Many people want to do the right thing for their gardens.
As they see the new green leaves uncurling and the tender green shoots emerging from the ground, the first reaction is to find a fertilizer.
Beware! Giving “baby” leaves and shoots fertilizer is like giving a person who is just waking up a cup of espresso. It causes them to grow too fast, producing very lush tender green growth that is very susceptible to temperature fluctuations; and what happens in Chicagoland in the spring? The temperatures can fluctuate wildly.
A better solution is to use epsom salts, magnesium sulfate, as the first “tonic.” Magnesium is the central molecule in the chlorophyll cells. As new leaves are being produced, the plant uses the magnesium particles as building blocks. The sulfates lower the pH of our highly alkaline soils. Epsom salts do not ‘push’ new growth like excess amounts of nitrogen from fertilizer. If the plants are growing because the temperatures are favorable, they will use the building blocks that they need.
Apply as a granular over the soil around the emerging plants (¼ cup per rose) before a rain or mix at the rate of 4T. per gallon of water and apply to 500 sq. ft. This is especially good for roses. After the danger of frost has passed, May 15th, it is safe to use your favorite fertilizer.
