Many times, people in the comments have asked me my thoughts on fertilizing flowers in June. I’ve always thought it’s a good idea, but people are often skeptical since the temperature and environmental conditions don’t look as familiar or favorable.
In today’s article, I’ll be taking you through a complete June flower feeding guide based on plant type and discuss some flower options that should ideally be fertilized around this time. Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
The Importance Of Fertilizing In June
The most important reason to fertilize in June is that most flowers’ nutrient needs typically peak during the growth period. These flowers require additional nutrients to sustain growth and optimal blooming.
That said, there’s also the risk of over-fertilization here, as excess nitrogen can lead to lush foliage but fewer blooms.
June also provides decent environmental conditions and a stable, mild temperature, being just warm enough to keep the flowers thriving without the heat becoming too overwhelming.
Generally speaking, fertilizing your flowers when it’s hot or cold outside isn’t the best idea; moderate conditions work best.
Fertilizer Recommendations By Plant Type
Annuals:
For all of these annuals, you ideally want to use a balanced fertilizer that has an NPK of around 10-10-10 every 2-3 weeks. This blend will promote growth and blooming at a solid pace.
Perennials:
For these, a slow-release fertilizer once in early June should work best. A slow-release blend will fulfill nutrient needs over a long period of time and allow you to reduce the frequency of applications.
Flowering Shrubs:
A fertilizer blend that’s higher in phosphorus (NPK 5-10-5) should work best for promoting blooms in flowering shrubs. Keep in mind that flowering shrubs will have slightly different nutrient requirements compared to annuals or perennials.
Some Important Application Tips
Test your soil before you apply a fertilizer, as they’re oftentimes quite expensive, and there’s no point in wasting any. An accurate soil test will help you determine existing nutrient levels, so that you can adjust your fertilizer type and application frequency accordingly.
Water thoroughly after fertilizing. Thorough watering will help ensure the nutrients actually penetrate the soil in time and get absorbed effectively.
Let’s Conclude
Although the month of June is a little unconventional for a gardening task like fertilization, many gardeners, including myself, consider it to be the best time, especially in the case of certain flower and shrub types.
June offers a solid transitional period between seasonal extremes and is often the milder of many months.
Now that you have my take on fertilization timings, drop yours in the comments below too, and let me and your fellow gardeners know what has worked best for you. I’m sure the beginner community would appreciate inputs from experienced gardeners to develop the courage to play around and experiment in their own gardens.
