K Is for the K in N-P-K Blended Fertilizer

This time of year, home improvement stores, garden centers and even mini-marts have bags of fertilizer on sale for the enthusiastic gardeners out there. Fertilizers come in many variations and it is important to buy the right kind for the plant you are fertilizing. The blend you use on your grass is not the same kind you use for your fruit and ornamental trees.




Bags of fertilizers are labeled with a series of numbers, usually 3, in a pattern like 10-10-10 or 12-12-12. Those numbers represent the percentages of specific components of the fertilizer. In order they stand for nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). These three nutrients are the keys to most plant growth. They each have a job to do. Let’s look at potassium.



Potassium, also known as potash, is the K in the NPK formula. The k comes from its Latin name kalium. Potassium is important to flower and fruit development. It assists in the building of starches and sugars and contributes to plant growth and disease resistance. It is naturally found in wood ash which is where the potash name comes from.



You can tell if there is a shortage of potassium because leaves will scorch more easily, fruit crops will be low and plants will be more prone to disease. A soil test can confirm the shortage.



Potassium can be applied to trees as part of a blended fertilizer or separately in liquid form. It typically lasts two to three years in the soil unless you have a crop of heavy fruit production. If you need to add blended fertilizer, look for one with a higher K designation.

“I” Is for Indigenous

Spring brings out the crazies, especially in gardeners. We have endured long cold months of gray skies and drab landscapes. When spring finally appears, we are itching to play in the dirt. Complicating this process is the arrival of seed and pant catalogs that, for me, began arriving in January. My wish list grows gargantuan with the arrival of each new catalog.

The beautiful pictures of bright colors and wildly exotic plants call to us and sometimes we are swayed by the siren’s call. We are tempted and often give in to the desire to buy and grow all sorts of plants and trees that are doomed to grow in the climates where we live.

First time home buyers and people new to the area may not know exactly what they can grow. Planting things not indigenous or native to the area can cost you a lot of money and labor.

I still make my list but I pay attention to the US planting zone recommendations and what is indigenous to my area. Indigenous plants are those that are found naturally in your area. You can check with your local extension office if you are unsure. Also pay attention to what your neighbors grow. If you don’t see orange trees growing anywhere, there’s probably a good reason for this. Stick to trees that can handle the climate where you live.