To understand when you should feed us, you must first understand our yearly rhythm. We are not like annual plants that grow and flower continuously. Our life is a cycle of vigorous growth, magnificent blooming, crucial dormancy, and patient waiting. Fertilizing at the wrong time disrupts this sacred cycle. Applying fertilizer too late in the season, for instance, forces us to produce tender new growth that will be killed by the first frost, wasting our precious energy and weakening our core system. The goal is to support our natural phases, not fight against them.
The absolute best time to fertilize us is in the early spring, just as we break our winter dormancy. This is when you will see our leaf buds begin to swell and show a hint of green. This is our signal that it is time to feast! A balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied at this moment provides the essential nutrients—particularly nitrogen (N) for leaf and stem growth, phosphorus (P) for root and flower development, and potassium (K) for overall health—that we need to power the entire season's growth. This single application supports the development of our strong stems and the formation of the flower buds that will become your summer glory.
For some of us modern varieties, like the Endless Summer or Let's Dance series, our breeding allows us to perform the magnificent task of re-blooming. This means we work exceptionally hard, flowering on both old and new wood throughout the summer. This marathon effort can deplete our resources. A light application of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer after the first major flush of flowers begins to fade can give us the second wind we need to produce another round of blooms. However, this must be done no later than mid-July in most American climates. Any later, and you risk encouraging new growth that will not harden off before fall frosts.
As the days shorten and temperatures cool in late summer and early fall, our focus shifts dramatically. We must stop growing and begin the critical process of hardening off our current season's growth to prepare for the deep cold. Fertilizing us during this period is one of the most harmful things you can do. It acts like a shot of espresso right before bedtime, spurring tender, new growth that is highly susceptible to frost damage. This damage can kill stems and even the precious flower buds we have already set for next year. Once late summer arrives, please let us rest. Our work for the year is done, and we need to enter our dormant period peacefully and without interruption.
