Why is Fertilization Important for Spring Gardening in Mid-Missouri? 

Fertilization is sometimes ignored by gardeners, when in fact, fertilizer is an essential part of the plant growing process. Using a fertilizer provides important nutrients that speed up growth and produce bigger plants. There are many different forms of fertilizer that provide different benefits to each type of plant. Boulder Creek Lawn & Landscape also offers their own fertilization program that ensures your yard thrives year-round!

Don’t use a basic fertilizer! Feed your mid-Missouri plants with the best spring fertilizer for their species

Missouri flower fertilizer- The best fertilizers for spring flowers are granular fertilizers that are balanced in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, also known as the NPK ratio. Apply your spring fertilizer to the flowers just before a growth burst period. All-purpose plant food also does the trick, but just make sure your fertilizer isn’t super high in nitrogen content. This will cause less flowers to bloom from your flower beds!

Fertilizer for bushes & trees- When fertilizing ornamental bushes and trees in your mid-Missouri garden, use a slow-release granular fertilizer. Slow-release means that it provides nutrients to the plants over a longer period of time than fast-release fertilizers. Also, consider the NPK ratio; for bushes and trees, try a 12-4-8, 12-6-6, or 16-4-8. If the trees or shrubs are new, make sure the fertilizer has access to the root zone so nutrients are getting through to them. 

Garden fertilizer- The best fertilizer for your vegetable garden is typically one that has twice the amount of phosphorus as potassium and nitrogen. Liquid fertilizers in particular can also be great for the well-being of your garden plants. Of course, with all of these cases, it’s recommended to do a soil test.