Gardening Tips and Advice

Fertilizer, Gardening -

Gardening Tips and Advice

You may have just decided to start growing a garden or you may be an expert. While it seems simple - just put a seed in the ground and give it water - actually growing plants can be quite tricky. You'll quickly find there are many types of fertilizers, soils, herbicides, and other necessary equipment. Read on to learn how to prepare your garden for planting.Ā 

Terms to Know

Amendment - Organic matterĀ like compost or manureĀ that you add to soil to improve its fertility, water retention, drainage, or structure.

Germination - Ā TheĀ moment when a seed begins to grow to a sprout.

Medium - This is the substance that your plants grow in. This is usually soil but can also be sand, gravel, pumice, or a bunch of different materials.Ā 

Transplanting -Ā Ā Transferring a plant to a different growing space. Many people start plants indoors and transplant them to the garden when the weather warms.

Garden Soil Essentials

The first step in growing a garden is making sure you have good soil. If you are starting a garden bed, you can fill it with a premade garden soil mix. These soil mixes come with a blend of soil and amendments that are ideal for gardens. New seeds need a germination mix which is finer so seedlings can grow easier. Older plants do well in an all purpose soil mix.

If you already have a soil baseĀ you will want toĀ add compost to your soil. Compost is just decomposed organic matter. This rich matter supplies many nutrients for your plants that may not be found in your soil.

You can make your own compostĀ usingĀ leaves, twigs, kitchen scraps and other items. Make sure not to use meats, dairy products or grease in your composting. Or you can buy premade compost such asĀ Mountain West Organic Compost.

Potting SoilĀ Essentials

If you are doing container gardening you will want to use potting soil. Most potting soils are made up ofĀ three basic ingredients: peat moss, pine bark, and either vermiculite or perlite (to provide air space). The type of soil blend for you will vary depending on your soil type and gardening goals.

Peat MossĀ is an acidic fibrous material that forms from decomposed moss. It is used for retaining moisture and holding onto nutrients in soil.

Pine BarkĀ is anĀ organic mulch that provides someĀ fertilizer and moisture retention,Ā as well as aĀ bit more air space. ItĀ helps toĀ add to theĀ life of the potting mix by being somewhat slow to break down.

Perlite allows excess water to drain and provides oxygen access to your plants roots. It is best for plants that need to dry out before being watered again.

Vermiculite will mix with soil and help to retain water. It is best for plants that need to be kept moist.

We recommend Fertilome Ultimate Potting MixĀ and SunGro SunShine potting mixes for every day use.Ā 

FertilizerĀ Essentials

Plants need good food to thrive, which is where fertilizer comes in. While fertilizer bags may look complicated, they are actually quite simple. FertilizersĀ are made up of three main ingredients - Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium - or NPK for short. These bags have numbers representing the contents of the fertilizer. For example,Ā aĀ bag of fertilizer that reads 20-5-10 contains 20% available nitrogen,Ā 5% available phosphorous and 10% available potassium.

NitrogenĀ aids the plant in greening up and provides top growth byĀ helpingĀ the plant create more chlorophyll. Be prepared toĀ have your plants and lawn grow faster!

PhosphorousĀ helps roots grow thick and deep,Ā plus it assists with flowering and fruiting. WithoutĀ the right amount of phosphorous, a plant will have a hard time stayingĀ healthy. Its roots will be weakĀ as a result ofĀ less nutrients and water beingĀ absorbedĀ by the plant.

PotassiumĀ is a basic nutrient for plants andĀ maintains the plants overall health and vigor. Plants can’t perform theirĀ usual functions to flourish and survive without potassium.

We recommend Hi Yield Garden FertilizerĀ and Fertilome Gardener's Special for every day use in gardens.Ā 

HerbicideĀ Essentials

Using a proper herbicide is critical to kill unwanted plants. Make sure you choose an herbicide that removes targeted weeds while leaving your desired plant unharmed. Follow all instructions to limit the side effects of using an herbicide.

Killing weeds in your garden is trickier since you can't use as many different herbicides. Once your seedlings are 2-3 inches tall you can apply the preemergent TrifluralinĀ (same as Preen) to keep weeds from starting up in your garden. Later in the season you can spot spray weeds with KillzallĀ (make sure to not get it directly on any of your crops) or spray with Hi Yield Grass KillerĀ after weeds have started growing.Ā 

When to PlantĀ 

While this varies depending on what you are planting and where you live, there are certain guidelines to follow. In Utah and Idaho, about a third of your vegetables should be planted in March and another third in April. For your most frost-sensitive plants, you should wait until May. If you have a greenhouse you can get your plants started then move them outside when the weather warms up. Many people wait until after Mother's Day to plant outside. If you have questions about when or what to plant give us a call at 800-888-4545 and one of our gardening specialistsĀ can help you out!

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