Have you ever wondered about those numbers like 10-20-20 on fertilizer bags? And how do you choose the right one? Is it even safe? Navigating fertilizers can be confusing, but fret not! There are some simple rules to guide you.
My number one rule? Start by adding organic matter! I prefer keeping things simple by consistently incorporating organic matter into my garden, mostly in the form of mulch. I use dead leaves, wood chips, grass clippings from untreated lawns, and I follow a "chop and drop" method for most pruning and deadheading. This way, I take inspiration from Mother Nature, letting the dead flowers or clippings fall where they may to return their nutrients back to the soil.
But sometimes, the standard mulch decay isn't sufficient. That's when you turn to fertilizers. You have the choice between organic fertilizers made from living organisms and inorganic or synthetic fertilizers manufactured in a lab. Interestingly, your plants don't really care where their nutrients come from; they absorb them equally from both synthetic and organic sources.
When deciding on the best fertilizer for your needs, consider that organic options often provide more micronutrients and support greater biodiversity than synthetic ones. However, organic fertilizer can be tricky to gauge in terms of precise nutrient content and application rates, whereas synthetic fertilizer offers more control. While organic fertilizers typically have lower nutrient content compared to synthetic ones, they are often more expensive per pound of nutrient. On the flip side, synthetic fertilizers with their higher nutrient content pose a risk of burning your plants and leaching excess nutrients into the environment.
At the core of any fertilizer are the major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK). Understanding the role of each nutrient for your plants helps you determine when and how to use them. I showcase this and other basics in my Fertilizer 101 guide.
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