How do you apply liquid fertilize to a large garden?

[surfer3406]

Hello,

I was not able to find this specific answer through searching, so apologies if it’s been answered.

As my collection grows, it no longer seems feasible to use a watering can for liquid fertilizer. My thought was a hose end sprayer but I’ve only found two readily available. One is from miracle grow and the other from ortho.

Both say they allow adjustment of the fertilizer strength but I find that dubious. For those of you with a large garden, how do you apply liquid fertilizer in correct amounts?

Best,
Barry

 

[Paradox]

Hello,

I was not able to find this specific answer through searching, so apologies if it’s been answered.

As my collection grows, it no longer seems feasible to use a watering can for liquid fertilizer. My thought was a hose end sprayer but I’ve only found two readily available. One is from miracle grow and the other from ortho.

Both say they allow adjustment of the fertilizer strength but I find that dubious. For those of you with a large garden, how do you apply liquid fertilizer in correct amounts?

Best,
Barry

I dont fertilize at every watering.
Once a month, Ill mix the liquid fertilizer with water in a 5 gallon bucket and hand water all the trees.
Mix more as I need to. I usually make up about 3-4 buckets to get all the trees

 

[dbonsaiw]

How large is large? At a time I had over 60 trees and fertilized with liquid fertilizer once a week by hand. Lots of 5-gallon water bottles

 

[RJG2]

Large gardens and nurseries often use something like a Dosatron:

https://www.amazon.com/DOSATRON-D14MZ2-D14MZ2VFII-Water-Powered/dp/B07HJFM6TC/

 

[Cable]

I intend to use a fertilizer injector next year but up until now I've been primarily using a haws watering can. I tried using my 2 gal electric sprayer but when I try to use organic fert it clogs up the spay heads.

 

[Themilkyway]

 

[johng]

I use a 55 gallon plastic drum and a sump pump connected to a hose with a water breaker...

 

[August44]

I use a 55 gallon plastic drum and a sump pump connected to a hose with a water breaker...

That sound interesting. What is a water breaker?

 

[SeanS]

I use a 5L pressure sprayer. I water my trees normally first so the soil is wet, then 30-60 minutes later I apply the liquid fert to the soil in each pot with the sprayer. A single 5L mix (mixed at the recommended dilution) covers all 50 of my trees that are in pots.

This is the Gardena sprayer I use. After using the cheap sprayers for a few seasons I’ve found it’s better to spend a bit more for a better quality sprayer. It makes almost zero noise when pumping and doesn’t leak like the cheapies.

 

[August44]

I have been using this product lately. It works well and is quick and easy, but a bit expensive. The mixture in the bottle I am using is
N = 12, Phosphate = 9, potash = 6, Mn = .05, zinc = .05. I wish they had a solution that was a bit heavier on the nitrogen etc. Maybe next year. I have added some dye in the solution so I know that the product is coming out verses maybe something plugged up and nothing getting mixed. The head is adjustable and can be set for a spray that is gentle enough that it won't blow out soils.

Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed Liquid Plant Food Starter Kit 16 oz Mfr# 1016112 - Ace Hardware

With the Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed All Purpose Plant Food Advance Starter Kit, you will be able to grow your favorite plants twice as big (compared to unfed plants). In addition, you'll find that feeding flowers, vegetables, trees, and shrubs is as easy as watering them thanks to the LiquaFeed...

www.acehardware.com

 

[Glaucus]

You can attach a sprayer with a canister to your hose that mixes about 2% or so of the canister content with the flow from the tap.
Since these are pretty cheap, you probably do want to check the EC to see if the concentration you are spraying with is what you expect it to be.

 

[johng]

That sound interesting. What is a water breaker?

just a nozzle with fine holes...

 

[PaulH]

I just got two Jonflyer water powered liquid dosing pumps on Amazon. They work great and are much less expensive than dositrons.

 

[Nybonsai12]

collection got so big i had to buy a chopper for watering... couldn't get it in masakuni though..

 

[horibonsai]

I use an Ezflo fertilizer injector in my watering. Drip Depot has a sale until 10/31. It's less effective than a dosatron in dosage, but it works for my garden. I use a quick connector and can remove and easily refill the fertilizer.

 

[August44]

I use a 5L pressure sprayer. I water my trees normally first so the soil is wet, then 30-60 minutes later I apply the liquid fert to the soil in each pot with the sprayer. A single 5L mix (mixed at the recommended dilution) covers all 50 of my trees that are in pots.

This is the Gardena sprayer I use. After using the cheap sprayers for a few seasons I’ve found it’s better to spend a bit more for a better quality sprayer. It makes almost zero noise when pumping and doesn’t leak like the cheapies.

View attachment 572735

"I water my trees normally first so the soil is wet". I have heard this before but have never understood why this is necessary. Pls advise.

 

[nuttiest]

I used to have one of those cart wheelbarrows and had a line inside where I filled it up to and dosed ferts or chemicals. I used small watering cans, and after doing area 1 drag the cart to area 2, etc. Eventually it broke a wheel, but I do miss that cart!
If I ever upgrade from 5 gallon buckets and watering cans, it will just be to more 5 gallon bucket stations and a mini sump pump that I move.

 

[badatusernames]

2gal dramm watering can and patience

Once a month I try to do a full root drench, but it can be hard to find a container to do it in as I like them to be fully submerged vs. just absorbing from the bottom (takes longer and you can see the bubbles to tell you when it's saturated).

 

[August44]

just a nozzle with fine holes...

Thanks for your answer. How much pressure does a sump pump on a water line with this nozzle on hooked up create? Not to much pressure but a good flow would be nice.

 

[SeanS]

"I water my trees normally first so the soil is wet". I have heard this before but have never understood why this is necessary. Pls advise.

The reasoning I like to believe is that if the soil is already wet it will hold on to and absorb the liquid fert better. Because I’m using the pressure sprayer I only apply enough fert to each tree to give it enough for the week (I do this weekly). If the soil is already wet I don’t have to water each tree completely with the liquid fert but rather do my regular watering before hand to water them, then come back later to fertilize them.