Why you need to feed your garden

(NC) Just as people need an adequate and consistent diet to grow and stay healthy, plants also need proper nutrition. As plants grow, they extract nutrients from the soil. Those nutrients need to be replenished. Fertilizer is food for plants, providing them with these important nutrients. For the most lush, green garden with strong, healthy leaves and root systems, it is important to feed your plants, and to do it right. Simply follow the 4Rs: the right source at the right rate, the right time and the right place.

The right source
When reviewing fertilizer, you’ll notice it has three numbers on the bag. This indicates the ratio of the three main fertilizers inside: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK). For example, if the bag says 21-4-3 it contains 21 per cent nitrogen, 4 per cent phosphorus and 3 per cent potassium. Nitrogen is important for boosting growth and green colour, phosphorus feeds seedlings and fosters new root growth, and potassium is important for all-around health and protects against disease and stress.

The right rate
Follow the instructions on the bag and don’t be heavy-handed; more is not always better. Using a fertilizer spreader on your lawn will help disperse it evenly. Uneven application can result in variations in colour or burning if overapplied. Never spread fertilizer by hand. There are granular and water-soluble fertilizers available for use in your garden.

The right time
Fertilize your lawn every other month beginning in April, or when it begins to get green, and continue into the fall before the ground freezes. Fertilize your garden with granular fertilizer monthly or weekly with a water-soluble product.

The right place
Follow the instructions on the package and use the appropriate tools to ensure the fertilizer is in the optimal place for the plant. Avoid applying fertilizer before heavy rain to ensure the nutrients stay in the soil where the plants can feast on them.

If you have leftover fertilizer, you can use it, share it or store it. Consistent fertilizing helps plants develop strong, healthy root systems that make them resistant to heat, drought and wear. Sharing fertilizer with family, friends or neighbours helps them grow beautiful, lush lawns and gardens. Store fertilizer in a dry place out of direct sunlight in the same packaging it came in.

Growing a green, lush garden is easy when you follow the 4Rs. Find more information on lawn care at fertilizercanada.ca/lawncare.