Offer your flowering plants the best care and give them all the nutrients they need to put on a beautiful show.
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There are probably a lot of different fertilizers available when you go to stores or shop online. What’s the best way to make sure your flowers bloom beautifully every season? It can be hard to figure out.
Every plant needs certain nutrients to grow, make lots of flowers, and stay healthy against diseases and pests. As a professional gardener who took care of flower beds and borders in historic gardens, I found that both feeding the plants and keeping the soil healthy kept the plants looking their best for visitors to enjoy.
We want to clear things up for you, so read about the different kinds of fertilizer out there and ask some experts what they use on their flower borders.
A fertilizer for flowers will contain all the essential nutrients in different ratios( credit: Alamy/Hongqi Zhang)
As a gardening enthusiast, I’m always looking for ways to help my flower beds thrive. One of the keys is using the right granular fertilizer. Granular fertilizers provide a slow, steady release of nutrients into the soil to feed plants over an extended period. But with so many options on the market, how do you choose the best granular fertilizer for your flower beds?
In this article, I’ll explain what to look for in a quality granular fertilizer formula. You’ll learn key factors like the NPK ratio organic versus synthetic options and application tips. I’ll also recommend my top picks for best granular fertilizers for flower beds of all types. Follow along to get the knowledge you need to pick the perfect plant food to boost your blossoms!
What to Look for in Granular Fertilizers for Flowers
When evaluating granular fertilizers for your flowers, here are the key features to consider:
NPK Ratio
The NPK ratio refers to the percentage of nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the fertilizer. For flowering plants, look for an NPK ratio where the phosphorus number is higher than nitrogen, such as 5-10-5. Phosphorus promotes blooming while too much nitrogen results in leafy growth over flowers.
Nutrient Release Time
Granular fertilizers are either fast release or slow (extended) release. Fast release formulas provide nutrients immediately while slow release types have a coating that dissolves gradually to feed plants for several months. Slow release is generally better for flowers.
Organic or Synthetic
You can choose between organic fertilizers made from plant or animal materials or synthetic formulas made from minerals. Organic options are lower strength so apply more volume.
Application Method
Granular fertilizers can be worked into soil or sprinkled around existing plants. Read labels to check application instructions.
When to Fertilize Flower Beds
Timing is important when fertilizing flowers for optimum results:
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Annual flowers – Fertilize at planting and again 6 to 8 weeks later.
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Perennials & bulbs – Fertilize in early spring and again after first bloom.
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Roses – Fertilize in May, June, and July but not after mid-July.
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Avoid fertilizing after September to prevent late season growth susceptible to cold damage.
Follow fertilizer package instructions for reapplication frequency as these are general guidelines.
My Top Picks for Best Granular Fertilizers
After testing many options over the years, these are my top recommendations for best granular fertilizer for flower beds:
1. Espoma Flower-Tone
My all-around top pick is Espoma Flower-Tone. Its well-balanced 5-10-5 NPK formula is great for bulbs, annuals, and perennials. The slow release pellets last up to 3 months. I also like that it contains added microbes.
2. Osmocote Outdoor Smart-Release Plant Food
For long-lasting steady feeding, Osmocote Smart-Release fertilizer is the way to go. Just apply this 15-9-12 NPK formula once in spring for up to 6 months of nutrients. It works well in flower beds and containers.
3. Jobe’s Organics Flower Fertilizer
Jobe’s Organics makes a great granular fertilizer for organic gardeners. It has an ideal NPK of 3-4-3 for blooms. This OMRI listed formula also contains helpful bacteria.
4. Dr. Earth Flower Food
I recommend Dr. Earth Flower Food as the best organic granular fertilizer. It has a gentle 4-7-3 NPK ratio derived from plant and mineral sources. The formula also contains beneficial microbes.
5. Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed
For those looking for convenience, Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed is a top pick. Just shake this 14-14-14 NPK ratio around plants. The granules feed instantly and last up to 3 months, eliminating the need to mix fertilizers.
How to Apply Granular Fertilizers Properly
Now that you’ve chosen the perfect granular fertilizer formula for your beds, it’s time to apply it properly. Here are some tips:
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Read the label and follow instructions carefully, especially for application rate. More is NOT better!
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Spread fertilizer evenly around plants. Pull back mulch first to apply directly to soil.
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For new beds, mix in thoroughly throughout the top several inches of soil.
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Water well after application to dissolve granules and activate the nutrients.
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Reapply according to package frequency, usually every 6 to 12 weeks.
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Avoid touching plants with granules to prevent potential leaf burn.
The best fertilizers for flowers – expert recommendations
Granular fertilizer can feed flowers for many months( credit: Getty s/wihteorchid)
Giving your flowering plants food should be something you think about as soon as you decide to add them to your backyard. When you plant them, giving them a dose of slow-release fertilizer helps them get off to a great start.
