Thank you for your question.  In order for me to provide you with my best answer, I would like to look at the complete soil report.  Would you be so kind as to send us a picture (both sides) of it?

Many thanks and will look forward to reviewing your report.

Thanks for your question and the soil report.

The answer to your question is a two-step process. First, a specific type of fertilizer needs to be chosen. We will use the recommended ratios to do this. Then secondly, once a specific fertilizer is selected, how much of this fertilizer should be applied has to be calculated. We will use the recommended amounts of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash to do this.

Your report indicated a coarse soil texture for your garden. This is due to a relatively high sand content. This is very normal for soils in the Metro Area.

The organic matter (5.6%) and pH (7.2) are right on the money for your gardens. Perfect!!

Your phosphorous content is high but is nothing about which you should really be concerned. Soil phosphate can fluctuate widely.

You will not find a fertilizer with the designation of 3-0-4. These are only ratios. What would work, for example, would be fertilizers such as 12-0-16 or 15-0-20. Note that either of these two fertilizers would have a 3-0-4 ratio. As noted on your soil report, “….it is best to apply the amount of nitrogen required and compromise some for phosphate and potash”.

My suggestion is to visit a garden center and obtain a fertilizer with the designation of 10-10-10. While this does contain phosphate, this should not be an issue. However it contains very similar amounts of nitrogen and potash, which is pretty much consistent with the report’s recommendation for these two nutrients.

Assuming you do this, we need to figure out how much of this should be applied. The nitrogen recommendation of 0.15 pounds per 100 square feet is the most important. In 1 pound of a 10-10-10 fertilizer, there will be 10% (0.1 pound) of nitrogen, 10% (0.1 pound) of phosphate, and 10% (0.1 pound) of potash. You need to add 0.15 pounds of nitrogen per 100 square feet. This would be the amount of nitrogen in 1.5 pounds of the 10-10-10 fertilizer.

Apply 1.5 pounds of 10-10-10 per 100 square feet of your garden. This will meet the nitrogen recommendation and will come close to meeting the potash recommendation. This is about the best you can achieve.

Good luck. Thanks for using our forum. Please get back to us if you have any questions.