Fertilizer numbers are confusing if you are not in the business or an advanced gardener. 8-8-8 , 13-13-13, 8-24-24, these are all fertilizers for the garden or pasture, or wherever you need it. But what do they stand for? The numbers stand for the Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium that is the fertilizer bag. 8-8-8 is a 1-1-1 ratio because of the equal amounts of ingredients. 8-24 -24 is a 1-2-2 ratio. This means that it is low in nitrogen and equally high amounts of phosphorus and potassium.
In simple terms, the nitrogen makes your plants or grass green and grow, the phosphorus makes blooms, and the potassium is good for the root system. It is not as hard to learn as we thought. Most people use 8-8-8 or 13-13-13 for their garden. 8-24-24 is a great starter for a newly planted yard. You use this for start and come back with some nitrogen to help it later with growth and green-up.
What is organic? Organic gardening is different from conventional gardening is the use of natural materials and synthetic pesticides and fertilizer. Most of the small pack companies have a line of both. Fertilome especially has a great line of organic products. Soil amendments are a great deal part of organic gardening. Some are cottonseed meal, bone and blood meal, fish meal, cow manure and lots of others. Many people use a compost pile to start the process of getting organics in the garden. Neem oil works as a fungicide, insecticide or miticide. Another organic product is Spinosad. This is fairly new and is a great insecticide and does help with fire ants.
What does systemic mean. Systemic means that the product poured around the tree or shrub is able to be sucked up the tree or shrub. I know this sounds crude but it is true. It won’t work when it is dormant season because the plant is not growing or blooming. A systemic product is one of the easiest thing to use. It mixes with water and you don’t have to spray, just pour around the base of the plant. I like to use systemic products around the base of roses, trees, azaleas, and crepe myrtles. Usually it has both an insecticide and fungicide.
What are pesticides? A lot of things go into the category of pesticides. Hebicides include weed and grass killer, and brush and tree killer. Insecticides are for bugs and fungicides kill the fungus on the plants and trees. Pesticide is just a general name for all of these things. You need to identify what you are needing to spray or kill. A local garden store or the LSU Ag Center have the knowledge or the books to assist you with this.
As always read and follow the directions on the label.
(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal.)