Fertilizer Basics by Mike Dooley Landscape Designer /title> <link href="css/styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen" /> </head> <body> <div id="wrapper"> <div class="phone">505-400-0257</div>  <div id="content"> <div id="home_logo"></div> <div id="nav"> <ul id="topnav"> <li><a href="index.html" class="end">Home</a></li> <li><a href="pick-your-plants-landscape-design-albuquerque.html">Pick Your Plants</a></li> <li><a href="photos-and-videos-dooley-landscape-design-albuquerque.html">Photos & Videos</a></li> <li><a href="articles-and-tips-from-dooley-landscape-design-albuquerque-nm.html">Articles & Tips</a> </li> <li><a href="meet-mike-dooley-inspirations.html">Mikes Inspirations</a></li> <li><a href="tip-watering-schedules-albuquerque-area.html">Watering Schedules</a></li> </ul></div> <div id="internal" class="header_articles"> <div id="breadcrumb"> <ul> <li><a href="index.html">Home</a></li> <li><a href="articles-and-tips-from-dooley-landscape-design-albuquerque-nm.html">Articles & Tips</a></li> <li><a href="articles-landscape.html">Articles</a></li> <li class="end">Fertilizer Basics</li> </ul> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div id="internal_content"> <div id="internal_left"><ul> <li><a href="article-tip-choosing-landscape-contrator.html">Tips For Choosing A Lanscape Contractor</a></li> <li><a href="article-choosing-a-landscape-contrator.html">Choosing A Landscape Contrator</a></li> <li><a href="article-getting-started.html">Getting Started</a></li> <li> <a href="article-choosing-right-plants.html">Choosing The Right Plants</a></li> <li><a href="article-fertilizer-basics.html">Fertilizer Basics</a></li> <li><a href="article-natural-look.html">The Natural Look</a></li> <li><a href="article-shredded-bark-mulch.html">Shredded Bark Mulch</a></li> <li><a href="article-top-shrub-choices.html">Top 5 Shurb Choices</a></li> <li><a href="article-pruning-shrubs.html">Pruning Shrubs</a></li> <li><a href="article-low-maintenance-plants.html">Low Mainenace Plants</a></li> <li><a href="article-early-signs-of-spring.html">Early Signs of Spring</a></li> <li> <a href="article-perennials-are-staples-gardners.html">Perennials Are Staples For Gardeners</a></li> <li> <a href="article-fall-best-time-to-plant.html">Fall Is Best Time To Plant</a></li> <li> <a href="article-fall-pruning.html">Fall Pruning</a></li> <li> <a href="article-gardening-books.html">Recommended Gardening Books</a></li> <li> <a href="article-winter-concrete-season.html">Winter Is Concrete Season</a></li> <li> <a href="article-hard-landscape-features.html">Hard Landscape Features</a></li> <li> <a href="article-diagnosing-grass-problems.html">Diagnosing Grass Problems </a></li> <li><a href="article-dead-or-alive.html">Is It Dead Or Alive</a></li> <li> <a href="article-twine-and-mites.html">Twine & Mites </a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="internal_right"> <h1>Fertilizer Basics</h1> <p><strong>Fertilizer Basics Answer Many Landscape Questions </strong></p> <h3>by Mike Dooley</h3> <p>Confused about fertilizers? I get many questions about them. My approach is to tell you the basic principles of fertilizers, instead of just directing you to a specific product and then sending you off to find it. Many times you already own a fertilizer that will work just fine and you should use that before you buy more chemicals. The product formulas are constantly changing but the basics don’t change. The chemical companies are in the business of selling chemicals, so if they can convince you that you need many different kinds of fertilizer then they make more money.</p> <p>If you were a professional grower you would need a special formula to grow the biggest and best plants possible. The average homeowner doesn’t want to buy many differ types of fertilizer and watch it sit in the garage till it’s expired. Trees, shrubs, flowers and even grass need the same 16 basic nutrients, and a balanced fertilizer will supply most if not all of them.</p> <p>Look at it this way — there are three numbers on the fertilizer bag:</p> <p>• Nitrogen is the first number on the bag and is the most important, partially because it is the most leachable and needs to be replaced often. Signs of nitrogen deficiency are poor growth and loss of color on the old growth. Nitrogen is what makes plants dark green and vigorous.</p> <p>• Phosphorus is the second number. Phosphorus promotes bloom and is what you like to use on your blooming plants and flowers. Young plants especially need phosphoric acid.</p> <p>• Potassium is the third number. Potassium helps in the root and stem development by forming sugars and starches.</p> <p>Other than these nutrients there are an additional 13 nutrients needed for a healthy plant. The micronutrient that is most needed in our soil is chelated iron, so make sure that the fertilizer that you pick has that important nutrient.</p> <p>Happy Gardening!</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div id="home_footer"> <div id="home_footer_text"><p>©2017 & Beyond <a href="index.html">Dooley Landscape Designs</a>, All Rights Reserved.</p> <div class="cdt">Website Magic by <a href="http://www.candothat.com">Can Do That! Software Solutions</a></div><p class="footerwidth"> </p> </div> <div id="home_footer_ext2"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>