When planting flowers, things like bonemeal, which you can get at Burpee, are a great choice because they are high in phosphorus and help the flowering plant grow healthy roots and get used to its new home. The product can be scattered around the base after planting and needs to be watered in well.
Established flowering plants in borders will always benefit from being fed in spring, once they start actively growing each season. At this period, Rosebie Morton. founder The Real Flower Company, recommends a balanced general fertilizer with an NPK of around 5-5-5 or 10-10-10.
Rosebie says to sprinkle a natural slow-release fertilizer around the base of the plant, preferably on damp soil that has been lightly hoed in. “Putting a layer of compost on top of the fertilizer will keep the soil healthy, kill weeds, and keep the water in.” ’.
For flowering plants that need extra nutrients, like annual flowers that work hard to put on a great show of blooms, liquid fertilizers can be great feeds. These feeds tend to have more phosphorus, which helps plants flower. They are also often used to improve the crop of tomatoes.
There will be a range of options for liquid feeds to choose from, and Harriet Worsley of Worsley Design & Consultancy highlights a couple of her favorites. She says: ‘I think that the best fertilizer for flowers in borders is a liquid organic seaweed fertiliser, which will give the plants a big boost during the growing season. A liquid feed every two weeks between March and September is what I would recommend, and this is what flowering plants seem to thrive on.
Harriet adds: ‘I think the queen of fertilisers is the juice that flows out of a wormery. The liquid that the worms produce is like a magic elixir for plant growth. You need to water it down a lot, and I would use it as liquid fertilizer during the growing season. ’.
Perennial flowers, annuals, and bedding plants will all respond well to a general fertilizer. However, other flowering plants may need more specific feed. This is especially true for roses, which need specially made rose feed, like this rose fertilizer you can buy on Amazon, to help them grow well and bloom well.
Rosebie Morton is the founder of The Real Flower Company. She first started growing garden roses in the walled garden at her family farm in 1995. The Real Flower Company was founded in 1999 and specializes in English grown scented roses and flowers. All Purpose Fertilizer.
A balanced organic fertilizer that can be used in flower beds to keep plants healthy and growing Liquid Seaweed Plant Food
A liquid organic seaweed fertilizer to apply to your flowering plants through the growing season Worm Compost Bin
An 5 tray worm bin that can hold 10 lb. of worms to turn food waste from the kitchen into organic compost
How to fertilize flowers – choosing between feeds
Fertilizers for flowers come in granular or liquid form( credit: Getty/Paul Bradbury)
There are many options to consider when thinking about how to fertilize flower beds and flowering plants. Different feeds have pros and cons, and the one you choose will depend on your tastes, your time, and what’s most important for your flowers. The best decision will come down to considering the preference of each particular plant.
You can choose between natural or synthetic fertilizers and granular or liquid feeds. Organic products that come from natural sources can be great for improving the health of the soil, but they cost more. Synthetic products have a wide range of NPK formulas and are sometimes made just for certain plants, like rose feeds.
It takes a long time for granular feeds to release their nutrients into the soil after they are mixed in. Liquid fertilizers are mixed with water and applied when you water plants. These products work quickly and can give flowers a quick boost of nutrients at important times of the season, like when they’re blooming.
Amy Enfield from ScottsMiracle-Gro describes slow-release fertilizers as great options if you are ‘short on time and need a low-maintenance feeding option’. On liquid feeds, she says: ‘If you like to spend a lot of time caring for your flowers and looking for more control over feeding – look for a water-soluble fertilizer. Because all of the nutrients are readily available to the plants, water-soluble plant foods need to be applied every 1-2 weeks.’
Your garden setup may also impact what types of feed works best for you. Amy Enfield, for example, says, “Slow-release fertilizers are a great choice, especially if you have beds that are watered automatically.” Water-soluble fertilizers are also a good choice if you water your flower beds by hand with a garden hose. ’.
To make sure you feed plants the right things, it’s always a good idea to look up their specific needs and care instructions. Learning the numbers on the plant food packages is also very important. These numbers show the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the fertilizer (NPK ratio). Each of the important nutrients benefits aspects of the plant’s growth. For leaf and stem growth, nitrogen is great, phosphorus is great for root growth, and potassium is great for flower and buds growth.
A good way to feed plants is usually to use a mix of organic and inorganic fertilizers at different times of the year. For instance, adding organic matter and mulch can help all types of soil and make it more fertile. This can be done on top of using certain fertilizers to help flowers grow strongly in the spring and flower lots in the summer.
Amy has worked as a lawn care worker for more than 25 years. She went to Michigan State University and got a BS and MS in Horticulture. She also has a PhD in Plant
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