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 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 L House Area to be fertilized

To find your area Difficult areas –Divide and conquer –(Length/#of sections) x sum of Widths = Area 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!

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