Fertilizer
With so many different types of fertilizers available,
gardeners are often confused and bewildered as to what they need.
There are fertilizing liquids, crystals, powders, spikes and granules as
well as a variety of organic fertilizers too. Each type promises
to give lush vigorous growth and boasts a list of (sometimes hard to
understand!) vital ingredients and nutrients essential to your plant's
health.
Two basic Fertilizer delivery systems
Fertilizers have two basic ways to deliver the
nutrients to your lawn or garden. Instant or a slow,
controlled release. Instant would be a liquid or quick disolving powder or granule. These are water soluble and
reach the roots immediately giving your plants and lawn an immediate
boost. The benefit of this is that you can fertilize with this
method a week or so before your garden party knowing that it will
quickly green up your lawn. The drawback is that the
results will fade quickly leaving you to have to fertilize again.
Slow or controlled release fertilizers are usually some type of
coated granules or spikes which give up their nutrients more slowly
over a period of weeks or even months. This means that you
will only fertilize once and your plants have a constant source of
nutrients over a much longer growing period. This type is
more costly, but if you want a green lawn and well fed veggies
and flowers all summer it will
save you money since you only need one application.
What do those three numbers on the fertilizer bag
mean?
Once you have decided if you want the immediate or
slow release type fertilizer, you need to know what specific type each plant
needs. Manufacturers are required by law to list the
essential plant nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium
(K) on their product. For instance, 10-15-10 would mean that
product has 10% nitrogen, 15% phosphorus and 10% potassium.
Thankfully though, they also list what their fertilizer mixture is for,
such as 'bigger tomatoes" or "extra green leaves".
A case for Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers include things like bloodmeal, bonemeal,
manures, composts and fish emulsions. Many of these
are less expensive to purchase if not free! They are often
preferred by gardeners as they are less likely to burn the roots
of plants and seedlings, they are environmentally friendly and
won't damage the soil and best of all organic fertilizers improve the quality and
consistency of the soil
itself.
For lots of examples of a wide variety of
fertilizers for your
lawn and garden, check these retailers that we have rated.
