Thuja, yew, cypress - they all belong to the conifers. We show what you should consider when fertilizing conifers in terms of timing and procedure.
Conifers (Coniferales, Pinales) are popular hedge plants because well-nourished, he althy representatives of these plants are in full bloom all year round Green. Genera such as thujas (Thuja) and yews (Taxus) are ideally adapted to the conditions in the home garden. Despite this adaptation, the plants need an additional supply of nutrients, especially when planted as a hedge or on sandy soil. Because it is precisely the particularly beautiful but sensitive cultivated variants that only develop sufficient resilience through additional fertilization in order to form a vital and lush green coniferous plant.
In order for your conifers to form opaque hedges, the bushy plants need the right nutrients. But when is the best time to fertilize conifers? Do conifers prefer a certain fertilizer? Here we clarify all important questions about the professional fertilization of your conifers.
When to fertilize conifers?
Whether you should fertilize the conifers as soon as you move them into the garden depends on the soil at the planting site and the planting material you have purchased. Plant fertilization is only necessary for conifers if the soil has a high proportion of sand or if you have purchased root material. In these cases, a load of compost or another slow-release fertilizer is mixed into the excavated soil. After planting, you should use the fertilizer again at the earliest four weeks after planting. Fertilize regularly from late February to mid-June. If you use a long-term fertilizer, a single fertilization in the spring is sufficient. An organic fertilizer variant in particular offers this long-term supply effect and conserves important resources in comparison to mineral fertilizers. In the fall between September and October you can get your conifers ready for the winter with a potassium fertilizer.
Summary: When the conifersfertilize?
- Plant fertilization on nutrient-poor soils and for bare-rooted plants
- Maintenance fertilization from the end of February to mid-June regularly or one-off application of slow-release fertilizer in spring
- Autumn fertilization (September/October) with potassium fertilizer
Conifer fertilizer: recommended fertilizer
The evergreen appearance of the conifer demands a lot from the pretty tree. Because the leaf mass needs to be supplied with enough nutrients not only in summer but also in winter. In addition to nitrogen, potassium and phosphate, particularly large amounts of iron, sulfur and magnesium are required for the lush green. Special conifer fertilizer is precisely adapted to these needs. In this way you protect your conifer from turning brown. As a rule, however, the use of a special conifer fertilizer is only worthwhile as a starter supply when planting on very poor soil, because sandy soil is ultimately very poor at storing nutrients. In connection with the fact that magnesium competes with calcium for the already scarce soil storage and that conifers are particularly demanding for the nutrient, there are often symptoms of deficiency. Rather loamy soil can store nutrients, a special conifer fertilizer is not necessary here.
Anyone who shys away from dealing with animal legacies and plant residues or cannot get hold of them can also use a normal NPK fertilizer with a low phosphate content. If you pay attention to environmentally friendly production and valuable ingredients when choosing fertilizer, using purchased fertilizer can even be just as sustainable as using compost and the like. If you look for organic fertilizer, you only have to apply it once a year. Not only do you save time, the constant release of nutrients into the soil also protects your conifers from over-fertilization. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer offers exactly this combination of advantages for the environment and for your garden plants. All ingredients are animal-free and come from organic farming.
Organic long-term fertilization: instructions and dosage amounts for coniferous hedges
So that the fertilization works in the interests of your plants, you should not only know the right time, but also the dosage and handling of the fertilizer. So we have a short one for you belowPut together instructions to help you make your conifers happy with organic fertilizers:
- Before planting, work 100 - 150 g/m² (well filled 0.2 liter glass) of our Plantura organic universal fertilizer into the top layer of soil
- Water the soil and freshly planted conifers well so that the granulate can be easily loosened
- For maintenance fertilization in spring you should fertilize another 80 - 120 g/m² (0.2 liter glass) per plant
If an additional layer of leaves or lawn clippings is mulched, this provides warm insulation in the root area in winter and fewer weeds grow. In addition, the decomposing layer of mulch gradually releases nutrients throughout the year, which are used by the yew for its sustenance.
Fertilize conifer hedges with minerals
Conifers have a high nutrient requirement, especially when planted as a hedge. Because jealousy about food often breaks out among the plants. This applies in particular to genera with a weakly developed root system - such as Thuja. Therefore, if dosed correctly, a mineral fertilizer such as blue grain can also be used. Here, 50 grams of blue grain per square meter are applied. Granules are dissolved in the irrigation water or worked into the soil in the root area. But make sure to always water the soil well after applying mineral fertilizer. Liquid fertilizers are added to the irrigation water according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Even if conifers tolerate mineral fertilizers, you ultimately only support the environment of the plant with an organic fertilizer. Due to the slow release of nutrients, soil life is promoted and fewer fertilizer residues end up in the groundwater. If you do not use fertilizers containing magnesium, you should also supply the plants with magnesium. Epsom s alt offers a mineral variant that supplies your conifers with magnesium and at the same time lowers the soil pH value. Finally, conifers prefer a more acidic soil pH. The fertilization with Epsom s alt takes place once a year in April. The amount to be applied depends on the soil conditions:
- Sandy soils: about 3 mg per 100 g of soil
- Loamy soils: about 6 mg per 100 g of soil
For soils that contain sand and clay, use between three and six milligrams per 100 grams of soil depending on the ratio. In the case of existing deficiency symptoms in the plants, a one-off dose ofEpsom s alt. The quick availability of mineral fertilizers is an advantage here. In general, we recommend using organic long-term fertilizers.
Fertilize conifer hedges with home remedies
One or the other home remedy can also help to provide your yew with nutrients for he althy growth. Collect and dry, for example, tea and coffee grounds for fertilization. These are wonderful suppliers of nitrogen, which occur in almost every household. The set is either given with the irrigation water or distributed superficially in the root area on the ground. In gardens, a large amount of plant residue sometimes accumulates over the course of the year. Simply use these to make a brew or liquid manure, which you then use to pour the yews. Manure is diluted with water in a ratio of about one to ten before use. Unwelcome weeds such as stinging nettles and comfrey are put to good use.
We have summarized what you need to consider when fertilizing Thujen here in our special article.