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Return to the Heaths & Heathers Forum | Post a Follow-Up

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Fertilizing Heather

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Posted by bwehner 4/5 IA (My Page) on
Fri, Apr 30, 04 at 15:49

Hi everyone,nice to see this forum. I've got a large bed full of dwarf conifers and heathers. Conifers are doing fine but my heathers have been slow to grow in size. Do they need a shot of something like mir-acid or another product?
The bed has full sun and I make sure it gets regular water. The ground is covered in pine needles to prevent drying out and add acidty. I also add sulfer about once a year.
My ultimate goal is to have the heathers fill in the gaps around the bigger plants. Thanks for any info.
BruceW

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RE: Fertilizing Heather

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From the Rock Spray Nursery catalog:
Each spring use an fertilizer for acid loving plants....They do not recommend Miracid....use a slow release granular fertilizer....heather does not survive in a soil that is high in nitrogen...use a 5-10-5 formula appropriate for other acid loving plants.

Jim

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RE: Fertilizing Heather

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Follow Jim’s advice to the letter. Calluna grow naturally in sandy conditions. Sand is low in nitrogen (and not high in anything else, either). Adding just a bit of compost at planting time is okay, but that's all they'll need or want. Most heaths and heathers are s-l-o-w growers.

Miracid and the like are great for annuals—especially for those in pots, but should never be fed to perennials. Adding fast-acting fertilizers will result in plants' absolute dependence on chemical fertilization.

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RE: Fertilizing Heather

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I planted mine with a bit of Espoma Plant Tone...don't think I will give them anything further.

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RE: Fertilizing Heather

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I'm new to heather growing, but I've had good results mixing leaf mold into the soil along with Dr. Earths starter fertilizer. I use that for everything I plant and have had good results with it. I don't know if they mention it on their website, but you can learn what they do in their mixes.

Here is a link that might be useful: Doctor Earth Fertilizers

  
 

 

 


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