When is the best time to fertilize plants after they break dormancy?

Fertilizing plants as soon as they break dormancy is ideal because it provides the necessary nutrients at a time when the plants are beginning to actively grow again. During this stage, plants are resuming metabolic processes, and their demand for nutrients increases as they push out new growth, such as leaves and buds. Introducing fertilizer at this time supports the establishment of robust growth and helps the plants develop a strong foundation for the coming growing season.

Waiting until later in the growth cycle, such as after the summer solstice or in late winter, would miss out on the beneficial impact that early fertilization can have on plant vigor and health. Fertilizing too late could also lead to less effective nutrient uptake by the plants, as they may not fully utilize nutrients if they are already maturing or going into dormancy again. Therefore, applying fertilizer promptly after dormancy ensures that plants can make the most of those nutrients during their active growing phase.