Fertilizers

Using Fertilizer to Keep Your Lawn & Plants Healthy & Thriving

Unlock the secret to lush greenery and enhance your lawn’s curb appeal with nutrient-rich fertilizers tailored to your plants' needs. At Tractor Supply, we understand that achieving a beautifully lush lawn filled with blooming flowers, manicured grass and thriving trees is only possible with your hard work and help from the right products. With nutrient-rich fertilization products, such as plant food and mulch, you can revitalize your lawn and help ensure it stays green and healthy in the future.

Fast Fertilizer Facts

Most fertilizers are composed of three primary chemical elements: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). Each of these elements impacts plant and grass growth in different ways: 

• Nitrogen (N): Plants need nitrogen because it promotes healthy leaf development and aids in making plants greener.

• Phosphorus (P): Phosphorus helps with overall plant growth by enriching the roots and fueling beautiful blooms and fruit. For this reason, organic matter such as phosphorus can be considered an essential nutrient for plants in spring.

• Potassium (K): Potassium is a vital plant nutrient because it works in root growth and stem development.

You may often find fertilizer packaging labeled with an NPK value, and this value indicates the proportion of each compound found within the fertilizer. Because every soil can vary in its composition, fertilizer is absorbed by plants differently. The best way to determine the correct NPK needed is to conduct a soil test.  If your soil test finds that all three micronutrients are present in roughly equal quantities, you can use a fertilizer with an NPK of 1:1:1, which will address all the nutritional needs of most plants commonly grown in home gardens. However,  when the nutrients appear to be present in disproportionate quantities, you should look to purchase fertilizer with the appropriate NPK value. Other common elements typically found in fertilizer include nitrogen, ammonia and sulfur. 

Types of Fertilizer

• Granular Fertilizer: Very user-friendly, granular fertilizer allows you to control your lawn feeding schedule with quick-release and slow-release options. The quick-release variety instantly provides the plants with nitrogen while the slow-release alternative can last up to 12 weeks.  For best results, apply granular fertilizers to soil in dry form using a  spreader or shaker container. 

• Liquid Fertilizer: Liquid lawn fertilizers efficiently and conveniently enrich plants with  nutrients by using a water-soluble solution distributed through a sprayer or hose. The liquid nature of these fertilizers quickly penetrates the roots and leaves of a plant, which  allows for quick absorption. For best results, aim to apply liquid fertilizer roughly every three weeks during the growing season. 

• Organic Fertilizer: Organic fertilizers, such as peat moss, composted manure, blood meal and fish emulsion, are composed of once-living organisms or other organic byproducts. The organic nature of this fertilizer serves to enrich your lawn with natural micronutrients that will keep your yard flourishing.

• Weed and Feed: Sometimes your yard may need more than just fertilizer to fully thrive, especially if pesky weeds seem to pop up and harm your plants. While there are many weed-killing products on the market, some may have an adverse effect on your nearby plants. To best avoid these issues, consider purchasing weed and feed products, which can help both nourish the plant and eliminate the weed.