Because my dad told me to. That's pretty much why Rob or I would bust out the hand-held spreader every October at our condo, broadcasting fertilizer over the pretty green postage-stamp we called home.
But now we've moved to "a whole house," and before I took to the yard yesterday for this annual ritual, I felt intrigued by the science behind Dad's good advice.
Turns out that in the fall, plants are going into their dormant cycles in preparation for the winter. This doesn't just mean that they're switching themselves off, hoping that rain and nutrition miraculously wake them up in the spring. No, they're laying in supplies now, supplies like potassium and phosphorous--supplies that are in abundance in lawn fertilizer products.
There are more organic fertilizer options than ever, and those that are high in potassium and phosphorous and low in nitrogen (which encourages above-ground growth...not the best idea for just before the ground freezes). I used WOW Supreme from Gardens Alive, just because we had half a bag in the basement. Next fall, I'll probably try their fall fertilizer.
Meanwhile, may we all lay in supplies for a healthy, nourishing winter. Spring will be here soon enough, and we hope to meet it with new energy and the strength to grow.
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