Impatiens Seem Smaller And Are Not Blooming

Question From: D. Crawford - Danville, Illinois, United States
Q: I have had my impatiens in the ground for about 3-4 weeks. I have used miracle gro bloom booster (granule, slow release). Then maybe a week or two later have mulched with less care and then fed with a liquid fertilizer. The leaves are fine, but it's like they have no blooms and it seems as Though the plant is smaller!? I do however see on some of them very tiny buds! Could it Be the fertilizer, mulch or something else?

A: Too much fertilizer will prevent plants from blooming. Hopefully your impatiens have not been attacked by the dreaded downy mildew. If you use the slow release granular in the soil wait until July to liquid feed again, Cold wet weather will also restrict their growth. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy