Fun-Filled Fertilization Facts!

Terms, Recs, and Tips for Fertilizing Your Fabulous Garden.

Are you looking at your plants like, “I mean…they look fine,” but you know deep down they whisper their nutrient soil desires to you as they stare back at you, hoping you’ll understand? Well, Garden Girl is here to translate! 

Plants love fertilization the way our bodies love nutritious food. We use nutritious specifically because it relates to the kind of food that is filled with vitamins, proteins, and carbs needed for survival. When you show your plants these yummy helpers, they are more likely to fight off diseases and pests. It will also help them grow.

Deep root fertilization, for example, delivers nutrients into a critical root zone. This will improve plant health and growth. These kinds of treatments are best done in the spring and fall.

Garden Girl’s Fertilization Recommendations:

Budget-Conscious (but Organic!) Boosts:
In our own yard, we’re using organic fertilizer. You too? Perfect! Grab some measuring cups and make sure you follow the package directions. Be mindful, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Over-fertilization can burn plants and hurt soil the way too many fat-soluble vitamins can make us sick. Feeling Nervous? Start small! Better to play it safe in this case. 

DIY Pro Tip: Add in some organic matter like your homemade compost to help with soil health.

The Beware Blues

Picking safe fertilizers is incredibly important to you and your environment’s health. Products with neonicotinoids are harmful to our helpful insect and pollinator friends like bees and earthworms. We want to keep these caring creatures.

Other non-organic “yucks” include pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides being unsafe to dispose of or store. On top of that, these products are made in carbon-heavy ways and with unsustainable practices. And the worst part is, these products are often dangerous to you, your furry friends, and just about any other living things.

Now That We Scared You - Here’s Something Fun!

Like grinding your coffee? Grind your own fertilizer! Of course, don’t use the same machine. If you do have natural food scraps, you can add blood meals, bone meal, and shredded aged leaves (leaf mold) to make a table to farm plant meal. 

Sound like too much work? No problem! Go support your local garden nursery and get the perfect fertilizer for you.

Tricky Terms: Fertilization Numbers & The Big Three

No, it’s not your star chart, but all fertilizers do have three bold numbers, and we’re here to help you decipher them.

Number 1: Nitrogen (N) 

Nitrogen (N) plays into booming, rich growth and color. This means leaf plants and vibrant lawns. If your plants are looking pale and are struggling with stunted growth, they’re probably lacking Nitrogen. However, if you have fruit-bearing or flowering friends with too much Nitrogen, they’ll focus on the greens and forget about their other assets (like the actual fruit or flowers).

Number 2: Phosphate

Phosphate is a mix of Phosphorus and Oxygen elements. The Phosphorus rejuvenates plants by helping them develop strong roots, flowers, fruits, and seeds. If flowers and roots are struggling, add some phosphates. However, this comes with another warning, as Phosphorus runoff can cause environmental concern and is starting to become more regulated.

Number 3: Potassium (K) 

Potassium (K) is here to boost and regulate overall growth. This element brings balance and keeps plants centered and happy. In fact, Potassium will go so far as to help all of your yard and garden’s needs, helping out with tolerance to diseases, pests, cold, and drought.

Shoutout and Disclaimer: 

We do not receive any compensation from the recommendations we are giving here. We are just sharing our personal favorites from years in the field (literally!). We will always encourage shopping and supporting local stores and garden nurseries. They support people around you and can give the best advice for the areas you’re in.

If you happen to live near Snohomish, WA, we recommend and love the Snohomish Garden Center, Sunnyside Nursery, and McDaiel’s Do-It Center for your local garden needs! Let them know Garden Girl sent you knocking.

Organic Fertilizers That Really Get us Growing:

Down to Earth Organic Bio-Fish Fertilizer Mix 7-7-2, 5 lb. 

This fertilizer is rich in nutrients and the perfect choice for hungry plants. This product is great for your veggie gardens or any large outdoor plants, trees, and shrubs. It provides a great source of nitrogen (1) and phosphorus (2).

Down to Earth All-Natural Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Mix 4-2-4, 5lb.

This fertilizer is enhanced with mycorrhizal fungi, making it Garden Girl’s number one! One of the things we love to do is work with landscapers to create quick, private garden designs for homeowners. Often, this process requires 10’ trees or shrubs, which need to be transplanted. This fertilizer is perfect for either bare roots or ball and burlap transplants. Drill or add little holes to the soil to mix the fertilizer in at planting. This will help with transplant shock and keep your young new plants safe and protected from other environmental extremes. 

Oh Mycorrhizal Fertilizers? I Hear They’re Real Fun-guys!

Did you know that the term mycorrhiza explains exactly how it helps out? “Myco” means “fungus” and “rhiza” means root, so mycorrhiza translates to “fungus-root.” That’s because these special fungi populate plant roots in a symbiotic system and reach far into the soil, creating a relationship between the plants and root fungus that benefits all parties!

Non-Organic Fertilizers We’re Okay with If You Really Have To:

LilLilly Miller All Purpose Planting And Growing Food 10-10-10.

LilLily Miller is here to balance out your nitrogen (1) - phosphorus (2) - potassium (3) needs in your garden. 

Lilly Miller Rhododendron, Evergreen & Azalea Food 10-5-4. 

This product contains extra iron to meet Azaleas needs! This makes it perfect for Azaleas, and okay for some other plants. Check out your plant needs and make sure its desire for iron matches this fertilizers levels. As a general note, Iron will be listed in the ingredient list, not in our big three.

Need the Whole Lawn Fertilized? Of Course We Have Recs for that!

Hey Neighbor! Whatcha Doing Over There?
Do you ever glance at your neighbors lawns and think about Zebras? Do the stripes of different colors confuse and amuse as you pass by? This is often the result of chaotic fertilizing and shows the importance of spreading out your fertilizers evenly.

Drop and cyclone spreaders are the crowd favorites for spreading your fertilizers. We recommend cyclone spreaders for your best outcome. First, break up clumps. This way you won’t clog the spreader and halt the process. Now, to avoid the Zebra lawn, overlap your spread pattern by applying half in one direction and the other half the opposite way. A smooth, vibrant lawn is on its way.

Safer Brand 9334 Lawn Restore Fertilizer – 25 lb.

This fertilizer is here to freshen up those roots and provide robust care for your lawn. Lawn Restore has our big three balanced at 9 (nitrogen) - 0 (phosphate) - 2 (potassium), creating the perfect conditions for a lush lawn. This product sports natural ingredients instead of harmful chemicals that could hurt the environment and in turn, you. An added benefit of natural over chemicals, is that this fertilizer supports long-term growth and avoids dehydrators like salt. 

Milorganite 0605 Garden Care Organic Fertilizer.

We’re back to higher Iron counts with this product, so be mindful of your lawn’s needs. However, if this is the one for you, it produces gorgeous greens. If you’re besties with the bunnies in your neighborhood, this may not be the product for you. Although it doesn’t say on the label, some homeowners and garden friends have suggested this keeps rabbits away.