Since fertilizer is actually food for your plants, you should consider the various mixtures, types, forms and nontraditional aspects of fertilizing a yard. There are two broad categories of fertilizers: synthetic and natural.
- Synthetic fertilizers are made up of inorganic blends of various mineral salts. They are often considered quick-release fertilizers because the ingredients dissolve quickly in water. As a result, the nutrients are readily absorbed by the plants' roots. These types of fertilizers provide quick energy--but little nutritional value--for the plant.
- Natural fertilizers are blends of natural and/or inorganic ingredients such as animal manure and unusual materials such as tankage, blood and bone meal, feather meal and green sand. These fertilizers are categorized as slow-release types because the nutrients they contain dissolve slowly in water. It could take several days or even weeks before these nutrients are available to the plant.
- Hybrid fertilizers contain both synthetic and natural ingredients. The advantage of the hybrid is that your plants get both short- and long-term effects of fertilization.
All landscape plants require three major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Nitrogen is essential for leaf growth and green leaves. Phosphorus is good for flower and fruit development, and potassium helps to maintain strong roots. Plants also require minor nutrients such as calcium, sulfur and magnesium, along with trace minerals such as zinc, copper and chlorine. Compost made up of organic matter may be considered yet another food group for plants. Without compost, plants will not grow, no matter how much fertilizer is used.
Some of the more popular brand names for nitrogen fertilizers are Bandini Blood Meal (an organic nitrogen product that produces deep green growth), 49er Cotton Seed Meal, Fish Emulsion and The Real Poop. Popular brand names for phosphorous are Bandini Bone Meal and Granulated Rock Phosphate by Whitney Farms. Some popular sources for potassium are wood ashes from the fireplace, Green Sand and Organic Kelp Meal, both by Whitney Farms.
Seaweed and kelp, available in liquid or dry form, also provide trace minerals and growth enhancers that help plants absorb nutrients better.
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