{"id":2464,"date":"2010-09-09T14:56:49","date_gmt":"2010-09-09T18:56:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/?page_id=2464"},"modified":"2024-05-30T10:26:22","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T14:26:22","slug":"2287e","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2287e\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin #2287, Know Your Soil: Applying Fertilizers on Your Home Gardens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Originally prepared by Tim Griffin, Extension Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reviewed and updated by Richard J. Brzozowski, Food System Program Administrator University of Maine Cooperative Extension.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For information about UMaine Extension programs and resources, visit extension.umaine.edu<\/a>.<\/strong>
Find more of our publications and books at extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plants in farm fields and home gardens often need fertilizers to supplement nutrients that exist naturally in the soil. Fertilizer application at the right amount can be difficult for people with small home gardens or lawns. Often, the nutrients in the purchased fertilizer may not match the soil test recommendation. You can be sure to get the right amounts if you know a little about nutrients and fertilizers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changing Fertilizer Grades<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fertilizer grades show the percentage of nitrogen (nutrients), phosphate (P2<\/sub>O5<\/sub>) and potash (K2<\/sub>O) in the mixture. These percentages are listed in the order of N \u2013 P2<\/sub>O5<\/sub> \u2013 K2<\/sub>O written as (N-P-K) on the fertilizer bag. For example, an 80-pound bag of 5-10-15 fertilizer contains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 pounds nitrogen (80 pounds x 5 percent)
8 pounds phosphate (80 pounds x 10 percent)
12 pounds potash (80 pounds x 15 percent)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is common for nitrogen to be the nutrient that most limits plant growth. However, applying too much nitrogen can damage seeds and seedlings. You can use the percentage of nitrogen in a fertilizer (the first number in the grade) to decide how much you apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say your soil test includes a recommendation for the number of pounds of nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet, for a specific grade of fertilizer, for example, 40 pounds of 5-10-10 fertilizer. What if you are using a fertilizer that is 8 percent nitrogen instead of five percent? How much of this fertilizer should you apply? A simple calculation will give you the answer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

% of N in recommended fertilizer x lbs. of recommended fertilizer \u00f7 %N in your fertilizer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the example above: 5% N x 40 lbs. \u00f7 8% N fertilizer = 200 \u00f7 8 = 25 lbs. of 8% N<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight and Volume Measures<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most lime and fertilizer recommendations are given in terms of pounds of material per 1,000 square feet (or ft2<\/sup>) for gardens or pounds of material per 100 ft2<\/sup><\/em> for ornamentals. What if you want to measure your lime or fertilizer by volume instead \u2014 using a coffee can or measuring cup, for example? Table 1 contains some common conversions for going from weight to volume measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>Table 1<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/caption>\n

Fertilizer material
<\/strong><\/th>\n		Weight
<\/strong><\/th>\n		Equivalent Volume<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Common fertilizer (i.e. 5-20-10) and superphosphate<\/td>\n1 lb.<\/td>\n1 pint1<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ammonium nitrate and urea<\/td>\n1 lb.<\/td>\n1 1\/3 pint<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Agricultural limestone<\/td>\n1 lb.<\/td>\n3\/4 pint<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Manure (packed)<\/td>\n30 lbs.<\/td>\n1 bushel2<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

1<\/sup> 1 pint = 2 cups = 32 tablespoons = 96 teaspoons
2 <\/sup>1 bushel = 9.3 gallons = 1.25 cubic feet<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fertilizing Small Areas<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Above, we said that fertilizer recommendations are given in pounds per 1,000 ft2<\/sup>. Chances are, your garden or lawn is not exactly 1,000 ft2<\/sup>, or you may be fertilizing a single row or a single plant. You need to calculate the area to apply fertilizer at the recommended rate. This is done in the following way, using a recommendation of 25 pounds of 5-10-5 per 1,000 ft2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When applying fertilizer it is recommended to wear eye protection, a dust mask, gloves, long sleeve shirt, pants, and boots.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"illustration<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

1. Square plot
<\/strong>Area = 10 feet x 10 feet = 100 ft2<\/sup>
<\/strong>Apply: 25 lbs. X 100 ft2<\/sup>\/1,000ft2<\/sup> = 25 lbs. X 1\/10 = 2.5 lbs. of 5-10-5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n
\n
\"illustration<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

2. Single row (30-inch spacing)<\/strong>
Area = 100 feet x 2.5 feet = 250 ft2<\/sup>
Apply: 25 lbs. X 250 ft2<\/sup>\/1,000ft2<\/sup> = 25 lbs. X 1\/4 = 6.1 lbs. of 5-10-5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n
\n
\"illustration<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

3. Single plant<\/strong>
Area = 4 feet x 5 feet = 20 ft2<\/sup>
Apply: 25 lbs. X 20 ft2<\/sup>\/1,000ft2<\/sup> = 25 lbs. X 1\/50 = 0.5 lbs. of 5-10-5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a9 2000, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call 800.287.0274 (in Maine), or 207.581.3188, for information on publications and program offerings from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, or visit extension.umaine.edu<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran or military status in any aspect of its education, programs and activities, and employment. The System provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you are encouraged to contact the System Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services at 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, Orono, ME 04469-5713, by calling 207.581.1226, or via TTY at 711 (Maine Relay System). For more information about Title IX or to file a complaint, please contact the UMS Title IX Coordinator at www.maine.edu\/title-ix\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Originally prepared by Tim Griffin, Extension Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Reviewed and updated by Richard J. Brzozowski, Food System Program Administrator University of Maine Cooperative Extension. For information about UMaine Extension programs and resources, visit extension.umaine.edu.Find more of our publications and books at extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/. Plants in farm fields and home gardens […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":135,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2464","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nBulletin #2287, Know Your Soil: Applying Fertilizers on Your Home Gardens - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Plants in farm fields and home gardens often need fertilizers to supplement nutrients in the soil. This can be difficult for people with small home gardens or lawns. 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