How to Use Grass Fertilizer for Flower Gardens
- 1). Read the label on the fertilizer package. The container should be clearly marked with three numbers separated by hyphens. These numbers are known as the NPK ratio, and each represents the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorous or potassium in the fertilizer. Choose a formula that contains the same amount of all three nutrients and avoid any that have built-in herbicides.
- 2). Mix 1/2 cup granular fertilizer into the soil when planting new flowers, then soak the seedlings profusely. The water breaks down the chemicals in the fertilizer and helps the plant recover from transplant shock by encouraging the uptake of fluid by the roots.
- 3). Apply fertilizer to established perennial beds when the new growth emerges each spring using approximately 1 lb. of fertilizer per 100 square feet of garden space. Use a sturdy garden rake to incorporate the fertilizer into the soil where possible.
- 4). Sprinkle dry fertilizer around the flowers in early summer. For the best results, side dress the plants using approximately 1/2 lb.of fertilizer per 100 square feet of garden space.
