Can someone please explain fertilising / feeding plants to me?

[ElisabethMoths]

I'm a new gardener - only had the garden for a couple of years and I haven't fed anything yet.

What's the simplest way to do it and to include all the plants?

Probably a really stupid question but I am new to all this.

Not a stupid question at all. I think most gardeners struggle with what to feed, when to feed and even if it really necessary to feed at all.

Can you identify what plants you have. If not maybe post a picture. Do your plants look healthy. If so then it probably not necessary as your soil could be providing all the nutrients already.,

This is my general routine for my London Clay Garden. I spread composted Bark under the plants in November. This is the easiest as the worms take it down into the soil. In the spring, just as the new buds emerge, I scatter some Fish Blood and Bone, but don't be over generous as too much is worse than too little. During the summf I give my Roses, Clematis and any flowering plants a week seaweed feed once or twice. I grow Acers so I give them Sequestrate or Iron.

That said, I have been gardening for 50 years and no idea if it is right.

Watering is more important than feeding, particularly for new plants. I recently bought an amazing gadget. (MN recommendation) for £5 from Wilkinsons. It tells you the water level in the soil.

If the plants are in good soil they probably don't need feeding. If in pots, what are you growing?

I'd research you plants first. Some have different requirements, for example Azealias and Acers require ericaceous fertiliser, in liquid or soluble form.
Too much nitrogen based fertiliser and some plants won't flower, but grow luscious leaves. As I have found out from 60 cms high Cosmos with few flowers!
In general though soluble plant food, watered in for pots and a granular variety spread over the soil at the start of the growing season, with regular top ups during the summer months.

Thank you. I like the thought of the granular feed spread on soil at teh beginning of the growing season.

I've got a (non flowering yet) magnolia grandiflora, a arbutus unedo, sedum, coneflowers and other summer flowering plants (can't remember names). We did have an Acer but it didn't thrive very well so we took it out.

What is composted bark? Can you please give me a name of the product as I like the sound of that. We also have London clay soil and I'd love the name of your Wilkinsons' item to check water Gruuuumbleweec.

I bought my composted Bark from a company called "Compost direct" they also do compost called BlaCk Gold which is Very good as it contained composted manure. You can use it . Either for planting or just as a top dressing. The composted Bark is garden matter that has started to rot down but Is not sieved as far as compost.

I can't do links so maybe these photos help. Wilko probably won't have the meter until next year but I say this on eBay which is the same. I use it for my house plants.

I'll second the moisture meter. I have the same one, invaluable for the green house, where the compost can look dry, but the roots are damp.

Thank you. I like the thought of the granular feed spread on soil at teh beginning of the growing season.

Why? London clay is full of nutrients. There really is no need. Also, the plant needs nutrients at the roots, not on top of the soil. This is just a waste of nutrients [that end up in the water supply] and £.

Alternative. tentacle, thanks for that info. I did wonder. Do you think it needs to go in the planting hole for new stuff.

You do not need fertiliser when you are planting into clay. If you have a deficiency in a nutrient, then you may need a fertiliser but most soils will have all the nutrients that plants need. Otherwise weeds wouldn't grow.

Thanks.

AlternativeT - so are you saying I don't need fertiliser at all? Even for the plants and I buy and put in to the garden? Nothing?

It is very unlikely, unless you have a deficiency which is usually shown by nothing growing in that soil, or things that are growing not growing well. Soil is fertiliser. The minerals in it [mainly silt and clay] hold nutrients and the worms add more.

I second what alternative says - if most of your plants are currently growing well, you don't need to do anything. Only if one of your plants is failing, then you could look it up and consider topping up the relevant nutrient if it is likely to be deficient.

The only exception is vegetable gardening, which takes more out of the soil, so it's wise to top up with nutrients regularly in the form of annual mulching, and granular/liquid fertiliser during the fruiting/flowering period.

With London clay, again veg won't need extra nutrients. Honest. In sand or silt maybe as sand doesn't hold nutrients. Plant food is designed for pots not in the ground. Even farmers only use it if growing monoculture crops which strip specific nutrients from the soil. Dont waste your money. Mulch yes, compost yes, but adding fertilisers for no reason, not needed.

Alternative - I'm confused as I thought compost was fertiliser. What's the difference and why do you recommend that and mulching?