Checklist for Fertilizer Selection
It is often difficult to decide what different fertilizers are needed or indeed what they are worth, given that there are numerous brands, pack sizes and different formulations that fill the shelves of garden centres, hardware stores etc
So what should you look for:
1) First have some idea of what you need (fertilizer type, NPK ratio, etc). Your requirements will vary depending on the plant, soil pH, soil structure and the stage of plant growth.
2) When comparing values of different fertilizers, look closely at the analyses to decide if they are similar, that is:
- Potassium(K) as Sulphate is very different to a high salt Potassium source like Potassium Chloride which is less desirable for most soils and plant types. High salt fertilizers create a saline environment, inhibiting the root's ability to take up water from the soil.
- Similarly, Nitrogen(N) available in the Ammonia form, is more acidifying than other forms. Organic Nitrogen is less freely available than Nitrate Nitrogen.
What Do Fertilizers Do?
What Makes Plants Grow?
General Hints on Fertilizer Use
Back to the Nutritional Guide for Healthy Gardens
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