You can fertilize after mulching but how much success you’ll have will depend on the kind of mulch that you have added and how fast it will decompose, and the type of fertilizer that you’re using.
Seed hulls, leaf mulch, grass clippings, and other fast-decomposing mulches lets you apply fertilizer on top of the remaining mulch before the annual reapplication of the mulch. Most of the past year’s mulch will have decomposed at this time.
With organic and slow decomposing such as bark mulch and traditional wood, you must rake the mulch aside before you apply fertilizer to your flower bed or garden soil. This will help make sure that there will be great contact with the surface of the soil.
If you’re using granular fertilizer, you should provide ground contact as much as possible. They work well with moist soil when breaking down and releasing their nutrients.
Liquid fertilizers are excellent lawn care options when adding one on top of mulch. They go through the mulch and then reach the soil below.
Tips For Fertilizing after Mulching
Timing is crucial when adding fertilizer on top of mulch. If you are utilizing fast decomposing mulch like cocoa hulls, grass clippings, and straw, they you need to reapply the mulch every spring season. Adding fertilizer before adding new mulch is an excellent idea since at this time, most of the mulch in the garden will have already broken down. You could fertilize, then add in a layer of the mulch with minimal effort.
In case you are using a slow decomposing much like nutshells and bark mulch, it might be harder to add fertilizer on top of the mulch. It requires choosing a liquid fertilizer that will work best when it comes to penetrating mulch and assisting plants to grow.
In gardnes wherein most of the mulch has already decomposed, you should add liquid or granular fertilizer over the old mulch, and then add a new layer of mulch. You can discourage weed growth in the future by adding a minimum of two to three inches of mulch.
In areas and gardens with a lot of mulch still remaining, you should avoid using granular fertilizer. It’s best to use liquid fertilizer to ensure that you reach all of the tree and plant roots.
The best way to fertilizer your garden using wood chips is to get rid of the mulch first or at the very least rack the mulch away from the plant’s base before adding a fertilizer. This will provide the best results and give the highest amount of fertilizer to the plants.
In bigger gardens, it might not be ideal to rake or remove the mulch to apply the fertilizer. In case you need to fertilize through the wood chips, there are a few lawn care Conway SC tips you need to remember.
You should avoid the use of granular fertilizer, which might get trapped in the mulch, which could cause its improper break down. You should apply liquid fertilizer above the wood chips and make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Call Conner’s Lawn Care Services now if you need help in mulching, adding fertilizer, or with anything that involves taking care of your lawn.
Conner’s Lawn Care Service
Myrtle Beach, SC
843-504-4901
http://connerslawncare.com/
