Broadcasting is spreading dry fertilizers uniformly over an unplanted area, such as a garden before tilling the soil, a lawn, strawberry rows or beds or asparagus patch.
Broadcast when leaves are dry so the fertilizer doesn't stick to them and burn them.
Broadcast fertilizers are most effective when applied just before a rain, watered in during dry periods or worked into the soil.
Top-dressing is a hand application of dry fertilizers in a ring around a plant.
The width and diameter of the ring should be in proportion to the size of the plant.
For example, the ring applied around a tomato plant a month after planting into the garden would be about 2 or 3 inches wide, and the inside diameter of the ring would be about 4 inches.
If you were top-dressing a large shrub, the ring might have an inside diameter of 3 or 4 feet and be 2 feet wide so that the outer diameter of the ring would extend somewhat beyond the spread of the branches.
Mechanical spreaders apply dry fertilizers on the soil surface more evenly than one can do by hand. Depending on the device, the fertilizer is either scattered widely or dropped.
It is vital to adjust the distributor so it applies fertilizer at the correct rate to avoid either too much or too little. Spreaders are useful in broadcasting fertilizer over a lawn or over a garden before tilling.
Liquid feeding method involves applying soluble fertilizers through water hose attachments or with an ordinary sprinkling can. It is a quick and easy way to apply fertilizer.
Foliar feeding water solutions when applied as a spray with highly soluble compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements are readily absorbed through the leaves of some plants.
Plants respond most to foliar nutrient applications when the levels of nutrients in the plant are low as a result of low or unavailable nutrient levels in the soil.
Because absorption and plant response are quick, foliar application is often effective as an emergency measure and sometimes is the only practical method to apply some micro or trace nutrients.
Root plug feeding is used for trees in the lawn. Narrow holes are dug with a soil auger about 18 inches deep and about the same distance apart under the trees, over an area similar to that covered when top-dressing.
Dry fertilizer is mixed with soil and placed in the holes. This is a time consuming procedure.
Lance feeding is similar to root plug feeding except that water and fertilizer are forced into the holes at the same time through a special tube connected to a garden hose. The fertilizer is rapidly available to the tree, but the procedure is time consuming.
Curt Peterson, Ph.D., is a professor of landscape horticulture and nursery management on faculty
at Florida Southern College.
He resides in Union Springs
during the summer months.
He can be reached at curt.peters@hotmail.com
Broadcast fertilizers are most effective when applied just before a rain, watered in during dry periods or worked into the soil.
Top-dressing is a hand application of dry fertilizers in a ring around a plant.
The width and diameter of the ring should be in proportion to the size of the plant.
For example, the ring applied around a tomato plant a month after planting into the garden would be about 2 or 3 inches wide, and the inside diameter of the ring would be about 4 inches.
If you were top-dressing a large shrub, the ring might have an inside diameter of 3 or 4 feet and be 2 feet wide so that the outer diameter of the ring would extend somewhat beyond the spread of the branches.
Mechanical spreaders apply dry fertilizers on the soil surface more evenly than one can do by hand. Depending on the device, the fertilizer is either scattered widely or dropped.
It is vital to adjust the distributor so it applies fertilizer at the correct rate to avoid either too much or too little. Spreaders are useful in broadcasting fertilizer over a lawn or over a garden before tilling.
Liquid feeding method involves applying soluble fertilizers through water hose attachments or with an ordinary sprinkling can. It is a quick and easy way to apply fertilizer.
Foliar feeding water solutions when applied as a spray with highly soluble compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements are readily absorbed through the leaves of some plants.
Plants respond most to foliar nutrient applications when the levels of nutrients in the plant are low as a result of low or unavailable nutrient levels in the soil.
Because absorption and plant response are quick, foliar application is often effective as an emergency measure and sometimes is the only practical method to apply some micro or trace nutrients.
Root plug feeding is used for trees in the lawn. Narrow holes are dug with a soil auger about 18 inches deep and about the same distance apart under the trees, over an area similar to that covered when top-dressing.
Dry fertilizer is mixed with soil and placed in the holes. This is a time consuming procedure.
Lance feeding is similar to root plug feeding except that water and fertilizer are forced into the holes at the same time through a special tube connected to a garden hose. The fertilizer is rapidly available to the tree, but the procedure is time consuming.
Curt Peterson, Ph.D., is a professor of landscape horticulture and nursery management on faculty
at Florida Southern College.
He resides in Union Springs
during the summer months.
He can be reached at curt.peters@hotmail.com
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.