# [ ](/gardening-guides?f%5B0%5D=gg_content_type%3AQ%20%26%20A "Q&A's") Choosing The Right Fertiliser For Your Garden ![Prem Tree and Shrub Fert in hand](/sites/default/files/styles/side_image_xs/public/2026-10/prem-tree-and-shrub-fert-in-hand.jpg.avif?itok=AH6m-CXt) # [ ](/gardening-guides?f%5B0%5D=gg_content_type%3AQ%20%26%20A "Q&A's") Choosing The Right Fertiliser For Your Garden How important is fertiliser for your garden and how do you know which is best? Fertilising is one of the most important jobs in the spring garden. Plants are moving into active growth and drawing heavily on the soil, so topping up nutrients now makes a real difference to healthy foliage, flowering and fruiting. There are specific fertilisers formulated for the unique needs of different plants – our Premium and Garden Time™ ranges include blends for tomatoes, vegetables, citrus and fruit trees, roses and flowers, strawberries and lawns. If you are unsure which to use or want one product that works across the whole garden, a general-purpose fertiliser such as [Garden Time™ Complete Garden Fertiliser](/products/garden-timetm-complete-garden-fertiliser) is the simplest choice. Natural options like [Garden Time™ Chicken and Sheep Pellets](/products/garden-timetm-chicken-and-sheep-pellets) or Blood & Bone are great for enriching soil before planting or as a side dressing around established plants, and a liquid seaweed tonic gives seedlings and stressed plants a quick boost. As a general rule, start feeding once daytime temperatures are consistently around 18°C and soil temperatures are rising. Sprinkle evenly, avoid contact with foliage, lightly fork in and water well. Hold off on small seedlings until they have at least two true leaves. Always check the bag for rates. Read our How to Use Fertiliser Guide below for more advice. [How to Use Fertilisers](https://www.daltons.co.nz/how-to-use-fertiliser-guide) Guides [All Gardening Guides](/gardening-guides) Topic[Flowering Shrubs & Trees](/gardening-guides?f%5B0%5D=topic%3A93) [Vegetable Gardening](/gardening-guides?f%5B0%5D=topic%3A17) [Tomatoes](/gardening-guides?f%5B0%5D=topic%3A88) [Fruit Gardening](/gardening-guides?f%5B0%5D=topic%3A16) [Lawn Care](/gardening-guides?f%5B0%5D=topic%3A98) ## Products To Try ![](/themes/custom/b_three/images/icon-svgs/caret.svg) ![](/themes/custom/b_three/images/icon-svgs/caret.svg) [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/product_filter_listing_lg/public/2026-09/garden_time_chicken_sheep_pellets_10kg_vis_flat.jpg.avif?itok=-_MjCpgQ) ##### Garden Time™ Chicken and Sheep Pellets ](/products/garden-timetm-chicken-and-sheep-pellets) [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/product_filter_listing_lg/public/2020-10/Prof%20Blood%20and%20Bone%205kg%20vis.png.avif?itok=ea1SW5OD) ##### Daltons Ready to Grow Blood and Bone ](/products/daltons-ready-to-grow-blood-and-bone) [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/product_filter_listing_lg/public/2026-09/garden_time_blue_complete_fert_1.5kg_vis_flat.jpg.avif?itok=M0T2JloP) ##### Daltons Garden Time Blue Complete ](/products/daltons-garden-time-blue-complete) [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/product_filter_listing_lg/public/products/garden-time-seafeed-plus-npk-1l-480x600.png.avif?itok=Ok__BFui) ##### Daltons Garden Time™ Seafeed Plus NPK ](/products/daltons-garden-timetm-seafeed-plus-npk) [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/product_filter_listing_lg/public/2021-05/GT%20All%20Purpose%20Fert%20500g%20visual.png.avif?itok=5EEzBu54) ##### Garden Time™ All Purpose Fertiliser ](/products/garden-timetm-all-purpose-fertiliser) [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/product_filter_listing_lg/public/2026-09/7in1-Citrus-%26-Fruit-Fert-Pellets-5kg-vis.jpg.avif?itok=DP8EOWTH) ##### 7in1 Citrus & Fruit Pellets ](/products/7in1-citrus-fruit-pellets) ## More like this ![](/themes/custom/b_three/images/icon-svgs/caret.svg) ![](/themes/custom/b_three/images/icon-svgs/caret.svg) [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/2017-06/lettuce_pot_is9766936s.jpg.avif?itok=WsNU5VQL) ##### Growing Lettuce in Pots I have tried growing veggies such as lettuce in pots but have not had much success. Are there any tips or tricks you can share to get a decent