RE: Fertilizing mediterranean plants

Hi Ben,
 
The only plants that get fertilizer in our garden are the vegetables and fruit trees, including citrus.  The rest are on their own.  We have heavy clay with lots of minor minerals in it and P and K.  Nitrogen is low but we don't add nitrogen except through mulching with tree trimmings every few years.  Nitrogen encourages tender, succulent growth that attracts chewing insects and caterpillars.
 
I'm sure there are others who have strong opinions about fertilizer and medit plants.  I believe Olivier Filippi, author of The Dry Gardening Handbook, uses none as well.
 
Cheers,
Bracey

From: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu] On Behalf Of Ben Wiswall
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 12:13 PM
To: medit plants forum
Subject: Fertilizing mediterranean plants

Hi All,
What's the consensus on using fertilizers for mediterranean-climate plants?  I know most of the Proteaceae don't want fertilizers, but apart from them, what do people do?

Initially I gave an application of a balanced NPK pelletized fertilizer with iron once before spring and once before summer: as the garden matures, I've been fertilizing ever more sparingly.
I also have sprinkled fertilizer on roses while bypassing adjacent lavenders, though I don't know if that actually works.

So now in Year 5 for my garden, should I give most everything a light application, or not?

Thanks,
Ben Armentrout-Wiswall
Simi Valley, inland Ventura County,
southern California
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