Time to Fertilize Pansies Planted in October

Fertilizer Types

• Pansies' nutritional needs are best met with a complete fertilizer with NPK levels of 5-6-5 or 5-10-5. A balanced 10-10-10 formula or manure can also provide the nutrients your pansies crave. Utah State University Cooperative Extension warns against high nitrogen levels, which can cause the plants to rot. A slow-release 5-10-10 granular fertilizer feeds your pansies over several months.

When to Fertilize

• When you plant fall pansies in October, spread fertilizer around the flowerbed about a week after planting. Repeat the treatment in late fall or early winter to help the plants develop a healthy root system to survive the winter cold. Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science recommends applying "a weak fertilizer solution every two weeks until the ground freezes." As the spring warmth returns around March, pansies benefit from another general fertilizer treatment. West Virginia University Extension Service explains that applying fertilizer every 21 to 28 days during the spring growing season promotes flower development.

How Much Fertilizer

• One pound per 50 square feet of flowerbed is a typical amount of fertilizer for pansies. Alternately, you can figure one level teaspoon per square foot of planting area. USU Cooperative Extensions cautions that you should "always water pansies before applying any kind of fertilizer."

Mulch

• Since fall-planted pansies must overwinter in frozen ground, a little winter protection helps your flowers survive the cold and prevent a freezing and thawing cycle that can stress your plants. OSU horticulture department instructs pansy growers to apply a layer of mulch around the plants after the soil freezes so that it stays frozen. Clemson Cooperative Extension recommends using a 2-inch layer of organic material to hold in moisture and suppress weeds.