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Fertilizing Back yard garden #889462

Asked November 06, 2024, 9:32 PM EST

My soil was tested last spring. Nitrogen test 8.36. Phosphorus test 41.63. Potassium test 28.15. Magnesium, Iron, and boron low. I can’t get rid of the phosphorus but I can add nitrogen and potassium. Do I fertilize now or in the the spring or both and with what do you recommend?

Belknap County New Hampshire

Expert Response

Hi, Dennis!
Thank you so much for reaching out regarding your fertilization question and thank you for providing your soil test results.

It's typically best to fertilize when plants are actively growing. Since most plants are dormant (or nearly dormant) for winter already, your best bet would be to fertilize in the spring. This audio article has a wealth of information and links to how to fertilize specific types of plants (trees/shrubs, veggies, etc.): https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2021/05/choosing-using-fertilizers-yard-garden-audio

A strong source of nitrogen fertilizer is Urea (https://extension.umn.edu/nitrogen/fertilizer-urea). If you have access to anyone in the area with rabbits, rabbit manure is surprisingly fantastic in the garden. It is a cold manure, so you can top dress your plants with fresh rabbit manure and it will not burn your plants. It also breaks down a bit slower than the urea granules.

To add potassium, potash is a widely used fertilizer for potassium deficiency. Potassium is carried by water, so if you have particularly sandy soil where you are planting, you might benefit by adding some organic compost (https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/em-9308-how-use-compost-gardens-landscapes). The compost will add some more organic material and structure to the soil, which should prevent nutrient/water run off.

I typically recommend starting any fertilizers sparingly and then seeing how the plants react. It is always easier to apply more than to remove too much fertilizer once it's been applied. Take care, Michelle

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