Fertilizer
This article is written for all of you confused about what the numbers mean on the side of your fertilizer purchase.
In order for a plant to grow and thrive it needs nourishment. Nature provides plants their basic needs such as oxygen, sunlight and water (though we may have to top up the water needs of the plants). However, if you want a great garden you will have to provide the other nutrients needed for healthy plants throughout the season.
Many different nutrients are important for plant development. Fertilization will improve crop yield and plant performance. The three main nutrients in fertilizer which are important for plant development, and often lacking or depleted in soil, are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).
#Nitrogen (N): This nutrient is responsible for the healthy green colour of your plants, nitrogen deficiencies result in a yellowing of leaves and slow down in growth.
# Phosphorus (P): Affects early vigour, promotes healthy root growth and flowering. Plants with a shortage of phosphorus are often stunted.
#Potassium (K): (Also called potash.) This nutrient promotes healthy plants and disease resistance.
The numbers on a bag of fertilizer are percentages of the composition of the main 3 nutrients that soil needs and that are in the bag. So, a bag of 10-15-10 fertilizer has 10 percent nitrogen, 15 percent phosphorus and 10 percent potassium and the rest is filler and has no value to the plants.
Lori
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We have had a couple of summers in our home but are only starting to make changes to the yard. We have figured out most of the plants we have but this year is the year was start to add to the backyard garden and also to remove some plants we don’t like or that have just gotten out of control.
We know we need to get some fertilizer but didn’t really know what we would be looking for. I think it nice to know a little before going to the nursery and looking totally clueless.
Thanks for the info.