What Fertilizer Works the Best?
Soil fertility is essential for healthy gardens. Gardeners can find choosing the best fertilizer confusing because of the myriad options. Fertilizer needs vary with soil requirements and plants being grown, which must be considered to select the best fertilizer for the situation. Does this Spark an idea?
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Soil Composition
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When considering the best fertilizer options, first have the soil analyzed to determine the current nutrient levels of the macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as calcium and magnesium. For example, nitrogen is necessary for healthy dark-green leaves, but too much nitrogen results in overgrown plants with little fruit or vegetable production.
Plant Requirements
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The specific requirements of different plants must be considered when selecting fertilizers. For example, if you are fertilizing a lawn, a fertilizer high in nitrogen would be best to promote lush leafy growth. However, if the same fertilizer was used for tomato plants, the result would be large plants with copious foliage but few tomatoes.
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Organic Versus Conventional
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Another consideration is whether to use organic or conventional fertilizers. Both types can be valuable to gardeners, depending on your priority. Commercial fertilizers are fast acting and often cheaper. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, help to build a strong soil base but take longer than commercial fertilizers to release their nutrients.
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References
- National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service: Sustainable Soil Management
- Weekend Gardener: The Best Garden Fertilizers When and Where to Use Them
- Mother Earth News: A Better Way to Fertilize Your Garden
- National Gardening Association: Understanding Lawn Fertilizers
- National Gardening Association: Fertilizing Greens
- Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Fertilizing Vegetable Garden Soils
- Photo Credit Seiya Kawamoto/Lifesize/Getty Images
