In order to have a healthy and thriving backyard, your garden needs sunlight, moisture and nutrients. Just as we need food and water to thrive, so does our beloved garden. Fertilizing a garden plays a crucial role in ensuring your plants receive the right nutrients to grow and develop into its full potential.
If you're new to gardening, it can be quite overwhelming taking care of your outdoor living space. With that being said, it is important to understand how to give your backyard tender love and care, and fertilizing your plants is a great place to start. So, how exactly do you do this? Oftentimes, if plants are not doing so well and their growth has slowed down, fertilizers are an essential tool for boosting nutrients and in turn, giving plants a chance to mature.
As you look for ways to amend your garden soil, we've created a list to make your gardening journey a little easier. Check out these expert tips on what you should do when fertilizing your backyard.
When should I fertilize my garden?
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When and how often you need to fertilize your garden depends on the type of soil that your plants are rooted in. Plant expert, Tony O'Neill from Simplify Gardening tells us, the best time to fertilize would be, 'during their active growing seasons, which is generally in the spring and early summer for most plants'. Tony says you should 'avoid fertilizing late in the growing season or fall, as this can promote new growth that might not withstand winter'.
Kasey Bersett Eave, gardening expert and founder of Vivant Gardening Services says: 'More and more, gardeners and landscapers are asking if fertilizer is necessary at all and in many cases, it can be avoided by choosing plants that are suited to grow in the soil you have'. However, Kasey says for the times it is needed, 'You can fertilize plants anytime that they are actually growing (not in dormancy). But be mindful of what you are hoping to encourage'. There's slightly different guidance for how often to fertilize a lawn, too.
Kasey continues: 'Every fertilizer has 3 numbers listed on its side, like a Social Security Number. These number represent the elements in it. They are called N-P-K, which stands for the three primary nutrients found in fertilizers that can cause a plant to grow 'Up-Down-All Around'.
The gardening expert says these are:
- Nitrogen (N), which promotes leafy, green growth and helps plants grow 'UP'.
- Phosphorus (P): Supports root development and helps plants grow 'DOWN'.
- Potassium (K): Enhances overall plant health and resilience, helping with disease resistance and drought tolerance. This helps 'All Around'.
What do I need to fertilize my garden?
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The right fertilizer for the application
A handheld or broadcast spreader for granular fertilizers
Watering can or hose
It's essential to find the right tools for your garden, and that also includes finding the right fertilizer.
Tony says you will need, to 'choose a balanced fertilizer suitable for your specific garden plants, for example 10-10-10 balanced mix'. You will also need a spreader. 'For granular fertilizers, a handheld or broadcast spreader is useful for even application,' Tony adds.
Last, but not least, Tony says it is important to have a watering can or hose. He adds: 'For liquid fertilizers, you'll need a watering can or a hose-end sprayer'.
Kasey tell us if you are looking to fertilize your lawn you would want fertlizier which has a high amount of Nitrogen. She continues: 'If you are supporting new trees, you may want a higher count of Phosphorus. For Blossoms and Vegetables, you want a fertilizer that has more or less even numbers across the board'.
She adds: 'The simplest form of a balanced Fertilizer is compost. You can apply it easily by spreading it around the root zone of your plants like a mulch, 1-2 inches deep. But many synthetics also exist some as liquids and some as time release granules. If you are growing food, keep in mind that what you feed your food, you feed yourself so be sure you are comfortable with the ingredients you are applying to your garden. And make sure you read the directions carefully. Each is unique in how it is applied and you can burn plant tissues by applying too much at once'.
A guide on how to fertilize your garden
If you want to see your blooms thrive, you will need to nourish them properly and Tony says you should follow these steps if you want to do just that.
Step 1: Read Instructions - Tony notes that you should always start by reading the fertilizer package instructions as this will help ease the process for you.
Step 2: Test Soil - 'Optionally, perform a soil test to tailor the fertilizer type and quantity to your soil's needs,' he adds. This will also allow you to monitor the soils chemical conditions as well as identify nutrient deficiencies. You can find soil tests kits at Walmart and other general retailers.
Step 3: Prepare Tools - Tony says for this step, you should get your spreader or watering can ready.
Step 4: Apply Fertilizer - 'For granular types, evenly spread the fertilizer around the base of your plants, avoiding direct contact with the stems or leaves. For liquid types, dilute as instructed and apply to the soil at the base of the plants,' he tells us.
Step 5: Water In - Lastly, Tony says you should, 'lightly water the area after applying granular fertilizer to help it soak into the soil'.
