Fertilizing your plants leads to more vigorous growth, blooming and fruiting, while also helping with pest and disease resistance — and it doesn't have to be complicated either! The when, what, and how vary from type to type of plant, so keep this guide handy and refer back all throughout the season!
Annuals
When to Apply
Start & End All throughout, from planting until end of season.
Frequency Every 1-2 weeks.
What to Use
15-30-15 An all-purpose flowering plant food, to promote larger, beautiful blooms and durable, colourful flowers.
We Recommend C-I-L Flower and Bloom Plant Food
Notes
At the end of August, transition your fading annuals to plants that can handle fall conditions. Swap with grasses, coleus, mums, or ornamental kale to keep the garden fresh and beautiful! Continue fertilizing throughout the fall season until plants are done.
Vegetables & Herbs
When to Apply
Start & End All throughout, from planting until end of season.
Frequency Every 2 weeks.
What to Use
7-3-4 Tomato and vegetable fertilizer, with added calcium to avoid blossom end rot and micronutrients for strong, healthy dark-green plants.
These fertilizers feed your plants for up to 2 months and contain around 10% calcium, ideal for all tomatoes and vegetables! Simply mix into the soil and add water.
Perennials
When to Apply
Start & End From May long weekend until mid-August.
Frequency Every 2-3 weeks.
What to Use
20-20-20 All-purpose, enriched with organic matter, to grow beautiful blooms.
We Recommend A balanced, all-purpose fertilizer.
Notes
Re-apply every 2 weeks for best results. Can be used on shrubs up until August (too hot to fertilize)!
Water Plants
When to Apply
Start & End All throughout the growing season.
Frequency Once monthly. Every two weeks when the water temperature reaches 24ºC.
What to Use
10-14-8 Feeds all pond plants and minimizes algae growth.
We Recommend Plantabbs® Pondtabbs
Notes
Safe for use with fish!
One tablet per gallon of soil. Push tablet in, cover, and press around, to ensure fertilizer works into the soil.
House Plants
When to Apply
Start & End From April until mid-October.
Frequency Every 2-3 weeks.
What to Use
10-15-10 All-purpose for most houseplants. Beneficial for transplanting, repotting and rooting. Won't burn plants if used as directed!
We Recommend Schultz Liquid Plant Food
Notes
Exceptions include:
Cactus and succulents (use a cactus fertilizer)
Hibiscus and gardenia (use alfalfa pellets)
Orchids (use an orchid fertilizer)
African violets (use an african violet fertilizer)
Can be used on cactus and orchids at a diluted concentration. Only 3 drops per litre if used every time you water!
If you're feeding your house plants once or twice a month, use 14 drops per litre of water (and remember, half for cactus and orchids).
Can be used on outdoor plants as well (4 drops if used with every watering, 8 drops for occasional use).
Contains 0.1% iron, 0.05% manganese and 0.05% zinc.
Evergreens
When to Apply
Start & End From May, when the ground is thawed, until mid-July.
Frequency Every 3-4 weeks.
What to Use
30-10-10 Ideal for evergreens, citrus, and acid-loving plants. Balances nutrients in the soil to enhance root formation, and promotes leaf growth!
We Recommend Garden Pro Evergreen & Citrus
Notes
These fertilizers are typically water-soluble (can be applied every 2-3 weeks if needed).
Don't fertilize past July 15th! Plus, make sure to water throughout August and September, so your evergreens don't go into winter stressed out.
Deciduous Trees & Shrubs
When to Apply
Start & End From May long weekend until mid-August.
Frequency Every 3-4 weeks.
What to Use
30-10-10 Ideal for deciduous trees and shrubs. Balances nutrients in the soil to enhance root formation, and promotes leaf growth!
We Recommend Garden Pro Evergreen & Citrus
Notes
Make sure to water throughout August and September, so your trees and shrubs don't go into winter stressed out!
Maples
When to Apply
Start & End From May long weekend until July 1st.
Frequency Every 3-4 weeks.
What to Use
30-10-10 Ideal for deciduous trees and shrubs. Balances nutrients in the soil to enhance root formation, and promotes leaf growth!
We Recommend Garden Pro Evergreen & Citrus
Notes
Stop fertilizing come July, in order to let your Maples enter dormancy and avoid damage by pests.
Make sure to water throughout August and September, so your trees and shrubs don't go into winter stressed out!
Flowering and Fruiting Trees & Shrubs
When to Apply
Start & End From May long weekend until mid-August.
Frequency Weekly, then every 2-3 weeks when done blooming.
What to Use
1-15-5 Ideal for fruit and berry plants. Contains sulphur and calcium, and promotes bloom production (more blooms = more fruit)!
We Recommend Evolve Organic Fruit and Berry Plant Fertilizer
Notes
Fertilizing can slow down if fruit production is finished.
Switch to a 30-10-10 fertilizer at this point (or use throughout the season to promote growth rather than blooming and fruiting)!
GUIDE
The Ultimate Guide to Fertilizing
We've said it before, and we'll say it again: just like we need food, plants need the right fertilizers! Follow our guide to fertilizing nearly every kind of plant under the sun.
