How to fertilze without killing plants

[obsessed]

So I went to fertilize my garden and killed a few plants mostly peppers. So how do I do it correctly and how do I do it wrong?

What I do is spring not so gently with a small hand held garden shove around the plants. Sometimes with cukes it gets on the leave but I haven't killed a cuke yet. Then I water it. and then the next day it dies. What I don't understand is that two plants that are right next to each other only one will die. And I am not planting in rows but more like squares.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[journey11]

So you are just sprinkling pelleted fertilizer on the ground around the plants and watering it in? Like 10-10-10? Maybe they are getting too much all at once and it's burning the roots?

I usually only fertilize certain plants prior to planting (in addition to using compost/manure, so not everything needs it in my case) and I try to do it the day before putting my transplants out (like it says on the box), but sometimes the day of if I'm desperate. I have had to add a little later in the season one time, but I went and put a little around the dripline and gently scratched it in. Other than that, I would rather use water soluable fertilizer like Miracle gro for things that are already in the ground and growing.

Peppers can be touchy anyway. I killed a couple of mine just by pulling the weeds around them this summer. They don't like their roots messed with too much once they've gotten established, IME. But I'm not really sure what is going on with yours...

 

[digitS']

O, you may want to use a tablespoon rather than a shovel if you are using 10-10-10.

Journey has good advice.

If you want to use an organic liquid fertilizer, fish emulsion is an appropriate choice for the plants. And, dry organic fertilizer is far less likely to burn plants than a synthetic with high numbers.

. . . just my 2.

Steve

 

[dragonlaurel]

I agree about the fish emulsion. Had good results with it and the plants never burned.

 

[wifezilla]

Diluted duck water doesn't do any harm to plants. Got any friends with ducks?

 

[ripper039]

When you put the fertilizer, sprinkle it like you are salting your soup. Do not pile any together. Sprinkle it lightly around the area making sure there is a thin layer with space between the fertilizer so when you water, it won't concentrate in one area but evenly throughout the area. A pile of salt will spoil the soup but a sprinkle will make it good. The Fish Emulsion is a good comment, You will not have that problem of roots burning if you over apply. Put some in a garden sprayer and spray everything bugs Don't like it.

Ronald

 

[beavis]

Diluted duck water doesn't do any harm to plants. Got any friends with ducks?

Now what exactly do you mean with diluted duck water?

Pond water or diluting a manure tea of duck "by-products".?

 

[hoodat]

When using dry fertilizer I prefer to side dress at the edges of the root zone rather than close to the plants. The roots will find the fertilizer and microorganisms will carry it around.
Frequent fertilizing with a low strength fertilizer is better than occasional doses of a high potency one.

 

[wifezilla]

Beavis, I mean yucky pool/pond water. I scoop out a bucket here and there and hit the plants. I also take partially composted duck bedding and put a small amount in my potted plants to give them a feeding. I haven't killed anything yet.

 

[obsessed]

I do the duck water as well just take it from their pond and pour it on a veggie. But I think journey may be right with the weeding idea. I did just try to tame the water melon plants that were all intertwined in my peppers. That could be a reason. Cause I have sprinkled the fertilizer on most of my plants veggies and ornametals with little burn. And I can tell when the plants have too much cause usually they wilt and get yellow like my butterfly weed does. Well I will take extra care not to sprinkile directly on the plants. Thanks