Feeding Photinia and Star Jasmine

Benwoodcockuk

Hi all. First Post so be kind! 

We moved into a new build in October last year and we are on a corner plot. Before we moved, Photnia was planted across the front garden to form a hedge. The Photinia gets sun most of the day but is pretty exposed to the elements. Each plant was around 40cm tall at that time of moving in. They have now grown a fair bit and red tips are appearing. It gets sun most of the day. 

Issue is, lots of the green leaves have brown spots. Is this normal? I was hoping to give it a feed this spring time. Online I read about Vital Q4 and Blood, Fish and Bone as a dressing. Which one is best?

Regarding the Star Jasmine, I bought this last week rom the garden centre. Its around 5ft. I planted it in the ground with some compost and a good water. Again, I've searched online for a recommended feeder as I'm concerned a few leaves are yellowy brown. Lots of recommendations have come up. My dad recommended bonemeal but others online said Blood, Fish and Bone, gro more or tomorrite. Could I just buy VitaxQ4 for both the Photinia and Star Jasmine? Or would you recommend other feeds?

Finally, is it good to do a feed late March/early April? Or should I do it sooner?

Thanks in advance!
Ben 

Pete.8

Hi Ben and welcome to the forum

You don't need special fertilizers.
Blood, fish and bone will suit both your plants and most other plants in your garden.
It takes a few weeks for BFB to break down into the nutrients that your plant can use. I buy a 25Kg tub and spread it around all the soil in my garden for shrubs, soft fruits and fruit trees - I done it yesterday.
Your Star Jasmine would benefit from a dose of tomato feed every couple of weeks when it starts to flower.
A mulch of compost around shrubs after you've fertilized would also be helpful.

PS - all the photinias I see seem to have brown marks an the leaves - I've no idea why though..

Pianoplayer

Hi Ben
I am also a beginner gardener and have learnt a lot from this forum. In terms of feeding, as Pete says, something that has a `slow release` is good to scatter around shrubs at this time of year, along with a compost mulch. This can be any kind of granular feed, so BFB can be a cost-effective version, rather than a branded sort. Diluted liquid food like tomorite given weekly is brilliant for during the flowering season. This is especially important for things in pots. Important to water everything regularly if we don't have rain!

For your Star Jasmine, do you have a good structure for it to grow up? They tend to come from the GC tied up to canes, but appreciate being set free.

Good luck with it!

Benwoodcockuk

Pete.8 said:

Hi Ben and welcome to the forum

You don't need special fertilizers.
Blood, fish and bone will suit both your plants and most other plants in your garden.
It takes a few weeks for BFB to break down into the nutrients that your plant can use. I buy a 25Kg tub and spread it around all the soil in my garden for shrubs, soft fruits and fruit trees - I done it yesterday.
Your Star Jasmine would benefit from a dose of tomato feed every couple of weeks when it starts to flower.
A mulch of compost around shrubs after you've fertilized would also be helpful.

PS - all the photinias I see seem to have brown marks an the leaves - I've no idea why though..

Hi Pete, thank you so much for your reply. I will get some BFB and Tomorite. Silly question, but I have bark all in and around the Photinia and base of star jasmine. Would I put the BFB under the bark, then put a layer of compost over, then topped with the bark? 

Benwoodcockuk

Pianoplayer said:

Hi Ben
I am also a beginner gardener and have learnt a lot from this forum. In terms of feeding, as Pete says, something that has a `slow release` is good to scatter around shrubs at this time of year, along with a compost mulch. This can be any kind of granular feed, so BFB can be a cost-effective version, rather than a branded sort. Diluted liquid food like tomorite given weekly is brilliant for during the flowering season. This is especially important for things in pots. Important to water everything regularly if we don't have rain!

For your Star Jasmine, do you have a good structure for it to grow up? They tend to come from the GC tied up to canes, but appreciate being set free.

Good luck with it!

Hi Piano player thank you for your kind message and advice.

I still have the Jasmine in the cane, which has helped me get it stable into the ground. I've got some of the stems at the top strung around the post at the front of my porch. My plan is to get these growing and attached to the post, then in a few months remove the cane when it is settled.

As said to Pete ill get some BFB and tomorite 😊

Benwoodcockuk

See Jasmine on the left. I am hoping to train it to go over the structure at the top and go right to the other side. 

Cambridgerose12

It won't matter a lot if you put the BFB on top of the mulch as it will wash down into the soil anyway. 

Pete.8

As above, it's easier just to sprinkle a small handful over the bark and let the rain wash it down.
If you are going to mulch, then just move some bark away from the base of the plant about 1ft across, sprinkle on a little BFB, then the mulch, then put the bark chips back.

I've had several SJ's over the years and they do get quite (read VERY) big over time.
Not sure where you are, but they're not hardy in all parts of the UK.
So long as it gets plenty of sun and a little feed now and then it'll be good.
Try to ensure it doesn't dry out in hot weather or you'll likely get in infestation of scale insects, especially as it's just settling in.

When it starts to flower, the scent by your front door will be amazing!

PS - Try and untie it soon, those stapled ties are usually quite tight and twirl it around the upright post tying in as needed