Rhododendrons are popular plants that benefit from fertilization, but it is important to fertilize them properly. The most important thing is that they thrive in an acidic environment, so the choice of feed and compost must meet these requirements. Feeding rhododendrons is one way to provide the plants with the nutrients they need, especially if the soil in your garden is poor or if you use certain types of mulches that reduce the nitrogen content of the soil. Read on to learn how to fertilize a rhododendron in summer.
When should you fertilize the rhododendron?
Rhododendrons should be fertilized once or twice a year. It is best to do this in the spring before flowering and then re-fertilize again later in late June to mid-July. Only use half the amount of fertilizer for top dressing.
Fertilizing rhododendrons in summer – tips
You can fertilize your plant with these products.
Mulch and natural fertilizers
When it comes to fertilizing rhododendrons, we should follow nature and let the environment guide us. The process of mulching and fertilizing is a constant cycle in nature, in which one year's mulch is gradually converted into useful fertilizer in subsequent years. Anything that falls to the ground or flows into the region with groundwater is considered potential food for rhododendrons. These include, for example, leaves, needles, twigs, flowers and fruits.
Important tip:For plants grown in containers, it is recommended to replace the top two inches of compost each winter. This can be beneficial for the plants.
Fertilize rhododendrons with compost
The right soil for rhododendron plants should have a very high organic matter content and should also be well-drained, well aerated and moderately acidic at most. Some of the elements that can be mixed in an infinite number of different ways to create a quality growing medium include reeds, coarse peat moss, fir bark, composted oak leaves and evergreen needles, rotted wood, and fully decomposed sawdust. When plants are grown in an organic medium where the majority of nutrients come fromorganic fertilizersthe acidity or pH of the growing medium is not nearly as important. Oak leaves, evergreen needles, alfalfa and cleaned seaweed are the four main ingredients of a high-quality compost for rhododendrons. Organic nitrogen in the form of fish meal or blood meal can be introduced into the spaces between the individual layers.
Choose organic fertilizers
It is important to use the right fertilizer in addition to the appropriate compost. It's a waste of time to go to the trouble of selecting compost that your plants would appreciate and then giving those same plants liquid fertilizer that they don't like.
Rhododendron fertilizer is beneficial for plants even if the soil in your garden is not very rich or fertile. It helps maintain the overall health of the plants. Most shrubs can only thrive if the soil contains enough nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). On the rhododendron fertilizer container, the percentage of these three components is indicated in the following order: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Choose a complete fertilizer that contains all three components.
In garden shops you can find certain fertilizers that are specifically for azaleasand rhododendronsare marked. The ammonium sulfate content of these special fertilizers not only supplies nitrogen, but also has the advantage of making the soil more acidic. But there is no need to spend a lot of money on these expensive specialty fertilizers if the soil in your garden is naturally acidic. Using a complete fertilizer should be enough to achieve the desired results. The cost of granular fertilizers is often lower than other varieties. Sprinkle an amount of the fertilizer over the soil around each plant - you will find the amount you need on the back of the bottle. But you only need half because it is a follow-up fertilization.
Note the following:If the ground is covered with mulch, you should remove it and then spread the fertilizer over the soil. The fertilizer should not lie on the mulch layer.
Feed rhododendron with coffee grounds
The use ofCoffee grounds as fertilizeris one of the most beneficial methods. As previously mentioned, rhododendrons grow best in acidic soil. You can help acidify your soil by recycling your used coffee grounds. You can either enrich your soil with the coffee grounds by sprinkling them over the soil, or you can make a garden coffee that you pour over your garden. Both methods are practical. To make garden coffee, soak up to six cups of leftover coffee grounds for a week and then use the resulting liquid to water plants that thrive in acidic environments.
