Check Before you Choose

a Fertilizer!Tips to safely apply your

fertilizer

Problems

• Improperly applied fertilizer can:– Harm plants– Waste money

& time– Pollute water

Check the following before applying a fertilizer

Soil nutrients

Plant type

Area to be fertilized

Fertilizer label

Check Soil Nutrients• MSUE soil test• Type of plant• Tests for

– Soil texture– pH– Potassium– Phosphorus– Calcium– Magnesium– Cation

Exchange Capacity

Plant type

• Different plants have different nutrient requirements

• Contact MSUE for recommendations

Area to be fertilized

• Recommendations based on 1,000 sq. ft

• Two methods– Subtract non-

fertilized areas– Add together areas to

be fertilized• Basic geometry

– L x W = Area

W

LHouse

Area to be fertilized

To find your area

• Difficult areas– Divide and conquer– (Length/#of

sections) x sum of Widths = Area

1 2 3

706 sq. ft. 1200 sq. ft. 900 sq. ft.

Length = 140 ft. Width 1 = 70 ft., 2 = 75 ft., 3 = 55 ft.

Length = 140 = 35 feet# sections 4

70’ + 75’ + 55’ = 200 ft. 200 ft x 35 ft = 7000 sq.ft.

Fertilizer Label• Match nutrients to

requirements• Nitrogen• Phosphorus• Potassium

Application• A different

method– Measure the

amount of fertilizer needed

– Low rate of application

– Apply over the area multiple times

• Always clean up after yourself and sweep fertilizer off side walks and driveways back onto lawn!

For more information