Applying Dry Fertilizers: 

Broadcast dry fertilizers by hand or with a spreading tool, then hoe or rake it in the top 4" - 6" of soil. During the growing season, add additional dry fertilizers to the soil "SIDE DRESSING" in the crop rows or around the drip line of trees and shrubs. Work side-dressings into the top 1" of the soil.

Applying Liquid Fertilizers:

Give your plants a light nutritious boost once a month or every two weeks during the growing season. Mix a tankful (DO NOT USE A CONTAINER THAT HAS USED HERBICIDES) of foliar spray, and spray all your plants at the same time. Plants absorb the liquid fertilizer through both their roots and leaf pores.

Compost tea and seaweed extract are two common examples of organic foliar fertilizers. Kelp is rich in micronutrients and growth hormones. Foliar spray is most useful during periods of drought or extreme temperatures and critical periods such as after transplanting or during fruit set. You can use a surfactant, such as coconut oil or a mild soap (1/4 tsp. per gal. of spray...no more or it will damage the plant) to insure better coverage. A slight acid spray mixture is effective, so check you spray's pH. You want a pH of 6.0 - 6.5. Use a small amount of vinegar to lower pH and baking soda to raise the pH.

Best time to spray is in the early morning and early evening. Choose a day when no rain is forecasted and temperatures aren't extreme. Spray until the liquid drips of the leaves of the plant. You can apply at the root zone as well. A drip irrigation system can carry liquid fertilizers to your plants. Kelp is better to use in this manner. Fish emulsion will clog the irrigation emitters growth enhancers help plants absorb nutrients more effectively from the soil. Kelp is a common growth enhancer. It is sold as a dried meal or as an extract of the meal in a liquid or powdered form. Totally safe, kelp provides some 60 trace elements that plants need in very small quantities. It also contains growth-promoting hormones and enzymes.

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