The Down and Dirty about Fertilizer and a Special E-Mail Offer (July E-News)

Just about everybody has tried to diet at one time or another. The reason most diets fail is that you get very, very hungry and give up. Without proper nutrition you feel tired, weak and do not work up to your full capacity. Guess what? Your plants are no different. Without food they will turn yellow, wither, and although they still may live, they will not thrive and produce as they would if they were well fed. The good news is that it's relatively easy to keep them greenhouse fresh, healthy, vigorous and thriving. The answer to how your garden will grow this summer is fertilizer.

Think of fertilizer as nutrition for your plants. All of the essential elements that they need for good growth are contained in one feeding preparation- nitrogen for green growth, phosphorous to produce beautiful flowers and fruit, and potassium for good root growth. Most fertilizers also contain other minor elements such as iron, zinc, magnesium and manganese. How much of each of these you need depends on what you are growing. Tomatoes, for instance, are especially heavy feeders of calcium and magnesium so a good blend specifically for tomatoes will improve your harvest.

So what is the NPK all about? These stand for nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) that are essential to healthy plant growth. These are the three numbers that you see on the label or bag when you purchase it. In a nutshell, here's what you need to know. Nitrogen provides green growth- good healthy, dark green leaves. Nitrogen leaches out of the soil easily and should be applied on a regular basis as leaves start to turn yellow- especially lower leaves. Phosphorous is essential for fruit and flower development. It doesn't leach out as easily and doesn't need to be reapplied as often. Potassium is essential for root growth and development. Do not use wood ashes to add potassium to your garden in this area.

Minor elements, such as calcium, boron, magnesium and others, are also needed for good plant growth. One of the main things in our area that you will notice is that as your pH rises and soil becomes more alkaline, iron, even though it is still there, becomes locked up in the molecular structure of the soil, and you can develop interveinal chlorosis, or yellowing. This can stunt the plant and keep it from growing well. This is especially prevalent on aspen and maple trees. The way to correct this is to add iron sulfate or ferrous sulfate to the soil.

Fertilizers come in many forms and which you should use is largely up to the gardener. Your plants won't care whether you use an organic, an inorganic, a water soluble or a timed release formula. To them, a nitrogen atom is a nitrogen atom. As long as they are receiving the food they need both through fertilizers and from the organic matter that you have added to the bed before planting, they will be happy.

There has been a lot of talk about the use of organic fertilizers recently and there are several good ones available. Grow Power is one of the best, although some people swear by fish emulsion, bat guano and others. Fish emulsion has a fairly strong odor however, that many people find objectionable.

Inorganic fertilizers are the more commonly recognized preparations that you see advertised nationally and in gardening magazines. You may recognize names like Miracle Grow, Peters, Super Thrive, and others. Four Seasons introduced our own this year in three varieties- All Purpose, Bloom Enhancer and Grow Good which contains mycorrhizae to help develop the root systems on your tomatoes. Simply mix them with water, either in a watering can, or through a hose end sprayer and off you go. The food they contain is then immediately available to the plants, but can go away quickly through repeated waterings so be certain to follow the directions on the package for repeat applications. This generally means every 10-14 days.

Another option are the encapsulated fertilizers. These pellets contain fertilizer that is slowly released each time you water and are usually good for several months with one application. However, some people find that these pelletized fertilizers don't provide the bang that the others do, so you may find yourself supplementing with the water solubles anyway, especially on heavy feeders like petunias. Four Seasons introduced our own blend of encapsulated fertilizer this year and it is also organic.

Some plants, such as petunias, aspen trees, willows, and poplars are especially heavy feeders, so adapt your fertilizing schedule to their needs. Unlike us, your plants won't get fat from too much fertilizer, but they will burn if they are over fertilized. Outdoor plants generally need more fertilizer than indoor house plants, so be mindful of that as well. Always be sure to follow label directions. Remember, rattlesnake venom is organic, but it's also poisonous, so follow label directions carefully, no matter what you choose to use.

And just because they are outdoors and don't necessarily have a burst of color, don't forget your trees and shrubs. Trees and shrubs will benefit from regular applications of fertilizer too. Again, follow your package directions, but a general guideline is to fertilize trees and shrubs in April, again in June, and one last time at the end of July to early August. Do not fertilize after approximately August 10th. By then the trees are beginning to prepare for dormancy and by fertilizing you are sending them the message that it's time to grow. A regular fertilization and watering program at the nursery will put six feet of growth on an aspen tree with leaves the size of our hands in one year.

I am always surprised at how many people comment on the abundant flowers on our hanging baskets and bedding plants. Our plants are on a steady diet of a good, professional blend fertilizer. Most people don't realize the difference that a few dollars worth of fertilizer can make in the overall health of their plants, so don't forget to perk up the fertilizer if your garden is looking a little weary about now. The fertilizer is what will produce the lush, green growth, the beautiful flowers, or an abundant crop of vegetables or fruit. Don't spare the fertilizer and you'll be amazed at how your garden will grow!