Did you know there are three essential nutrients required for plant growth? These are nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. But when you are faced with a tired, lifeless lawn and garden, do you know the best way to use them to bring it back to life?
A quality fertilizer can help with this, but you need to choose the correct one. Read on as we discuss the types of fertilizers available for your garden.
Quick Release
Quick-release fertilizer is made from synthetic ingredients. It brings quick results, as it provides plants with nitrogen almost immediately. This makes it useful if you want to boost curb appeal or bring fast changes to the area.
However, there is a downside. The compounds inside can burn your lawn, damaging its delicate balance. A quicker release of nutrients can also damage the soil and the surrounding environment.
The downside to its quick nature is that it does not last long. This type of fertilizer will only be useful for around two to four weeks when applied.
Slow and Controlled Release
These fertilizers will release nutrients into the soil over a sustained period. Slow-release is the best fertilizer for those who don’t want to be doing gardening regularly. It is also much more environmentally friendly.
Different types of products labeled slow release may have varying amounts of slow-release compounds in them. You only need about 15% in the product to label it as such. Therefore, you should always check the ingredients to get the right level for your needs.
Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers do not contain synthetic compounds, but use products derived from plants and animals. This is often added as plants get put into the soil and are then topped up later. Manure is one of the most popular types of organic fertilizer.
While packed with nutrients they can have a slow release, as they need to decompose. Therefore if you are growing fruit and vegetables, you may wish to combine them with some inorganic fertilizer as well.
Other products are fish emulsions or manure teas. Fish emulsion mixes with water and is then sprinkled around plants. Manure tea comes from soaking manure in water and then using it to hydrate plants.
Granular Fertilizers
Granular fertilizers are a lawn care industry standard as they are cheap and versatile. They can come in organic and natural forms, taking the shape of small pellets. It can then be scattered over a whole garden, placed in rows, or around specific plants so you can avoid feeding the types of weeds that grow there.
The opposite is a liquid fertilizer. As they don’t need to break down like pellets, they can be absorbed into the leaves and root systems of the plant more easily. Revive.com has a wide range of both liquid and granular products.
Buying Types of Fertilizers
Now you know the types of fertilizers, get a soil sample from your lawn. This will tell you what it lacks, and what nutrients are needed most. With a combination of fast-acting and slow-release products, you can bring it back to life.
If you found this article informative, we have many more. From yard care to DIY, we can help manage your property in the coming year.
