Mulching and Fertilising Tips for Your Landscape Plants
by Julius Manninen
Landscaping plants are the best option for anyone who wants guaranteed beauty in his or her garden. They enable you to improve the aesthetic value of your garden by choosing from what nature can offer. Normally, the best landscaping projects comprise a mix of bushes, trees, flowers and grasses. Each of the species in this category has its special needs for it to thrive in your home. However, some of the care and maintenance demand cut across all these types of plants. In this piece, the focus is on mulching and fertilising your landscaping plants to help them grow well.
Fertiliser and Your Soil pH
The pH is a measure of the level acidity or alkalinity of the soil in your garden. Certainly, some plants do well in acidic soils while others can only thrive when the soil has a high amount of bases. Most landscaping plants do well in neutral or slightly acidic soils with a pH range of 6.5 to 7. However, some plant species such as azaleas grow well in soils with high amounts of acids.
You need fertilisers to change the chemical composition of your soil and get the right pH. A wrong pH will hinder the proper development of your landscaping plants. It is important to consult your local plant nursery specialist for recommendations on the best fertiliser that will suit the plants you want to grow based on your soil conditions.
Slow Versus Fast-release Fertilisers
Flowers and grasses tend to grow fast because they draw many resources from the soil. On the contrary, big ornamental plants such as bushes and trees grow at a slower pace, using up lesser soil resources. You need to match your fertiliser to the type of plants you are caring for. Quick-release fertiliser has nutrients that dissolve fast in the soil for fast absorption by plants. Examples are nitrate and ammonium. On the other hand, slow-release fertilisers take longer to dissolve, availing their nutrients gradually to your landscaping plants. Examples include sulphur coated urea, natural organics and methylene urea.
Cover the Soil With Organic Mulch
Mulching is particularly useful for large plants such as garden bushes and fruit trees. The mulch helps the soil to retain moisture and adds nutrients to the soil as it decays gradually. Pick a natural mulch such as ground pine and use it cover the soil. It can be anything between five to seven centimetres thick. When applying fertiliser, feel free to apply it on to of the mulch> it will find its way into the soil.
For more information, contact your local landscape plant suppliers.
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About Me
Welcome to my blog. My name is Emilie. When I turned thirty, I received the most thoughtful gift from my mum: a tropical tree in a pot. I loved it. I would have never imagined buying something like that, but it lit up my home, and it produced yummy fruit. After having such a positive experience with a potted tree, I decided to invest in a few more. Through the years, I have learned how to take care of potted trees, how to plant them outside and how to ensure they are getting the light they need inside. If you want to buy a tree in a pot or if you already have one, explore these posts. They will guide you toward great tree care.