subject: Benefits of feeding your garden [print this page] Benefits of feeding your garden Benefits of feeding your garden
The benefits of feeding your garden are many. Plants usually cannot sustain themselves on soil, sunlight, and water alone. They need particular nutrients that are not always present or prevalent in the soil. Also know as plant food, fertilizer supplements what the plants naturally get from the ground. Different plants need different things. There is a fertilizer for every different variety of every different species of plants, including garden flowers of all types, garden vegetables, tobacco plants, and more. There are multiple factors that affect what kind of fertilizer or fertilizers you should choose for the plants in your garden. Your climate is one factor. Do you live in a mild climate, or a very warm or cold environment? Commercial fertilizer companies sell different hybrids of fertilizer that will work best with the particular weather and temperature climates where you live. Ask a professional or an associate at the home and garden section of your favorite store to help you sort out the different types of plant food you will need for the plants growing in your garden. You may need some mild pesticides to keep bugs away. You may also need something to discourage animals from eating the leaves and vegetables in your garden. Most commercial fertilizer has detailed product information on the outside of the packaging that can help you determine whether or not it is the kind that you need, including tables and numberings and ph balances. Even so, these tables and ingredients can cause a lot of confusion. Your associate will know what to look for.
There are products now available on the market known as controlled release fertilizers. These release the active ingredient in the fertilizer a little bit at a time so as not to scorch or otherwise harm the plant as it's growing. Another choice for your garden is organic fertilizer. This is natural biodegradable material that has not been chemically altered in any way. Tea leaves are an example of one such ingredient in natural fertilizer. After you have purchased the fertilizers needed for your particular varieties of plants, it is helpful to keep a feeding schedule. Overfeeding, or not feeding them enough, can do a lot of harm to the plants, hindering their growth or killing them. Conveniently, many fertilizers sold in stores have a schedule printed on the package for individual use. Even so, it is helpful to get tips from other experienced gardeners or professionals. Trust your judgment. The organic variety of fertilizer works in much the same way. Oftentimes, less is more. These organic compounds can be bought at farmer's markets and directly from companies which specialize in producing all natural fertilizer. Combined with these regular feedings, the soil, sunlight, and regular watering of your plants will help to evenly and thoroughly nourish your plants throughout the growing season. You can adjust feeding schedules according to changes in weather and other factors. If your plants begin to grow quickly and healthily, this is a good sign that the plant food is doing its job.
