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What plant food and fertilizer to use for outdoor plants?
There are a few key considerations when choosing outdoor plant food and fertilizer. The first step is understanding your soil and what nutrients your plants need. A basic all-purpose outdoor fertilizer is suitable for most situations and can be used throughout the growing season.
When to fertilize and feed outdoor plants?
For annuals, perennials and vegetable gardens, you'll want to provide an initial feeding in early spring when plants become active again after winter. This helps fuel strong new growth. Further applications of outdoor plant fertilizer can take place monthly through summer until about mid-August. Follow packaging instructions, but in general use fertilizer every 4 – 6 weeks during the growing season.
How often to use fertilizer and plant food for outdoor plants?
Slow-release fertilizers containing nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can be applied at the beginning of the growing season in the spring and may only need to be reapplied every 2 – 3 months or as directed on the product packaging. These fertilizers release nutrients gradually as the plant uses them. Quick-release liquid or water-soluble fertilizers may need to be applied more regularly, every 4 – 6 weeks during the active growing season, to maintain healthy plant growth.
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