Why do I fertilize?

In order for a plant to grow and thrive, it needs many different chemical elements, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are vital to a plants survival. Sulfur, calcium and magnesium are secondary nutrients plants need to thrive. Plants also need boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, are three of the most important elements a plant needs and are generally found in most packaged fertilizers. Without nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium a plant can not live. Nitrogen is vital to the Earth and everything in it therefor, nothing can survive without it. Phosphorus is a very important mineral found in most living organisms. To much phosphorus can cause many problems with plants and other living organisms. Phosphorus is used in many other things like when lighting a match, fertilizer for plants and most electronics. Potassium is essential in maintaining proper health for any living organisms. Potassium is highly reactive and usually mixed with other minerals when used. A lack of potassium can cause many sever problems in living organisms, even death, therefor, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are three vital minerals to the Earth and all living organisms in it.

What is Fertilizer ?

The numbers on all fertilizer packages tell you a percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium found in each bag. For example 12-6-12 fertilizer has 12 percent nitrogen 6 percent phosphorus and 12 percent potassium in each bag. These days there are many different types of fertilizers and it is easy to over fertilize, therefor, selecting the right type of fertilizer for your plants can be difficult. Some fertilizers like Osmocote, Miracle Grow or Scotts have been around for years and are trusted by most home owners and nursery growers. Often times the fertilizers are made for the specific type of plants like fruits, vegetables, evergreens, blooming plants and lawns just to name a few. Always seeking a nursery or landscape specialist is a good idea if you are unsure what type of fertilizer to use on your gardens.

So Why Fertilize?

Plant survival is vital to the earth, every living thing feeds off another. As people we eat meat from animals and animals eat plants, insects, pollen and many other things, therefor, we need to do our part to insure plants grow and thrive. By planting new trees when they are cut down, planting vegetables, fruit, shrubs and flowers to give beauty to your home, oxygen to the air and food for our wildlife is another thing we can do to help mother nature.

Article By Rose Harrington http://www.roseslandscapes.com