How to Replace Phosphorus in Fertilizer

Phosphorus is one of three very important macronutrients plants need to thrive; the other two are potassium and nitrogen. Phosphorus helps plants breathe, store and transfer energy, and produce strong seedlings and vegetation. If you have fruit- or vegetable-bearing plants, a boost of phosphorus will help increase your crop. However, most fertilizers available at your local lawn and garden store do not have enough phosphorus in them to provide a bountiful crop. Phosphorus is insoluble and naturally clings to soil particles and washes away; it is important to periodically replace the lost phosphorus in your soil and fertilizers.

Things You'll Need

• Garden gloves
• Boots
• Bone meal (granular form)
• All-purpose garden fertilizer
• 5-gallon bucket with airtight lid
• Hand spade

Instructions

1. Put on garden gloves and boots to keep you clean while you're mixing the fertilizer.

2. Pour your all-purpose garden fertilizer into a 5-gallon bucket. Add the bone meal to the bucket with the fertilizer. One five pound bag of bone meal per 10 pound bag of fertilizer will work well.

3. Mix the fertilizer and bone meal with a hand spade for three minutes or until it is uniformly mixed.

4. Snap on the lid of the 5-gallon bucket to keep the fertilizer fresh and prevent spillage.

References

• University of Illinois: 16. Consider The Potential Of Natural Fertilizers
• Soil Science Education: The Nature and Properties of Soil: How Does Your Garden Grow?
• Ohio State University: Fertilizing Vegetable Garden Soils