- How to select the right inorganic fertilizer<\/a>
- Step 1: Identify which nutrients to prioritize<\/a><\/li>
- Step 2: Match the fertilizer with the soil report<\/a><\/li>
- Step 3: Calculate how much fertilizer to use<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to use inorganic fertilizer properly<\/a>
- Banding<\/a><\/li>
- Broadcasting<\/a><\/li>
- Foliar<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- When is it better to use synthetic fertilizer?<\/a><\/li>
- FAQs about inorganic fertilizers<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
How to select the right inorganic fertilizer<\/span><\/h2>
There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to fertilizers. If you compare organic vs. inorganic fertilizers, both are winners in their own turf. That\u2019s why you can\u2019t just pick the same one that worked for your neighbor\u2019s garden and assume it would produce the same results for your lawn.<\/p>
Even plants of the same type may have different requirements. As such, you\u2019ll need a fertilizer that provides specific nutrients. While various environmental factors contribute to this diversity, one particular element lies underneath it all \u2014 the soil.<\/p>
To choose the right synthetic fertilizer for your lawn, follow these steps:<\/p>
Step 1: Identify which nutrients to prioritize<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Fertilizer](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Fertilizer-NPK-1.jpg\")
Adobe Stock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> The first step in determining what nutrients your lawn needs is to test the soil<\/a>. You can do this either via a DIY soil testing kit or by sending a sample of your soil to the lab. The results will help you identify the specific nutritional needs of your plants.<\/p>
There\u2019s no standard format for these reports. Fortunately, what you need to look for is present in all of them. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)<\/strong> are the three main nutrients you need to check. If they\u2019re all in adequate amounts, you might not even need to apply synthetic fertilizer.<\/p>
Out of these three macronutrients, nitrogen is the most important one, as it is what lawns and gardens commonly need. For instance, you can blame the lack of nitrogen<\/a> in the soil for the slow growth rates of trees and shrubs. Although, it\u2019s not necessarily bad unless you\u2019re aiming for dense shrubbery.<\/p>
Typically, you only need to do soil testing every three years<\/strong>.<\/p>
Once you\u2019ve familiarized yourself with the report, it\u2019s time to choose the right fertilizer.<\/p>
Step 2: Match the fertilizer with the soil report<\/span><\/h3>
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/rsz_1soil-ph.jpg\")
Infographic by Juan Rodriguez <\/figcaption><\/figure> There are numerous things to consider when selecting a fertilizer, and Julia Sirchia, program assistant at UF\/IFAS Extension, couldn\u2019t have emphasized it better.<\/p>
According to Sirchia, “Lawn fertilizers would burn garden plants because they contain too much nitrogen and sometimes other chemicals that are meant to control weeds.” For this reason, she recommends doing your research<\/a> so you can choose the best fertilizer for your plants.<\/p>
If you did the soil test, you\u2019re already done with part of the research. For most homeowners, the N-P-K ratio is enough to determine what fertilizer to buy. However, you also must consider whether some plants in your lawn have other specific nutritional requirements.<\/p>
The plant nutrients pyramid in the figure below can give you a quick overview of what plants usually require. All of these elements are crucial for your plant\u2019s health. However, the nutrients at the base are the most essential, gradually tapering to the micronutrients at the top, which are the least necessary.<\/p>
![\"Infographic](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Plant-nutrients-pyramid.jpg\")
Infographic by Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure> Note:<\/strong> If you have a soil pH within the range of 6.0 to 7.0<\/strong>, you can rest assured that you have sufficient micronutrients<\/a>.<\/p>
Thanks to the standardized labels, picking a fertilizer from store shelves is easy if you know what you\u2019re looking for. The ratio of N-P-K is always shown at the front of the label in large numbers. For instance, a label of 16-4-8 means 16% nitrogen, 4% phosphorus, and 8% potassium.<\/p>
You\u2019d be lucky if the N-P-K recommendation from your soil test matches the available bags on the market. Most of the time, you\u2019ll have to compensate by buying fertilizers with different ratios to match the recommendation. Lawn care pros are well-versed in this, so most homeowners rely on them for lawn fertilization services<\/a>.<\/p>
Step 3: Calculate how much fertilizer to use<\/span><\/h3>
![\"nitrogen,](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/NPK-Fertilizer.jpeg\")
Adobe Stock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Using the same soil test recommendation, you should be able to calculate the amount of fertilizer you\u2019ll need. Keep in mind that this is for N-P-K only<\/strong> since this is what we\u2019re normally concerned with in lawn care. First, you must list down the values for the following variables:<\/p>
- Amount of specific nutrient (in lbs.) per 1,000 square feet, as recommended in the soil test<\/li>
- Percent of the specific nutrient in the fertilizer you\u2019re using<\/li>
- Area to be fertilized in square feet<\/li> <\/ul>
The formula to use is:<\/strong><\/p>
Fertilizer needed = (N amount of nutrient needed in lbs. \/ 1,000 sq. ft.) * (1 lb. fertilizer \/ N percent of nutrient in fertilizer) * area to be fertilized in square feet<\/em><\/p>
For instance, let\u2019s say your lawn is around 1,200 square feet. If your soil report suggests applying 3 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet and you have a 16-16-16 fertilizer, you\u2019ll need to apply 22.5 lbs. of the 16-16-16 fertilizer.<\/p>
Since it can be confusing to compute by hand, you can use this calculator to determine how much N-P-K fertilizer you need:<\/strong><\/p>
- Broadcasting<\/a><\/li>
- Step 2: Match the fertilizer with the soil report<\/a><\/li>
- Step 1: Identify which nutrients to prioritize<\/a><\/li>