Fertilizer is a key component to any successful garden. If you don’t fertilize your plants, they will grow very slowly and be more susceptible to diseases. Fertilizers are usually broken down into two categories: organic and inorganic. Organic fertilizer is made from compost or animal manure, while inorganic fertilizer can be derived from natural rock minerals like potassium nitrate or ammonium sulfate. These two types of fertilizers have different applications rates and benefits for the soil and plant life, but both offer an excellent chance for success when used correctly!
What Does 1-2-1 Fertilizer Mean?
Fertilizers come in a variety of formulations, but one of the most common is called “formula-ratio” fertilizers. These products are labeled with three numbers that indicate how much Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) they provide per unit weight or volume.
The first number is the percentage of nitrogen, and it ranges from 0 to about 30%.
The second number indicates phosphorus or potash content by weight/volume. The third tells you how much potassium a particular fertilizer has per unit volume. These numbers are meant as guidelines for application rates because different plants need different amounts of nutrients at different times during their
What is 1-2-1 Fertilizer Good for?
A fertilizer labeled as a “complete” fertilizer is good for most lawns and garden plants. It contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK).
Nitrogen: promotes green grass and lush vegetative growth, stimulates root development in flowers, vegetables, shrubs & trees.
Phosphorus: stimulates root and bloom development, encourages strong plant growth.
Potassium: promotes vegetative growth, fruit/flower production & disease resistance, aids in the nutrient processing of plants. It is also an important element for photosynthesis because it helps make organic compounds such as sugars during this process.
When to use 1-2-1 Fertilizer?
A good example is an application in early spring when vegetation needs to get off to a strong start for summer. This will also encourage root development so that plants can take up water more readily.
- Apply this fertilizer in early spring and again every six weeks throughout the growing season.
- This is a good time to apply for all plants except trees, shrubs & perennials as they will still be dormant at this time.
- Lawns should receive fertilizers containing nitrogen about once per month from March through September or five times.
If you’re looking to improve the health of your lawn, use a complete fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK).
In order to produce more flowers or fruit in plants that have been planted for quite some time, and NPK supplement may be needed. If so, opt for a fertilizer labeled as either “bloom-boosting” or “fruit/flower enhancing.
How to use 1-2-1 Fertilizer
Fertilizers can be applied at many different rates. It is important to know the right rate for your fertilizer. You can find it on its package or in a soil test report from a state agricultural extension service agent or university agronomist. The easiest way to use fertilizers, though, is by following this simple rule of thumb: Use one pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet for lawns and gardens.
Methods of application:
A: Apply to wet soil and water in. This method is particularly useful for fertilizers containing high percentages of potash (potassium) such as potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, or muriate of potash – also known as Kalium Muriaticum
B: Use a spreader that can be set according to the package directions to apply fertilizers with a low percentage of nitrogen.
C: Wear rubber gloves and mix the granular fertilizer into the water as directed on the package label before applying it using a sprayer or other device.
D: Apply liquid fertilizer through an irrigation system by following specific application rates for different types of products, such as those found in the product label.
E: Use a drop spreader to apply granular fertilizers and mix the fertilizer into the ground using a rototiller or other device before planting seeds, bulbs, or transplants.
