Feeding Regimes
As part of our relentless efforts to keep our plants happy, we feed them regularly, according to their specific needs.
Our ‘staple’ product is pelleted Vitax Q4, which is a general-purpose fertilizer and contains all nutrients and trace elements required for growth and flowering.
Roses and soft fruit benefit from mulching with well-rotted horse manure, generously provided by the equine members of the household (and highly appreciated by the canine members…)
Flowering shrubs are generally fed after flowering. Calcifuges, however, are fed with a slow-release fertilizer in March and then throughout the season with a seaweed/sequestered iron extract.
All borders are fed twice to keep the display going, as are clematis and roses.
Lime of magnesium benefits hepaticas as they prefer alkaline conditions. It is also applied to Iris germanica as pioneered at Sissinghurst.
Olive and citrus trees are fed weekly throughout the season, using specialist products.
| Product | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All borders | Vitax Q4 | YES | YES | ||||||
| Calcifuges | Slow release ericaceous fertilizer | YES | |||||||
| Calcifuges (monthly) | Seaweed plus sequestered iron | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | ||
| Citrus trees (weekly) | Citrus Focus | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | |
| Climbers, shrubs & fruit trees | Vitax Q4 | YES | |||||||
| Iris germanica & hepaticas | Lime of magnesium | YES | |||||||
| Iris sibirica and ensata (foliage) | SB Plant Invigorator | YES | |||||||
| Lilacs | Vitax Q4 | YES | |||||||
| Olive trees (weekly) | Olive Focus | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | |
| Philadelphus, exochorda, Osmanthus burkwoodii & delavayi | Vitax Q4 | YES | |||||||
| Roses & clematis | Vitax Q4 | YES | YES | ||||||
| Roses & soft fruit | Well-rotted horse manure | YES |