What does 6-4-0 fertilizer mean? It is a common question that many people ask. This type of fertilizer can be used for either lawns or gardens, and it’s intended to provide nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium to the soil. In this blog post, we will discuss what this type of fertilizer is and how you would use it in your garden or on your lawn!
What is 6-4-0 Fertilizer Good for?
The three primary components of this fertilizer are nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Nitrogen is essential for green growth in plants; it provides the energy they need to grow quickly. Phosphorous supports healthy root development that aids water absorption and nutrient uptake by the plant. Potassium helps a plant produce lots of flowers or fruit as well as defend itself against diseases like bacterial wilt and mildew. With all these benefits combined into one type of fertilizer, you can see why many people use it! There are also some optional ingredients including magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) which help provide nutrients to trees with calcium deficiencies- perfect when trying to prevent fungus on evergreens such as pine trees, junipers, spruce trees, etc.
6-4-0 fertilizer benefits
The benefits of using a 6-4-0 fertilizer include increased root system development, which helps with water absorption and nutrient uptake by the plant. Potassium also helps plants produce beautiful flowers or fruit as well as defend themselves against diseases like bacterial wilt and mildew.
- Adds potassium – supports healthy root development & improves nutrient intake
- Prevents disease – fights fungal infection risk in some cases
- Improves plant appearance – promotes vibrant flowers and fruit
The disadvantage of using a fertilizer with this ratio is that it can be too high in nitrogen content for certain plants, such as beans.
Applying 6-4-0 Fertilizer
The best time to apply this type of fertilizer is at planting. It should be applied evenly – about one cup for each square foot, or 30 pounds per 1000 sq ft.
When using a liquid form, it’s usually 75% water and 25% fertilizing material by weight so you’re adding more than the amount mentioned above depending on what you have available in your container (e.g., 200 gallons of water would require 150 lbs). You can also mix dry nitrogen-rich materials into small containers of soil as well if desired.
It can also be mixed with potting soils before they are used but needs to be blended thoroughly and not left visible on top when done otherwise it will burn new plants that could grow from those seeds.
As a general rule, apply fertilizer in early spring (March-April) for perennial plants such as fruit trees, shrubs, flowers, and bushes; mid-summer (June-July) for annual vegetable gardens or other short term crops that require heavy fertilizing at the time of planting; and late summer or early fall (August-September) for annual flower gardens, lawns, trees, and shrubs.
