What fertilizer to add - Ask Extension

Please tell me the dimensions of your garden and I will do the calculation for you.
Thank you for writing

Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions. The University' garden soil tests are excellent. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional A Directory of ISA certified arborists is at https://certificates.directory.isa-arbor.com/ The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Ask a Master Gardener is a public service of the University of MInnesota's Extension Division. Please donate if we make you happy. https://give.umn.edu/gardener Replied June 06, 2024, 3:31 PM EDT

30x 30

Thank you

On Thu, Jun 6, 2024 at 2:31 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied June 06, 2024, 3:37 PM EDT

Thanks for writing back.
You have 100 square feet and need .15 pounds of Nitrogen and .3 pounds of potassium.

A 5 pound back of NPK 3-0-6 would contain
3% Nitrogen=.15 pounds in the whole bag
6% Potassium=.3 pounds in the whole bag.

Thus 5 pounds of a slow release fertilizer NPK about 3-0-6 would be perfect but it does not have to hit the numbers exactly.
You could even divide it into half doses about a month apart.

Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions. The University' garden soil tests are excellent. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional A Directory of ISA certified arborists is at https://certificates.directory.isa-arbor.com/ The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Ask a Master Gardener is a public service of the University of MInnesota's Extension Division. Please donate if we make you happy. https://give.umn.edu/gardener Replied June 06, 2024, 4:01 PM EDT

Thank you for the information.

So should I plant and then add the fertilizer to the plants or add to the whole garden and till in?

Thank You

Beth

On Thu, Jun 6, 2024 at 3:01 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied June 06, 2024, 4:07 PM EDT

If you have not planted yet, sprinkle the fertilizer, lightly rake, lightly water.
I strongly suggests a wonderful book on gardening to help you get started.

Available everywhere.
https://seedtofork.com/plant-grow-harvest-repeat

Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions. The University' garden soil tests are excellent. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional A Directory of ISA certified arborists is at https://certificates.directory.isa-arbor.com/ The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Ask a Master Gardener is a public service of the University of MInnesota's Extension Division. Please donate if we make you happy. https://give.umn.edu/gardener Replied June 06, 2024, 5:37 PM EDT

I apologize for an error in my calculations.

You have 1000 square feet and need 1.5 pounds of Nitrogen and 3 pounds of potassium.

A 20 pound bag of NPK 10-0-10 would contain
2 pounds of Nitrogen =10% in the whole bag
2 pounds of Potassium =10% in the whole bag

Apply twice now and in August. Be sure the bag says something like sustained or slo release Nitrogen.

Again sorry about the error. I was leaveing town and a pile of questions came in. Best to you.

Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions. The University' garden soil tests are excellent. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional A Directory of ISA certified arborists is at https://certificates.directory.isa-arbor.com/ The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Ask a Master Gardener is a public service of the University of MInnesota's Extension Division. Please donate if we make you happy. https://give.umn.edu/gardener Replied June 10, 2024, 8:05 AM EDT

What fertilizer to add #871926

Expert Response

Loading ...