West Carlston Garden Centre, Campsie Road, Torrance, Glasgow G64 4EZ, Tel: 01360 620248
 

Underfeeding widespread in East Dunbartonshire.

Plants are the most underfed members of the average household.

Why do we need to feed plants?  Plants in the wild don't need fed - do they?

In the wild, plants die, decompose and their nutrients go back into the soil.
This re-cycling means there is no need for fertilizer in the wild.
In the average garden this just doesn't happen. We throw out our dead plants and grass cuttings - virtually nothing is re-cycled so we have to add fertilizer to feed our plants.

What to look for in a fertilizer:
The most important 3 minerals are:

  • Nitrogen     (N): for general growth.
  • Phoshorous (P): for actively growing regions of the plant 
  • Potassium   (K): for colour in plants (except green)

The N:P:K ratio can be found on the back of every packet of Fertilizer.

Growmore, the most popular Granular fertilizer has an N:P:K ratio of 7%:7%:7%.
This is about the minimum you should look for - not so strong it will burn young plants yet will give decent results in most situations.

Plants also need "trace elements," so called because of the small amounts needed.
e.g. Magnesium, Copper, Calcium, Iron etc.
Soil in a new garden rarely lacks these "trace elements" but an old garden that has had little fertilizer over the years will.
Plants grown in confined spaces (Growbags, Tubs, Baskets) quickly run out of these "trace elements".

Check the "N:P:K ratio" and "trace elements" on the back of your favourite Fertilizer. Is it doing all you want?

This is the second in a series of articles based on the most frequent questions I get asked when giving talks around the country.

Article written by Ron from West Carlston Garden Centre in Torrance.

Ron can be contacted at info@westcarlston.com

This week's competition:

Name any Fertilizer, give its N:P:K ratio and any "trace element".

The sender of the first correct e-mail will receive a £10 Gift Voucher.

Copywrite R. McInally