Episode: #14 23/12/06
Presenter: Judy Horton

We all know that this is the season when plants are growing and hence they need feeding but there are so many fertilisers on the market it?s all so confusing. How do you choose?

Start with Dynamic Lifter pellets because they are good for most plants in the garden. They are gentle and totally organic and you can fling them around without having to take too much care about where they land.

Some plants are heavy feeders and need specially formulated foods. Examples are citrus food which can be used to feed all sorts of fruit trees, and rose food which is also suitable for other flowery shrubs like hibiscus.

The good thing about the granular fertilisers is that they are blended with the specific nutrients that each plant group needs. For example, Yates Lush Lawn Master, is high in nitrogen because it encourages leafy grass growth but it has other nutrients as well.

Be careful when you are spreading these sorts of fertilisers because you can burn leaves and roots if you give them too much, or if it is dry. Don?t be too heavy-handed and make sure the soil is moist and that you water well afterwards to dissolve the salts.

Because granular fertilisers are so strong we don?t recommend these foods for potted plants. Instead use some of the slow release pellets like Garden Gold. Some nutrients in the pack will become available quite quickly and others will still be working in three month?s time!

Now, at the opposite end of the spectrum, if you want fast, fast growth then it is best to use a plant food that can be applied in water because it will get straight into the leaves and the roots. Thrive All Purpose can come as powders that dissolve almost instantly, or liquid concentrates that you dilute before you start. They are ideal for feeding young flowers and vegies where you want the plants to establish as quickly as possible.

Featured Product

Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food:

• This is a versatile feed for all garden, potted and Australian native plants.
• Slow release nutrients improving structure and retention of the soil.
• It also encourages earthworms and is beneficial to soil micro-organisms

Yates Citrus Food

• Specially developed granular fertiliser for feeding garden planted citrus.
• Balanced blend of nitrogen for healthy foliage growth and phosphorus and potassium for large juicy fruit.
• A fast acting granular plant food.
• Specifically formulated for all types of citrus.
• Also contains trace elements for all round citrus health.

Thrive Granular Rose Food

• Specially developed granular fertiliser for feeding established garden rose bushes
• Balanced blend of nitrogen for healthy foliage growth and potassium for quality rose blooms and pest & disease resistance.
• Also contains trace elements for all round rose health
• A fast acting granular rose food.
• Formulated to boost flowering and large healthy blooms

Lush Lawn Master

• Premium slow release lawn food with added wetting agent for continuous feeding of lawns for up to three months.
• Promotes even growth and encourages stronger root development.
• Wetting agent granules encourage deep watering of hard soils and delivers nutrients to the root system.
• Great for feeding all types of lawns.
• Ingredients include slow release nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements, with added wetting agent granules.

Yates Garden Gold

• A complete fertiliser for feeding all types of indoor and outdoor garden and potted plants.
• Rich in nitrogen for healthy green lush foliage, with balanced phosphorus and potassium for strong root growth and beautiful flowers
• Contains MoisturAid wetting agent to encourage penetration of water and nutrients into the soil.
• Contains fast acting nitrogen for quick results, and slow acting nitrogen to feed plants for up to 3 months.
• The release of nitrogen is controlled by moisture and soil microbes, and matches the nitrogen requirements of plants.
• Low application rate therefore very economical.
• Easy to use shaker pack.

Thrive All Purpose Liquid Fertiliser

• Fast acting liquid fertiliser.
• Ideal for feeding a wide range of ornamental flower, shrubs, trees as well as vegetables and herbs.
• Feeds through foliage and roots.
• Easy to measure and mix.

Thrive Soluble All Purpose

• A fast acting, complete soluble fertiliser ideal for feeding a wide range or ornamental flowers, shrubs and trees as well as vegetables, herbs and lawns.
• Feeds through the foliage and roots.
• Specially formulated blend of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements to encourage healthy green foliage, flowers and fruiting.