Fertilizer -> Get the Facts

How many of you try to figure out , when and how much to apply, what kind of fertilizer to apply and when to apply it.
Let’s take a look together:

Should I fertilize at all?
If you worked a lot of organic matter into the soil before planting, than just add more every year or two and you may not need fertilizer at all.

Purchasing the right fertilizer:
There are three main ingredients in every fertilizer:
Nitrogen-feeds foliage(N)
Potassium-produce fruits and flowers(K).
And phosphorus- keeps plants healthy and strong(P).
You will find them listed on every fertilizer package. Its the combination of the three that determine the best fertilizer for your garden. Take a look at the table below to see what different combinations different plant types need.

Plant Type	Nitrogen	Potassium	Phosphorus
Annual Flowers	15	30	15
Deciduous trees and shrubs	15	10	9
Evergreens	12	6	12
Most Vegetables	24	8	16
Lawn	30	2	3
Roses	9	18	9

When should you fertilize?
On annuals you can apply water-soluble fertilizers all seasons, starting in the spring and repeating every month. Shrub and trees should be fertilized once or twice during the growing season using granulated fertilizers, starting in the spring and fining mid August. Then just before plant bloom, make additional feeding.