How to feed plants
Well-fed plants grow fast and large, shading out weeds and usually staying disease-free. But shopping for the right plant food at the nursery can be confusing; specialty fertilizers for camellias, lawns, roses, tomatoes, and other plants crowd shelves alongside all-purpose fertilizers and organic products. Most plant foods come in a wide variety of forms: liquids, granules, pellets, tablets, and stakes. Which is the best choice for your lawn? For blooms? And what do all those numbers on the labels mean? For answers, see our fertilizer guide below. Fortunately, fertilizers fall into three main categories: granular, liquid, and controlled release. Most contain three primary nutrients ― nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) ― and a variety of micronutrients, including iron and manganese. Nitrogen is usually the most important and, for a given price, the better value. It promotes green growth, so lawns need a lot of it (29-3-4 is a common turf formula). Phosphorus helps rooting ...