When to fertilize?

[macuu222]

I just moved to Hawaii recently from the mainland and would like to know when is the best time in the spring to fertilize your lawn and garden for the summer growing season?

[leilaniguy]

I fertilize throughout the year, whenever anything looks unhappy.

[Hotzcatz]

Aloha Macuu222,

Spring? What's that got to do with anything in the yard? This is Rainy Season, that has more to do with it! Growing season has nothing to do with summer, if anything the summer heat slows things down. Generally, if your plants look yellow around the edges, then fertilize. Compost anytime is always good. Things generally aren't done according to season here, they are according to what the plant needs. Many of the plants will grow and fruit all year around, too, so it isn't very seasonal except for rainy season and dry season. Fall is when many folks will plant their garden since then the plants have time to get established before rainy season starts.

When putting your garden together and landscaping, remember that growing season is all year long. Whatever maintenance the new plants require will be also be all year long. That's why many folks have ground cover instead of lawns and don't over manicure their yards. For the first few years it isn't too bad, but after a couple decades, that can add up to a LOT of yard work.

There is a Hawaii Gardening forum on the GardenWeb. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/higard/

and

http://www.hawaii-county.com/bigislandag/resources.html

as well as "Fruits of Warm Climates"

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/index.html

These links might help with different gardening ideas.

The plants from the mainland seem to try to follow seasons, but they don't always get it right. The peaches have been ripe for the past month, but that's only here at my elevation.

A hui hou,
Cathy