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Give These Plants A Fertilizer Boost In August For Long-Lasting Blooms
By LINDSAY DONALDSON
Tomatoes
By the end of summer, soils can run low on nitrogen. Dosing your tomatoes up with this vital nutrient can help stave off early blight and may lead to a better harvest.
The right fertilizer is key — for example, Miracle-Gro is safe and reliable. Sprinkle it in a circle around your tomatoes, 1-2 feet from the leaves or stems, and water it in.
Impatiens
Use a small amount of slow-release granules around impatiens. If they are under trees, add a little more fertilizer since they share nutrients with hungry tree roots.
Potted impatiens can tolerate more fertilizer; however, avoid over-fertilizing, as it can promote leaf and stem growth. Use a foliar spray to direct nutrients to the flowers.
Basil
Basil thrives in soil amended with compost and extra nutrients. Near harvest time, it requires a nitrogen fix using an all-purpose or organic liquid nitrogen fertilizer.
For two harvests, cull your plant except for at least one node with two or more viable shoots. Then, mix up a solution of 1 tablespoon of fish fertilizer per ½ gallon of water.