Feeding Your Garden In Spring

The days are getting longer and warmer, and gardeners across the country are breathing a sigh of relief as we watch our plants begin to come back to life. 

Being patient in Spring and waiting for the perfect time to get back into your garden can be a real challenge. Planting things too early can be disappointing when a frost comes along, but if you want to keep busy you can begin to prepare and nourish your garden soil ready for the season ahead. 

Spring is a great time to add nutrients into your soil, and here are some ways in which you can do it:

Farmyard Manure

Farmyard manure is rich in organic matter which improves soil structure, especially in the clay soil that is typical here in Warwickshire. By adding farmyard manure around plants, or digging it into borders you are improving your soil condition, therefore encouraging healthier growth and a higher yield. 

How to use Farmyard Manure to improve soil

General soil improvement: 

Spread a thick layer of manure on top of your soil, then use a garden fork to tease the soil and mix the layers of soil together. 

Using farmyard manure as a mulch: 

Spread a layer of manure around the base of your plants. This also helps to retain water in the soil around your plant and prevent weeds.

Balanced Slow Release Feeds

Using a fertiliser is a quick and easy way to get nutrients back into your soil. 

Adding a slow release feed to your soil, around your plants in spring is referred to as ‘top dressing.’ Much like farmyard manure, it encourages healthier growth and a higher yield. A slow release feed will add nutrients into your soil each time it rains or is watered, ensuring your plants are fed continually over the coming months.  

We recommend using Q4 All Purpose Plant Food to give your shrubs and plants a balanced feed in early spring.

Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron continuous release granules are also really effective for the acid-loving plants.

How to use Vitax Q4 to improve soil

General soil improvement: 

Sprinkle Q4 over your soil and use your garden fork to tease it into the soil, mixing the Q4 in. 

Feeding existing plants: 

Sprinkle a handful of Q4 around the base of your plant.

Organic Feeds

If the focus in your garden is to use organic methods, you can begin to sprinkle Blood, Fish & Bone on top of your soil once the weather begins to warm up. 

Blood, Fish & Bone contains a lot of nitrogen and phosphate which are essential for plant growth. It’s important to remember that too much nitrogen in early spring can promote new growth, which can then be caught by frost, so try to use Blood, Fish & Bone once the weather begins to warm up. 

How to use Blood, Fish & Bone to improve soil

Simply sprinkle Blood, Fish & Bone around your plants or the area you will be planting later in the season.

Organic Garden Compost 

If you have your own compost heap, it’s your time to shine! Mulching your borders with your own compost is a great way to start the season, giving your plants a boost ready for the season ahead. 

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