crop? ](/gardening-guides/growing-lettuce-pots "Growing Lettuce in Pots") [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/2025-10/rosemary_companion_plant_attracting_bees_sm.jpg.avif?itok=6_bcN_q-) ##### Encouraging Bees Into The Garden What can I plant to encourage more bees to my garden to pollinate my plants and trees? For winter and summer. ](/gardening-guides/encouraging-bees-garden "Encouraging Bees Into The Garden") [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/2026-03/potted_mandarin_tree.jpg.avif?itok=c4nQf7A8) ##### Best Dwarf Fruit Trees for Decks, Balconies and Small Spaces What’s the best dwarf or small fruit tree to grow on a first-floor deck? ](/gardening-guides/best-dwarf-fruit-trees-decks-balconies-and-small-spaces "Best Dwarf Fruit Trees for Decks, Balconies and Small Spaces") [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/2020-04/Green%20olives%20with%20leaves%20iS175192959XXL.jpg.avif?itok=zT0lXu_n) ##### Does Your Olive Tree Have Enough Wind and Sun? I have an olive tree that grew well in the last ten years. The last two years there have been no olives and the leaves are all in the top 1/3. Should I prune the bottom leafless twigs? ](/gardening-guides/does-your-olive-tree-have-enough-wind-and-sun "Does Your Olive Tree Have Enough Wind and Sun?") [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/2017-06/olive_branches_is17173598m_crop.jpg.avif?itok=HxBWnp0s) ##### Feeding Olive Trees Could you please advise me of the best manure or fertiliser you would recommend for olive trees in the home garden, particularly to stimulate the production of fruit? ](/gardening-guides/feeding-olive-trees "Feeding Olive Trees") [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/2017-06/olive_branches_is17173598m_0.jpg.avif?itok=aS_Dsw-2) ##### Feeding Your Olive Tree Could you please advise me of the best fertiliser you would recommend for olive trees in the home garden, particularly to stimulate the production of fruit? ](/gardening-guides/feeding-your-olive-tree "Feeding Your Olive Tree") [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/2022-02/image_1_daltons_0.jpg.avif?itok=Fhx5xwLv) ##### Privacy Statement Daltons Privacy Statement ](/privacy-statement "Privacy Statement") [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/2020-04/Olive%20Tree%20iS177231167M.jpg.avif?itok=Cl7jql0w) ##### Growing Olives: Avoid Over-fertilising for Better Fruit Production Could you please advise me of the best manure or fertiliser you would recommend for olive trees in the home garden, particularly to stimulate the production of fruit? ](/gardening-guides/growing-olives-avoid-over-fertilising-better-fruit-production "Growing Olives: Avoid Over-fertilising for Better Fruit Production") [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/2017-06/vegetables_pot_ss186945161sl.jpg.avif?itok=j2W0EhiA) ##### Vegetables in Containers We’ve just moved into a new house and have limited space garden wise. We’d like to grow our own vegetables this summer; can this be done in containers? ](/gardening-guides/vegetables-containers "Vegetables in Containers ") [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/2025-06/hand_holding_raspberries.jpg.avif?itok=g3jf8PzH) ##### How to prune raspberry canes for healthy fruiting Is it ok to cut the tops off of raspberry canes to keep them more manageable? ](/gardening-guides/how-to-prune-raspberry-canes-healthy-fruiting "How to prune raspberry canes for healthy fruiting") [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/2024-11/qa-nav-capsicum.jpg.avif?itok=WmfpkKrs) ##### Growing full-sized capsicums successfully How do I grow capsicums successfully and to full sized fruit? ](/gardening-guides/growing-full-sized-capsicums-successfully "Growing full-sized capsicums successfully") [ ![](/sites/default/files/styles/page_listing_2xl/public/peace_lilly_is1629233_m.jpg.avif?itok=3-6ZD4Dg) ##### Caring for Peace Lily Plants About six years ago I was given a peace plant after my wife died. The leaves and stalks now fill the complete container right to the edges. Will it become root-bound? This year it had more than twice the number of flowers than previous years. Will it sulk if I do re-pot it? ](/gardening-guides/caring-peace-lily-plants "Caring for Peace Lily Plants ")