THE SCOOP ON FERTILIZERS
If you’ve been to a nursery or other planting supply store lately, you know there is an overwhelming variety of commercial fertilizers on the market. Granular, liquid, complete, special-purpose.... the list goes on and on. It can become a monumental headache trying to determine what particular fertilizer will fill the needs of your plants and trees. Knowing the basic nutrients essential to plant health, their function, and influence on plant performance, and the difference between fertilizer types, will remove any confusion you may have about choosing the proper food for your trees and plants.

Types of Fertilizers

Dry - This is probably the most common type of fertilizer. Usually of a granular consistency. You sprinkle this fertilizer on the surface of the soil. When watered, it dissolves into the soil where it becomes available to the plant.

Liquid - More expensive than dry for large-scale use, liquid fertilizers act more rapidly. They leach through the soil and are quickly absorbed into the root zone. They are also easier to use, especially on container plants and trees.

**The most effective means of fertilization is sub-surface injection. Utilizing high pressure equipment, highly concentrated liquid fertilizer is “shot” directly into the feeding root zone of your tree or plant.

Complete - Any fertilizer that contains all three of the primary nutrient elements - nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, is considered a complete fertilizer.

Simple - This fertilizer contains only one of the primary nutrients, typically nitrogen.

Special-Purpose - Packaged for specific plant species, these fertilizers contain the nutrient combinations and ratios that are most beneficial to that particular plant.

Organic - Indicates that the nutrients contained in the product are “derived solely from the remains, part of the remains, or a by-product of a once-living organism.” These fertilizers are slower acting than chemical fertilizers because they depend on soil organisms to release the nutrients.

Controlled Release - This is a complete fertilizer encapsulated in resin, sulfur, or another permeable substance. These slowly dissolve over a period of months releasing nutrients as they disintegrate. Cover the pellets with soil for the greatest effectiveness.

Sticks, Stakes, and Tablets - These are fertilizers compressed into hard cylinders or tablets. Similar to controlled-release, they provide a slow release of nutrients over a long period of time.

Combination Products - These fertilizers are combined with another product such as an insecticide, weed killer, or fungicide.