Underfeeding widespread in East Dunbartonshire.
Plants are the most underfed members
of the average household.
Why do we need to feed plants? Plants in the wild don't
need fed - do they?
In the wild, plants die, decompose and their nutrients go
back into the soil.
This re-cycling means there is no
need for fertilizer in the wild.
In the average garden this just
doesn't happen. We throw out our dead plants and grass cuttings
- virtually nothing is re-cycled so we have to add fertilizer
to feed our plants.
What to look for in a fertilizer:
The most important 3 minerals are:
- Nitrogen (N):
for general growth.
- Phoshorous (P): for actively growing regions of the
plant
- Potassium (K):
for colour in plants (except green)
The N:P:K
ratio can be found on the back of every packet
of Fertilizer.
Growmore, the most popular Granular fertilizer has an N:P:K
ratio of 7%:7%:7%.
This is about the minimum you should look for - not so strong
it will burn young plants yet will give decent results in
most situations.
Plants also need "trace elements,"
so called because of the small amounts needed.
e.g. Magnesium, Copper, Calcium, Iron
etc.
Soil in a new garden rarely lacks
these "trace elements" but an old garden that has had little
fertilizer over the years will.
Plants grown in confined spaces
(Growbags, Tubs, Baskets) quickly
run out of these "trace elements".
Check the "N:P:K
ratio" and "trace elements" on
the back of your favourite Fertilizer. Is it doing all you
want?
This is the second in a series of articles
based on the most frequent questions I get asked when giving
talks around the country.
Article written by Ron
from West Carlston Garden Centre in Torrance.
Ron can be contacted at info@westcarlston.com
This week's competition:
Name any Fertilizer, give its N:P:K ratio and any "trace element".
The sender of the first correct e-mail
will receive a £10 Gift Voucher.
Copywrite R.
McInally