June 1st, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

Fertiliser is a key part of growing healthy plants and crops. However, it can be tricky, especially for those who are just getting to grips with their garden to understand all the ins and outs of fertilisers and which is the best to use. In this blog, we'll take you through some simple tips to help you better understand fertilisers and how they can improve your garden.

What is fertiliser?

Fertilisers are substances that you add to the soil to improve its quality, usually by adding additional nutrients and minerals that plants and grass require to grow stronger and healthier. These can either be natural or chemical, and they are an easy way to improve your yard’s overall health.

Why use fertiliser?

You may be wondering why you need to fertilise your yard. You might think it's unnecessary or perhaps that it is just too much hard work, but the truth is that fertiliser can be a great way to improve the health and growth of your garden or lawn overall, which means it will require less care in the long run. Using fertiliser is an investment in the health of your yard. Here are some reasons why:

·        Fertiliser helps feed your plants, which means they'll grow better than they would otherwise. This makes sense when you consider how much energy goes into producing food for us humans--so it stands to reason that our plants need food too!

·        If you want more fruit from your fruit trees or flowers from your flower beds or thicker and greener grass then adding a little fertilizer will help them flourish.

·        Fertilisers improve soil structure by breaking up compacted earth so water can penetrate more easily; this allows roots access too (which means those roots won't die off). They also help increase water holding capacity by retaining moisture in clumps rather than letting it run away through cracks between rocks/gravel etc., which improves drainage as well-meaning less standing water around base-level areas like paths where mosquitoes breed naturally (or worse still inside homes). And finally; because most fertilizers contain lime (calcium carbonate) they increase pH levels making them safer overall.

Types of fertilisers

Now that you know the basics, it's time to get into some of the more specific types of fertilisers:

Organic Fertilisers

Organic fertilisers are derived from plants or animals and contain no synthetic chemicals. They're often made from manure, compost and even seaweed. Organic fertilisers are good for supporting soil life; improving soil structure; providing nutrients to plants in a slow-release form (so they don't leach out); increasing water retention capacity in sandy soils; reducing water runoff during heavy rains; reducing erosion by protecting topsoil layers from being washed away by rainwater runoff (which causes soil degradation).

Chemical Fertilisers

Chemical garden fertilisers are substances or mixtures that have been specifically formulated to provide your soil with the essential nutrients that flowers, grass and trees in your garden need to thrive. These fertilizers come in a range of various chemical compounds which aim to supply nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), as well as other micronutrients like iron, zinc, and manganese.

How to read a fertiliser label

The label will tell you how much of each nutrient is in the bag, so it's easy to work out how many bags you need for your garden, and it also makes it easier for you to choose the right kind of fertiliser for your garden’s current needs, which will change throughout the seasons and their current growth cycle.

So, if you want to know how much of each nutrient is in a particular product, you will need to look at its NPK value. This stands for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) which are the most essential nutrients that your yard will need in order to thrive and grow strong.

For example: if a fertilizer has an N-P-K ratio of 15-5-5 then this means there are 15% nitrogen; 5% phosphorus; 5% potassium by weight. The higher these numbers are, the more concentrated they are – which is why it makes selecting the right kind of fertiliser easier. But what do these nutrients do and how do you know which your yard needs?

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for plants and it's needed for them to grow. It's a building block of proteins, plants need nitrogen to make chlorophyll, which gives leaves their green colour and helps photosynthesis take place (the process by which plants use sunlight and water to produce energy). Without enough nitrogen in the soil, your plants won't be able to produce enough chlorophyll so they won't be able to absorb as many nutrients which can lead to them not growing properly or staying healthy.

Phosphate

Phosphate is a mineral that helps plants to produce the energy they need for growth and development, and it also supports the formation of flowers and fruit. Phosphate is often added to fertilisers because it's not easily available in soil on its own. Phosphate is essential for new growth so if you’ve laid a new lawn or planted new flowers then a fertiliser rich in Phosphate is key.

Potassium

Another macro-nutrient along with nitrogen and phosphorus. Potassium is an important nutrient for plant growth and helps plants resist stress and disease. It also helps with the development of strong roots and stems so that plants can better withstand drought, heat or cold and absorb adequate nutrients It also contributes to overall plant health by ensuring adequate chlorophyll production (which gives leaves their green colour). This is another nutrient that is particularly important when plants are in the early stages of their growth cycle.

How much should I use?

As with all elements, there's no single answer here; it depends on what type of soil you have and what kind of plants you are growing. If you aren’t sure of your soil type, then the best place to start is by doing a soil test which will give you a breakdown of your soil’s compound, these can be purchased easily online, and this will also give an indication of the best kind of fertiliser for your yard. In terms of application, it is advisable to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, as these will indicate whether it is a fast or slow-release product and that will give you an indicator of how often it needs to be applied.

Hopefully, this article has helped you to understand a little more about fertiliser and its uses. There are many different types available on the market today and they can be confusing if you're not sure what they do or how much use they would be in your garden. In short: don't stress!