Which fertiliser to use | Gardening 101 | Gardening Australia

Jane clears up fertiliser confusion with a masterclass on feeding your garden the right diet.
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We all need food to stay happy and healthy, and plants are no different! They rely on us to provide most of the nutrients they need but selecting the right fertiliser from so many products available can be overwhelming.

Soil Conditioners v. Fertilisers

Soil conditioners are necessary to improve soil quality including water holding capacity, compaction and to alter pH. They are things like compost, manures, worm poo, and liquid seaweed.

Fertilisers are different as they deliver essential nutrients to the plants. They will always have a breakdown of NPK content – that is Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, key elements most plants require to survive and thrive.

Inorganic v. Organic Fertilisers

Inorganic fertilisers are synthetic, concentrated forms of often naturally occurring minerals. Their main advantage is that they deliver precise concentrations of nutrients to the plant and are often tailored to a specific group of plants, such as citrus or roses.

Organic simply means they contain ingredients from once living things, such as fish, manure, or blood & bone. They can be made up of one ingredient or a combination. Organic fertilisers usually have a lower concentration of ingredients than inorganic but are slow releasing and less likely to harm the plant if too much is applied.

Liquid v. Solids

Plant roots take up nutrients when they’re in liquid form, so liquid fertilisers can be a great quick fix. The best time to use these in during the growth season (usually spring and summer) when the plant is flowering, fruiting, and putting out new growth.

Organic liquid fertilisers work a treat on fast growing green vegetables and can also be used when you’re planting something in the garden or for indoor plants. It works quickly and is good for microbial activity in the soil.

Inorganic liquid fertilisers generally come in powder form, so they need to be dissolved well in water. Follow instructions on the packet as giving the plant too much can do more harm than good!

The common factor with solid fertilisers is that they are slow release, so you only need to apply them once or twice a year. They can also be organic, such as pelletised chicken manure, or inorganic. Inorganic solid fertiliser comes in small beads called ‘prills’ and are often found in bags of potting mix and labelled ‘controlled release fertiliser’. They slowly release nutrients when they come into contact with water and during warmer weather.

When selecting a fertiliser, there is such a huge range that it really comes down to personal choice. By doing a bit of research, reading instructions on the label, and experimenting in your own garden, you’ll find the perfect one (or more!) for you.

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