Water-Wise Gardens

Introduction | Planning and Design | Planting a New Garden
Soil Conditioning | Watering Requirements
Limiting Grassy Areas | Fertilizers
Pesticides and Herbicides | Plant Selection
Gardening with Native Plants

Fertilizers

Whether you own a large rural acreage or a small city property, what you put on your lawn can greatly affect the quality of surface water and groundwater in the surrounding area. The continuous use of chemicals can also result in unhealthy, chemical-dependent lawns and gardens. You can create a beautiful, healthy, environmentally-friendly yard by using traditional or alternative fertilizers and pesticides properly.

Most commercial fertilizers are man-made and easy to use because the amount of nutrients being applied is known. However, they don't enhance the organic content of the soil. Some synthetic fertizers are water-soluble and can leach out of the soil. When using a fertilizer, use water-insoluble types.

Nitrogen-based fertilizers, while promoting growth, also promote a demand for water. Try a fertilizer with more phosphorous and potassium to promote strong root growth and better resistance to disease and pests. Organic fertilizers, such as compost, are beneficial because they increase organic matter, help to hold moisture in the soil, and attract earthworms, to help aerate the soil. Applying too much fertilizer, synthetic or natural, can burn plants.