Feeding Your Garden

A Guide to Fertilizing Outdoor Plants

June 26th, 2025

Guide by Scott’s Nursery Ltd.

Healthy soil equals healthy plants—and fertilizing is the secret to success. Whether you’re growing vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, shrubs, perennials, or a lush green lawn, every plant in your outdoor space benefits from the right nutrients. This guide will walk you through why fertilizing matters, the difference between fertilizer types, and how to choose what’s best for your landscape.

Why Fertilize?

Just like we need a balanced diet, plants need nutrients to grow strong and healthy. While soil provides some nutrition, over time, it can become depleted, especially in containers or heavily planted areas.

Fertilizer replenishes essential nutrients, helping plants:

Grow faster and stronger
Produce more flowers and fruits
Develop better roots and resistance to pests/disease
Stay healthy during stress (like heat or dry spells)

Understanding Fertilizer Labels: NPK Basics

Fertilizer bags list three numbers—this is the N-P-K ratio, which stands for:

N – Nitrogen (for leafy growth)
P – Phosphorus (for root and bloom development)
K – Potassium (for overall plant health)

🌱 Use this simple rhyme to remember:

"Up, Down, All Around"

Up: Nitrogen helps foliage grow up
Down: Phosphorus supports strong roots and flower buds
All Around: Potassium boosts total plant performance

Different plant types benefit from different NPK blends:

Lawn: High nitrogen (e.g., 30-0-5)
Flowering plants: Balanced or bloom-boost (e.g., 10-20-10)
Vegetables: Moderate nitrogen with good phosphorus (e.g., 10-10-10 or 5-10-10)
Trees & Shrubs: Often benefit from slow-release blends (e.g., 16-4-8)

Micronutrients Matter Too

While NPK forms the foundation, plants also need micronutrients in small but vital amounts:

Iron (Fe) – Prevents yellowing in leaves
Magnesium (Mg) – Essential for photosynthesis
Calcium (Ca) – Supports root and cell structure
Boron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper – Aid in flowering, fruiting, and disease resistance

Micronutrients are often included in complete fertilizers or can be added separately if deficiencies show up.

Natural vs. Synthetic Fertilizers:
Pros and Cons

Factor

Organic Fertilizers (Natural)

Synthetic Fertilizers (Chemical)

Pros

Improves soil structure & microbial life

Eco-friendly & sustainable

Safer for kids, pets, wildlife

Improves water retention & reduces erosion

Long-term soil health

Fast-acting, immediate nutrients

Precise nutrient ratios

More affordable per application

Easy to apply

Targeted for specific deficiencies

Title

Cons

Slow-release, needs time to work

Higher initial cost

Larger quantities needed

Nutrient content varies

May carry pathogens if not composted properly

May degrade the soil over time

Risk of overuse and runoff

Can burn plants if misapplied

Short-term benefits only

Can harm beneficial microbes

Title

Both types have their strengths. Use organic fertilizers to enrich your soil and improve its structure over time, especially for garden beds, trees, and lawns. Use synthetic fertilizers for quick results or if your soil needs specific nutrients immediately.

Fertilizer Tips

General Fertilizer Tips

Fertilize in the early morning or evening to prevent leaf burn.
Always water after applying fertilizer—especially granular types.
Feed every 2–4 weeks, depending on the product and plant needs.
Alternate organic and synthetic options to balance fast results and soil health.
Use slow-release formulas in baskets and planters for easier care.

Fertilizing Tips for Every Outdoor Plant Type

Annuals & Perennials: Use balanced or bloom-boost fertilizers every 2–4 weeks during active growth.
Vegetables & Herbs: Fertilize at planting time and again during mid-season. Leafy crops need more nitrogen; fruiting crops (like tomatoes) need more phosphorus and potassium.
Fruit Trees & Berry Bushes: Apply a slow-release fertilizer in spring before buds break.
Trees & Shrubs: Feed with a granular slow-release fertilizer in early spring.
Lawns: Feed 3–4 times per year, focusing on nitrogen-rich blends during the growing season.

Always follow label instructions, and water well after applying fertilizers.

Fertilizing your outdoor plants isn't just about making them look good—it's about building resilient, productive, and long-living landscapes. By understanding your plants’ nutrient needs and choosing the right fertilizer type, you'll set your garden up for success from root to bloom.

Stop by Scott’s Nursery and let our team help you pick the perfect product for your plants, your soil, and your goals!