Re: Over-pampering
- To:
- Subject: Re: Over-pampering
- From: M* T*
- Date: Sun, 30 May 1999 01:22:58 -0400
I agree with Gene. Give plants the best soil you can and mulch with
organic material, water when it's really dry - before, if possible, they
show a lot of stress - and let them get on with it. My plants seldom get
fertilized. If something looks a bit peaky, I'll try to give it a
topdressing of compost or bagged cow manure - if I can get around to it
and remember.
In general, my garden is pretty lush until things start to slow down end of
August. I like to keep plants lean and mean so they can fight it out in
the wild world of the garden. Too much fertilizer does not help them. It
does nothing for a stressed plant and makes non-stressed ones too lush and
unable to take adversity....they get like drug addicts and have to have
their fix.
That said, there are a few very heavy feeders that do need more than a
mulch...roses come to mind tho' mine don't always get that extra dollop of
manure they would really like. But, even those guys keep on blooming and
growing. I think my one exception in recent years has been my poor yew
hedges who do get fed in spring after Bambi has munched on them all winter,
on the theory that they need a bit of extra to try to recover.
Of course, potted plants do get fed, but that's a horse of a different
color as their roots are restricted to the pot.
They key is in the soil - build it up and your plants will do well - all
other things being equal. Neglect the soil and you and your plants have to
become fertilizer addicts to survive in a downward spiral. Soil is key....
As far as insect attack is concerned, if you can bring your garden into
balance, you seldom have drastic attacks. May take a few years to
accomplish, but it is possible. Rarely do I have insect problems that I
and my plants can't tolerate.
I say, save your money to buy plants, not support the chemical companies:-)
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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----------
> From: lowery@teamzeon.com
> Date: Thursday, May 27, 1999 2:58 PM
>
> Question to all:
>
>
> Has anyone ever given any thought to the results of over-pampering a
plant?
> I remember reading a passage in "The Well-Tended Perennial Garden" about
> this topic. The author says that one of the biggest mistakes that
> gardeners make is to "overfertilize" their gardens.
>
> This made me stop and re-read.
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