Feeding Time

Fertilizing just about everything in the garden is this month’s first order of business. It is that time of year when plants begin to grow and need nourishment. If you get around to feeding plants only once a year, do it now. Fall-planted flowers and vegetables should be first in line, then perennials and roses, fruit trees, and finally all ornamental trees and shrubs. An ordinary granular fertilizer works best; read the label for numbers similar to 10-10-10, which indicates a balance of nutrients. Such a fertilizer can be used with little danger of overdoing it. Simply scatter it like hail on the ground, rough up the very surface of the soil with a rake (so the granules don’t wash away), and water thoroughly with an overhead sprinkler. The response from plants will be immediate and gratifying. For a blue accent, nothing beats lobelia. The two most popular shades will probably always be ‘Cambridge Blue,’ with light blue flowers, and ‘Crystal Palace,’ with darker blue blooms and dark foliage. For hanging baskets, use ‘Sapphire,’ a bright blue with a white spot at the center. Plant lobelia now--in rich soil with good drainage, in the sun or filtered shade. When thirsty, lobelia struggles along with a bold face while drying out, but when dehydrated, it collapses quickly, never to rise again.