Slow-release fertilizers are a popular choice for lawn and garden maintenance. These types of soil amendments release nutrients over a period of time rather than all at once, producing more of the long-lasting results you desire from your fertilizer.
Slow-release fertilizers also cost less because they do not need to be turned into the soil as often. Like all fertilizers, slow-release ones can burn plants if they are over-applied. The amount of each application depends on the brand you choose to use and will also depend on the type of grass or plant material being used.
Slow Release Fertilizer: What is it?
Slow-release fertilizers contain nutrients that have been coated with various types of materials such as limestone. Being in a solid form, these coatings protect the fertilizer from being released into the soil too quickly, which would otherwise cause burning issues for certain types of plants.
The coating allows time for water and oxygen in the soil to dissolve it, releasing its nutrients slowly into a plant’s root zone. This means no more burnt lawns or scorched leaf edges are caused by over-fertilizing.
Slow-release fertilizers typically release for two to three months after application, although this can vary depending on the type of fertilizer you choose and how much rain is received in a given area. Water runoff also plays a role in determining how long slow-release fertilizers will last, as it may wash away nutrients before they have time to dissolve into your soil.
Slow Release Fertilizer: How To Use It?
One thing that makes slow-release fertilizers special is there are no set rules when it comes to using them. The amount of fertilizer applied varies with each brand and application instructions provided on the product label. Most of these products only need to be applied once per year, but most people opt to apply them twice per year for increased results.
The best way to use slow-release fertilizers is when preparing your soil for planting in the spring and fall, although you can apply it at any time of the year if needed. Slow-release fertilizers are ideal to use on lawns that tend to be bare during the winter months and need a boost with nutrients, particularly in the southern states where winters are milder than those in other parts of the country.
Slow Release Fertilizer: The Advantages
There are four main advantages associated with using slow-release fertilizers on your lawn or garden plants. The first benefit is there is no worry about overfertilizing with these products; they are applied to the soil and work their magic over an extended period of time.
Slow-release fertilizers do not wash away with rainwater, so you do not have to worry about reapplying them because they were washed away by a downpour. This is particularly useful if plants are located in an area that receives heavy rains or has poor drainage.
Slow-release fertilizers also make it possible for your lawn to keep its color during dry spells, as well as providing increased nutrition for longer periods of time. Using these types of products can give you healthier-looking grass, flowers, and shrubs without having to purchase other fertilizers at higher costs per application.
Finally, slow-release formulas allow users time to plant without worrying about burning the plants. These formulas let you thoroughly prepare your soil for planting in the spring and fall without having to worry about whether or not it will be ready to plant by these times.
Slow Release Fertilizer: The Disadvantages
The main disadvantage associated with slow-release fertilizers is they sometimes do not break down as quickly as all-purpose products, which means water runoff may wash them away before all the nutrients have a chance to dissolve into your soil.
Fortunately, this problem can be avoided if you simply avoid areas where this may occur; don’t put your plants near hillsides that receive heavy rains or areas prone to flooding.
There are also some gardeners who feel slow-release fertilizers take longer to work than other products although this depends on how much rain there is and the condition of your soil.
Slow Release Fertilizer: The Bottom Line
If you are interested in reducing damage to your lawn, flowers, or shrubs from over-fertilization without having to worry about reapplying them regularly, slow-release fertilizers are a viable option to consider. These products dissolve slowly into sandy or rocky soils with little change in pH levels or concentrations of other nutrients. Are they right for you? There’s only one way to find out – give them a try!
In addition, there are many companies that supply 100% organic fertilizer, which means it does not contain any chemical components such as growth hormones, phosphates or animal wastes and other harmful substances that could cause side effects such as skin allergies, contact dermatitis, and allergic reactions. Some of the brands of organic fertilizer that you can buy are:
● Scotts Organic Choice Premium All-Purpose Fertilizer
● Espoma Organic Green Tea Fertilizer
● Black Gold Natural Lawn Food For Organic Gardens And Yards
Company Profile: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company What started out more than 60 years ago as a small company selling one type of fertilizer in Ohio, has today grown to be the world’s largest marketer of consumer lawn and garden products.
With the expansion into organic fertilizers, their goal is to make the transition into a fully environmentally centered organization with sustainable practices, all while maintaining profitability. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company offers a variety of different products designed for specific purposes. Some of these include:
● Scotts Osmocote Flower and Vegetable Plant Food
● 4 Scott’s Hi-Yield 15-0-15 All Purpose Fertilizer with Ionic Trace Technology Nutrient Release System, Time Release Formula for Extended Feeding of Plants to Ensure Their Healthy Growth
Company Profile: Espoma Organic Green Tea Fertilizer – Natural Lawn Fertilizer Relying on green tea as its main ingredient, Espoma Organic Tea contains over 100% organic ingredients that will keep your lawn looking great. It is safe for kids or pets when they play in the yard because it does not contain common pathogens found in fertilizers.
It will also help you control your dog’s fleas and other insects that could be a problem with pets. This product is also beneficial because it helps eliminate weed growth on your lawn as well, so there are no weeds to pull out when mowing.
If you plant new grass or replace dead plants and flowers then this is the right fertilizer for you to use instead of using chemical based products that can damage or kill off these new additions all together.
Espoma Organic Tea contains natural weed killers and nutrients that will help it grow thick and healthy while keeping the weeds away from growing in between. There may be some minor variations in color due to the natural ingredients as opposed to more synthetic supplements available today, but nothing which will affect the final growth.
Company Profile: Black Gold Natural Lawn Food For Organic Gardens And Yards Black Gold all natural products are produced with environment-friendly approaches in mind. They use organic, green chemistry solutions to protect lawns during the summer and winter months. Their popular product of “Natural Lawn Food” is a 100% bio-degradable fertilizer that also protects against crabgrass and weeds. This non-burning formula makes it safe for children and pets as well as environmentally friendly for the yard overall.
The plant food can be applied at any time throughout the year, but when using it during late spring or early fall you must apply it every two weeks in order to get full results out of your application. The company recommends this method over just applying it once a month. When used in this manner, the harmful weeds will die off and the grass plants that you are trying to grow will grow up thick and strong without any interruptions from weeds or crabgrass.
Company Profile: Greenscape Organic Lawn Food Fertilizer – All Purpose 100% Natural Greenscape is another great organic fertilizer choice for your lawn because it aids in restoring topsoil depth back into your yard, as well as helping with drainage issues.
It also prevents soil erosion near rivers or water bodies so that by using their product you can help reduce these problems in waterways located directly on your property. The company’s mission statement aims at reducing environmental impact, improving air quality, saving energy through sustainable practices and increasing yields of greens.
Company Profile: Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Organic Fertilizer for Lawns – All Natural If you’re looking for a product that can help maintain the health and color of your yard without any harsh substances, then this is the right product to use on your lawn.
The first ingredient in this product is organic grass seed starter which will aid in providing nutrients to your plants while making them resistant to disease and drought. This also contains wildflower seeds which are beneficial as well so that when you apply this fertilizer it’s an all-in-one solution instead of having to buy different products that may not work well together or at all with each other.
