Florida-Friendly Fertilizing Techniques

We are now nearing the end of our winter season and heading toward spring when plants will benefit from warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours.  Many plants and turf grasses are dormant during the winter, experiencing little-to-no growth and can even appear less vibrant during this time.  Throughout the dormant phase of the year, the plants do not absorb as many nutrients and rely on what the plant was able to store during spring, summer, and fall.  There are several ways to assist your plants in getting the right nutrients to benefit them during the growing season and help them look their best all year long.  Be sure to check with your county’s guidelines and restrictions on fertilizing to make sure you are following local ordinances.  Investigate the fertilizer you plan to utilize by reading reviews, researching the ingredients, and understanding the nutrients the fertilizer will be providing your plants.
 
Selecting the Right Nutritional Mix
Choosing the right nutrient mix for your plants can seem a bit overwhelming with all the options available on the market and how to select the one that is best for your plants and soil.  All fertilizers should have the N-P-K ratio displayed on the label that will tell you the ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).  These are the three main nutrients all plants need to grow.  Florida soil can naturally be higher in phosphorus which can cause stunted growth and nutrient deficiencies in plants when given too much.  If you are unsure about your soil, you may want to start with low-to-no phosphorus fertilizers to best help your plants.  Nitrogen is the primary nutrient for plant growth and gives the plant its vibrant green color.  Phosphorus is important for root growth, producing seeds, flowers, and fruit.  Potassium is necessary for the plant to uptake water, tolerate stress / droughts, and protect from disease.  Other macronutrients that are important for plant growth are calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).  Micronutrients also play a vital role in plant health and include boron (B), chloride (CI), copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn).  When choosing a new fertilizer always read the directions and experiment with a small area first if you have never used the product.
 
Choosing the Right Fertilizer
There are several different options available for fertilizing your plants.  You can utilize liquid, powder, or granular fertilizers to help promote plant growth.  Liquid fertilizers can provide immediate nutrients for your plant, especially when diluted with water and applied during the normal watering schedule.  You can make your own liquid fertilizer, also known as “compost tea,” by adding molasses, banana peels, coffee grounds and other organic material to water, let it sit a few days and then strain the liquid into a bottle to dilute with water and apply during the next scheduled watering.  Powdered fertilizers such as bone meal, ground compost, and rock phosphate can be mixed directly into soil when planting, offering immediate nutrients to the plants and creating a rich soil.  Granular fertilizers are typically a more slow-release source of nutrients for plants and are a great choice for long-term solutions for plant growth.  You can also choose between slow & fast release fertilizers depending on the situation and needs of the plants.  For more established plants a slow-release fertilizer is the better option. 
 
Nutritious Soil and Compost Additions
One of my favorite ways to assist my plants is adding nutritious compost, cow manure, and other organic soil amendments.  We are lucky to have space for a compost bin, but if you are not able to create compost yourself, there are several organic options available for purchase that your plants will love.  Adding a nourishing supplement to your plants can give them the beneficial nutrients they need without risking over fertilizing them and causing damage.   You can even add in a slow-release fertilizer when mixing a soil amendment for your plants. 
 
Researching the best fertilizers for your plants is important, palms for instance will need a much different fertilizer than your turf grass or ornamental plants.  Once you have selected the appropriate fertilizers for your plants and turf grass, read the instructions carefully to make sure you do not over fertilize the soil and cause damage.  It is important to water most fertilizers into the soil but be careful not to apply too much water that it pools up and creates runoff.  Do not fertilize before heavy rainfall.  Prepare the area by raking and removing any excess plant material and then add the recommended amount of fertilizer.  After you fertilize, it is the perfect time to add mulch or other ground cover around your plants.  This will help keep the new fertilizer in place, benefiting the plants the most.  If you have questions about bringing back the vibrancy in your plants, give us a call or send a text to schedule an on-site consultation to discuss the best strategies to improve your plants’ health.