Liquid fertilizer, NPK fertilizer, complete fertilizer - there are countless fertilizer mixtures on the market that differ greatly in their composition, application and quality. This article will help you to find your way through the jungle of numerous offers.

Complete fertilizers should provide plants with everything they need

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. What is complete fertilizer?
  3. composition
  4. Advantages and disadvantages
  5. application
  6. frequently asked Questions

    7. the essentials in brief

    • Complete fertilizers contain the main nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in different compositions depending on the product.
    • Depending on the product, the composition with other nutrients and trace elements also differs.
    • A distinction is made between mineral, organic and mineral-organic fertilizers.
    • Each type of fertilizer has its specific advantages and disadvantages.
    • Depending on the ingredients and composition, complete fertilizers are not suitable for sole fertilization.

    What is complete fertilizer?

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    Any soil that is used for gardening or agriculture must be fertilized - after all, the plants growing on it deprive the earth of valuable nutrients. As vegetables and grains are harvested and lawns are mowed, the extracted nutrients are not returned to the soil and must be artificially added. A complete fertilizer contains the most important elements that plants use most during their growth.

    These are mainly the substances nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are particularly important for plant growth. They each support three growth areas:

    • nitrogen: is abbreviated to the letter "N", promotes the growth of shoots and branches, is important for photosynthesis
    • phosphorus: abbreviated to the letter "P", promotes flowering and fruit development
    • potassium: abbreviated "K", promotes the plants' resistance to disease, pests, frost and drought

    Complete fertilizers are used in various areas. They are indispensable in agriculture as well as in house and hobby gardens as well as for pot, aquarium and terrarium plants. They are available in both granular and, for home use, liquid form.

    composition

    Just like us, plants also need different minerals

    Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the three most important nutrients that plants need in larger amounts. Other key elements that are also important but needed in smaller amounts are Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca) and Sulfur (S). They are also an indispensable part of every complete fertilizer.

    So-called trace elements, on the other hand, which are only necessary in tiny amounts, are not contained in every complete fertilizer. Minerals such as boron (B), chlorine (Cl), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) must therefore occasionally, depending on the type of fertilizer selected be additionally fertilized.

    The package description of the complete fertilizer provides information about which nutrients are present and in what quantity. Here, the contents are always given as a percentage, with the notation usually being as follows: 15/15/15 means that the fertilizer contains 15 percent nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each. Blaukorn, a popular complete mineral fertilizer, has a composition of 12/12/17 + 2. Since the main nutrients are always listed as follows: N - P - K - Mg - S, this means for blue grain: 12 percent nitrogen, 12 percent phosphorus, 17 percent potassium and 2 percent magnesium. Any other ingredients that may be present are listed separately.

    What types of complete fertilizers are there?

    Basically, there are three forms of complete fertilizers, which differ in their composition and mode of action.

    complete fertilizer origin shape benefits disadvantage
    Complete mineral fertilizers synthetic, artificial fertilizer dissolved as fertilizer salt or liquid fertilizer quickly effective, need-based fertilization (for slow-release fertilisers) Difficult dosing, over-fertilization quickly possible, no positive effect on soil life and humus formation
    Organic complete fertilizer plant and animal raw materials in solid or liquid form Nutrients are released slowly, positive influence on soil life and humus formation Targeted and fast-acting fertilization is not possible in the case of special requirements (e.g. a lack of nutrients), precise planning makes sense
    Organic-mineral complete fertilizer both synthetic and organic starting materials in solid or liquid form combine the advantages of both types of fertilizer combine the disadvantages of both types of fertilizer

    In the home garden you should prefer organic fertilizers instead of synthetic fertilizers such as blue grain. Mineral fertilizers have to be added again and again because they have no humus-forming influence on the soil - they are simply used up immediately or get into the groundwater. Organic complete fertilizers, on the other hand, stimulate soil life and ensure that nutrient-rich humus forms. In addition, over-fertilization is difficult here, since the nutrients are only gradually released to the plants.

    digression

    Are compound fertilizers and NPK fertilizers the same?

    Different NPK fertilizers differ in their composition

    Since every NPK fertilizer contains the three main nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, it is also a complete fertilizer. But here, too, the composition of the individual products varies greatly. In fact, some NPK fertilizers only contain these three components, while other complete NPK fertilizers contain all the important elements.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    "Always prefer organic to mineral fertilizers, as these support humus formation."