Fertilizing your plants leads to more vigorous growth, blooming and fruiting, while also helping with pest and disease resistance — and it doesn't have to be complicated either! The when, what, and how vary from type to type of plant, so keep this guide handy and refer back all throughout the season!
Annuals
When to Apply
Start & End All throughout, from planting until end of season.
Frequency Every 1-2 weeks.
What to Use
15-30-15 An all-purpose flowering plant food, to promote larger, beautiful blooms and durable, colourful flowers.
We Recommend C-I-L Flower and Bloom Plant Food
Notes
At the end of August, transition your fading annuals to plants that can handle fall conditions. Swap with grasses, coleus, mums, or ornamental kale to keep the garden fresh and beautiful! Continue fertilizing throughout the fall season until plants are done.
Vegetables & Herbs
When to Apply
Start & End All throughout, from planting until end of season.
Frequency Every 2 weeks.
What to Use
7-3-4 Tomato and vegetable fertilizer, with added calcium to avoid blossom end rot and micronutrients for strong, healthy dark-green plants.
These fertilizers feed your plants for up to 2 months and contain around 10% calcium, ideal for all tomatoes and vegetables! Simply mix into the soil and add water.
Perennials
When to Apply
Start & End From May long weekend until mid-August.
Frequency Every 2-3 weeks.
What to Use
20-20-20 All-purpose, enriched with organic matter, to grow beautiful blooms.
We Recommend A balanced, all-purpose fertilizer.
Notes
Re-apply every 2 weeks for best results. Can be used on shrubs up until August (too hot to fertilize)!
Water Plants
When to Apply
Start & End All throughout the growing season.
Frequency Once monthly. Every two weeks when the water temperature reaches 24ºC.
What to Use
10-14-8 Feeds all pond plants and minimizes algae growth.
We Recommend Plantabbs® Pondtabbs
Notes
Safe for use with fish!
One tablet per gallon of soil. Push tablet in, cover, and press around, to ensure fertilizer works into the soil.
House Plants
When to Apply
Start & End From April until mid-October.
Frequency Every 2-3 weeks.
What to Use
10-15-10 All-purpose for most houseplants. Beneficial for transplanting, repotting and rooting. Won't burn plants if used as directed!
We Recommend Schultz Liquid Plant Food
Notes
Exceptions include:
Cactus and succulents (use a cactus fertilizer)
Hibiscus and gardenia (use alfalfa pellets)
Orchids (use an orchid fertilizer)
African violets (use an african violet fertilizer)
Can be used on cactus and orchids at a diluted concentration. Only 3 drops per litre if used every time you water!
If you're feeding your house plants once or twice a month, use 14 drops per litre of water (and remember, half for cactus and orchids).
Can be used on outdoor plants as well (4 drops if used with every watering, 8 drops for occasional use).
Contains 0.1% iron, 0.05% manganese and 0.05% zinc.
Evergreens
When to Apply
Start & End From May, when the ground is thawed, until mid-July.
Frequency Every 3-4 weeks.
What to Use
30-10-10 Ideal for evergreens, citrus, and acid-loving plants. Balances nutrients in the soil to enhance root formation, and promotes leaf growth!
We Recommend Garden Pro Evergreen & Citrus
Notes
These fertilizers are typically water-soluble (can be applied every 2-3 weeks if needed).
Don't fertilize past July 15th! Plus, make sure to water throughout August and September, so your evergreens don't go into winter stressed out.
Deciduous Trees & Shrubs
When to Apply
Start & End From May long weekend until mid-August.
Frequency Every 3-4 weeks.
What to Use
30-10-10 Ideal for deciduous trees and shrubs. Balances nutrients in the soil to enhance root formation, and promotes leaf growth!
We Recommend Garden Pro Evergreen & Citrus
Notes
Make sure to water throughout August and September, so your trees and shrubs don't go into winter stressed out!
Maples
When to Apply
Start & End From May long weekend until July 1st.
Frequency Every 3-4 weeks.
What to Use
30-10-10 Ideal for deciduous trees and shrubs. Balances nutrients in the soil to enhance root formation, and promotes leaf growth!
We Recommend Garden Pro Evergreen & Citrus
Notes
Stop fertilizing come July, in order to let your Maples enter dormancy and avoid damage by pests.
Make sure to water throughout August and September, so your trees and shrubs don't go into winter stressed out!
Flowering and Fruiting Trees & Shrubs
When to Apply
Start & End From May long weekend until mid-August.
Frequency Weekly, then every 2-3 weeks when done blooming.
What to Use
1-15-5 Ideal for fruit and berry plants. Contains sulphur and calcium, and promotes bloom production (more blooms = more fruit)!
We Recommend Evolve Organic Fruit and Berry Plant Fertilizer
Notes
Fertilizing can slow down if fruit production is finished.
Switch to a 30-10-10 fertilizer at this point (or use throughout the season to promote growth rather than blooming and fruiting)!
The Ultimate Guide to Fertilizing
The Ultimate Guide to Fertilizing
The Ultimate Guide to Fertilizing
We've said it before, and we'll say it again: just like we need food, plants need the right fertilizers! Follow our guide to fertilizing nearly every kind of plant under the sun.
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