and field horsetail indicate nitrogen deficiency. On calcareous soil you will find buttercups, chicory, meadow sage and coltsfoot, while dog chamomile and small sorrel indicate acidic soil.
If you generally want to improve your garden soil, then compost is a cost-effective and effective means. However, it should be well ripened and is not suitable for plants sensitive to lime. Heavy eaters also need some nitrogen. You can supply this with horn shavings (€32.00 on Amazon).
Small overview of special fertilizers:
- Blue grain: complete mineral fertilizer, use sparingly
- Rose fertilizer, also available as a long-term fertilizer
- Lawn fertilizer: best distributed with a spreader and then watered well
- Phosphate-based fertilizer: for fruit trees, legumes, flower bulbs
- Low phosphate fertilizer: lettuce, lawn, cabbage, ferns
Tip
Yellow or wilted leaves are not always a sign of lack of water, it can also be due to over-fertilization.
