Fertilizing

In this section:

Fertilizer NumbersWhat do those fertilizer numbers mean?

There are three numbers associated with fertilizers, for example  5-10-5. They represent the percentage by weight of the 3 nutritional ingredients required by plants, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium (or N-P-K)

  • The first, Nitrogen helps promotes growth and greening
  • The second, Phosphorous contributes to rooting and setting flower buds
  • The third, Potassium contributes to overall health

Please consult your Bayside Garden Center expert to help you determine what combination of nutrients is best for your needs.

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Why do I need a fertilizer spreader?

No matter what kind of lawn products you use, their performance depends in large measure on the quality of the spreader that you use to apply them.

A poor-quality spreader often leaves missed streaks or patches in the lawn where the material is either not applied, or is applied at the wrong rate. This causes unsatisfactory control of weeds, insects, and fungus disease as well as poor fertilizer performance.

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Fertilizer SpreaderShould I use a Drop Spreader or Rotary Spreader?

If both spreaders are of equal quality, a drop spreader usually will provide better accuracy. However, a high-quality rotary will be more accurate than a lower-quality drop spreader.

Drop spreaders meter out the fertilizer and drop it directly on the lawn. A drop spreader is best if:

  • You have a small lawn
  • Doing the job as precisely as possible is most important to you
  • You don’t mind taking a bit longer to apply products to your lawn

Rotary spreaders meter out the fertilizer and throw the granules in a swath up to several feet wide. A rotary spreader is best if:

  • You have a very large lawn
  • You like to get the job done as quickly as possible
  • You do not have flower beds or gardens in the middle of your lawn