    Some of the most important advantages and disadvantages have already been touched on in the previous point, this table should now give you an overview of further distinguishing features.

    benefits disadvantage
    Organic complete fertilizer Over-fertilization not possible more expensive than artificial fertilizer
    Improvement of soil life and humus formation fast nutrient balancing is not possible
    Slow action, nutrients are released gradually, long-lasting action often contains too little potassium
    Use of natural raw materials
    Complete mineral fertilizers act very quickly, nutrients are immediately available to plants Rapid availability also means the risk of over-fertilization: the consequences are damage to plants and the environment
    high nutrient concentration Danger of over-fertilization: Consequences are damage to plants and the environment
    cheap price Environmental damage caused by raw material extraction and manufacturing process
    some long-acting products negative impact on soil life and humus formation

    Complete mineral fertilizers not sufficient for plant care

    It should also be noted that complete mineral fertilizers in particular often do not contain all the necessary nutrients and therefore additional fertilizers have to be applied. This applies, for example, to lime fertilization, for example on lawns. Lime is nothing more than calcium, which is primarily used to counteract soil acidification. However, you should never fertilize and lime your lawn at the same time, but apply the lime in autumn or early spring and the complete fertilizer at least four weeks later. There are several reasons for this:

    • Calcium reacts to form ammonia and water-insoluble phosphorus, so the nutrients are not available to the plants as desired
    • Fertilizers applied to soils with low pH also have limited plant availability as plants cannot absorb them
    • Therefore, the rule of thumb is: first increase the pH value by liming, then fertilize

    However, occasional re-fertilization may also be necessary for other nutrients, for example because chlorosis caused by iron deficiency is present as a result of the sole supply of a complete mineral fertilizer.

    application

    Every plant has its own nutritional needs

    When using any complete fertilizer correctly, various aspects must be taken into account in order to keep the mentioned disadvantages and possible damage as small as possible and the desired result as comprehensive as possible.

    1. Don't just indiscriminately feed the whole garden with a single fertilizer.
    2. Keep in mind: every plant has its own specific needs in terms of nutrient composition.
    3. Also, the soil and its composition is not the same in every corner of the garden.
    4. This means that depending on the composition of the soil and the planting, different amounts of fertilizer are required.
    5. Basically, vegetable and fruit plants have a higher nutrient requirement than summer flowers and other ornamental plants. Shrubs also need to be fertilized less often.
    6. So you have to create a plan throughout the gardening season as to when which garden areas need to be supplied with which fertilizer and at what intervals.

    Please note that complete fertilizer is in a highly concentrated form, which you must first dilute before each application. This is easier to do with liquid fertilizers, as you can measure them well and mix them with the irrigation water. Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging regarding dosage and application. Measure the required amounts very precisely and apply them evenly - not that, for example, when fertilizing a lawn, some areas receive too much fertilizer and others too little. Both lead to unsightly damage to the lawn, such as burns or short growth.

    In addition, the following rules apply when applying complete fertilizers:

    • If possible, fertilize in the early morning or in the evening
    • never in the hot midday sun, as this can lead to manure burns
    • do not fertilize in strong winds
    • do not fertilize on dry soil, at best after a rain shower or after watering
    • Distribute fertilizer evenly (e.g. using a spreader)
    • Apply fertilizer directly to the soil, do not sprinkle or water over the plants

    You should also read the manufacturer's safety instructions carefully, as many fertilizers are toxic and/or can cause burns to the skin.

    digression

    Arrange a soil test before fertilizing

    In addition, before using a complete fertilizer, it makes sense to determine whether and which nutrients the soil is lacking. Many garden soils are over-fertilized, which is why uncontrolled fertilization causes damage to both your plants and your soil. You should therefore have a soil analysis every two to three years, in which a specialized institute determines the composition of your soil. With the evaluation you will find out which nutrients are available in abundance and which you need to add through targeted fertilization. With these specially coordinated fertilizer tips, you will be able to supply plants according to their needs.

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    frequently asked Questions

    What do you have to consider when fertilizing grassland?

    When fertilizing grassland, it is important to consider various other aspects of fertilization. For example, a hay meadow must be fertilized differently than a cow or horse pasture. Cows and horses provide a certain amount of basic fertilization with their excretions, while regularly mown meadows suffer from a lack of nutrients over time.

    The basic recommendation for both is to use an NPK complete fertilizer with sulphur. This increases the protein and energy content of the vegetation. Meadows that are not grazed should also be given a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content. More information can be found in the respective fertilizer ordinances.

    Can you also make complete fertilizer yourself?

    Of course you don't have to buy a complete fertilizer. Instead, a garden can be managed very well with organic materials such as compost, (rotted) manure, horn shavings (32.93€) and meal, primary rock dust and garden lime. (9.70€) However, the disadvantage is that you do not have an overview of have the exact nutrients and their proportions.

    tips

    Some gardeners also swear by fertilizing with home-made plant manure, especially nettles.

Category:

Vegetable garden