Fertilizer Tips

Perennials

At time of planting:

  • Apply two pounds of 5-10-5or 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft.
  • Mix into upper 4 to 6 inches of soil.

Maintenance:

  • Apply one pound of 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft.  in mid July.

For established perennial beds:

  • Apply two pounds 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. in early spring.
  • Apply one pound 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. in early June.
  • Apply ½ pound 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft. in mid July.

Annuals and Herbs

At time of planting:

  • Apply two pounds of 5-10-5or 5-10-10 per 100 sq. ft.
  • Mix into upper 4 to 6 inches of soil.

Maintenance:

  • For continued good growth make applications every 4 to 6 weeks throughout the growing season.

NOTE:

  • Apply fertilizer to soil surface.  Avoid fertilizer contact with plant foliage.  Carefully scratch fertilizer into upper ½ to 1 inch of soil.  Take care not to damage roots.

Study the Fertilizer Label

A fertilizer labeled as organic or natural may not necessarily fit the description. Check the ingredients list for synthetic chemical fertilizers.    You’ll also find the overall percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium yielded by whatever is in the mix.


Fertilizer
%N

%P

%K
Pounds to Supply
1 Pound Actual N
Alfalfa pellets
5
1
2
20
Bloodmeal
10
1
0
10
Bonemeal
3
15
0
33
Cottonseed meal
3
1
1
33
Greensand
0
1
6
—
Kelp meal
2
1
3
50
Manure, composted chicken
0.5
0.3
0.5
200
Manure, composted cow
0.5
0.3
0.5
200
Rock phosphate
0
3
0
—
Seabird guano
12
8
2
8
Shellfish fertilizer
3
3
1
33
Soybean meal
7
1
3
14
Erth Rite
3
2
2
33
Milorganite/Com-Til
6
2
0
16
ReVita Compost Plus
3
4
3
33
Source: Newspaper, Pennies, Cardboard, & Eggs for Growing a Better Garden
By Roger Yepsen and the Editors of Organic Gardening