Yes I have Luke and use it in my 'pots' only, from May onwards.. but only once in a season May/June. Follow the instructions closely. It is strong.
In addition to the N-P-K ratio given on fertilizer labels, we have to remember that most are 99% marketing. The idea that you need a special formulation (in decimal-point numbers no less) for maples or roses or tomatoes or whatever is fast going out the window.
You make an excellent point Margot, as you can see my bottle is quite old. I did try it alongside using nothing a couple of years back and saw no real difference in vigour etc between my trees. But I also believe that sometimes it is important to experiment yourself. As we know in science , sometimes you get different results.
I’m of the same opinion and was going to say something similar to Margot. With no seaweed extract, trace elements etc, what’s special apart from a weak solution. I use standard fertilisers if I need to but amend the dilution or application rate. Never apply standard strength and as Derek says, one application is enough and always early in the growing season. So most U.K specialist maple fertilisers are expensive and just a third strength standard fertiliser. I would pay for some of the specialist maple fertilisers I see available in the States which are more specialised.
Hi, and thanks for all your responses. Jaybee, it I may ask, what is the difference between the uk specialist fertilisers for Japanese Maples and the US specialist fertilisers?
I’ll also wait until it hasn’t rained for a while and they really need a drink so they absorb as much as possible.
That's what I used Luke. And it's a very small cap, so a little goes a long way. Wonder if it's worth a small experiment by you as I did. Two identical maples, one with fertiliser and one without for this season and see what results you get. Just a thought!!
Just that some are weak NPK fertilisers, yes they need to be weak, but we can dilute. Looking at the label, there are no trace elements, seaweed extract, or anything which makes the fertiliser special or specific to maples apart from maybe an inflated cost. So nothing wrong with it, it’s not a complete fertiliser with trace elements, but shouldn’t be any dearer than a standard fertiliser which we can dilute. I guess my gripe is what makes it specially formulated for maples? Nothing apart from being a weak concentration 9which is required). If a U.K specialist nursery (specifically a grower) was endorsing or recommending a product, I would take an interest.
So seaweed extract is good for maples? I’ve heard it spoken about it before. What does it contain that is good for them?
It’s meant to be beneficial for all plants. It’s known it helps as a growth/health stimulant. You usually pay more for a fertiliser with seaweed extract. below is from the RHS website.. Why use seaweed products? Seaweed products are useful products for organic gardeners wishing to avoid synthetic fertilisers or fertilisers made from animal products, providing a useful source of potassium, magnesium and trace elements. Seaweed and seaweed fertilisers are usually a sustainable, renewable resource. Seaweed is rich in trace elements (nutrients that plants only need small amounts of) including iron, manganese, zince, copper and boron, which are often lacking in common fertilisers such as Growmore and fish, blood & bone, but which are nevertheless important for plant health. However most soils have adequate levels of micronutrients. Nowadays there are a number of dried and processed seaweed available on the market. Some liquid seaweed fertilisers may be applied as foliar feeds, where the nutrients are sprayed onto the foliage and taken up through the leaves. Fresh seaweed, or dried and processed seaweed products are not true fertilisersbecause their plant nutrient content is not guaranteed or standardised. However there are more and more fertiliser products available to gardeners that now contain additonal seaweed extracts. Fresh seaweed has long been used by coastal gardeners as a soil improver and plant feed, but there is no public right to collect seaweed from the beach unless you own the beach and it is not designated a site of special scientific interest or a special area of conservation. If you plan to gather seaweed, it is always advisable to check with the land owner and the local council first. Although seaweed is salty, the salt is not usually present in sufficient amounts to damage crops or soil, and the salt will in any case leach out readily with rainfall as it is highly soluble. Some seaweed products claim added benefit because they are said to contain natural plant growth regulators such as cytokinins. These act as a growth stimulant
More on this topic, from Washington State University: Microsoft Word - B&B #63 - seaweed extracts.doc (wsu.edu) One from the same source, this time on foliar feeding in general: Microsoft Word - B&B #55 - Foliar feeding.doc (wsu.edu)
