| Below are various topics a gardener may come across when working with their garden. We hope you find this a useful resource for growing beautiful plants and flowers. If you have questions that you can't find answers to, ask us. | |
| •How can you tell if you need Phosphorus? •How can you tell if you need Nitrogen? •How can you tell if you need Potassium? •How can you tell if you need Mangenese? •How can you tell if you need Iron? •How to read a fertilizer label •The importance of pH •Sulfur is nature's way of lowering pH |
•Why Lime is the fastest way to raise pH •Gypsum is nature's way to improve you soil •Magnesium Sulfate to improve your soil •General potting instructions •How to make a hanging basket •Transplanting for outside •Transplanting in window boxes •What is New Jersey Greensand? |
| How can you tell if you need Phosphorous? | ||||||||
| A soil test is the best way to determine the need for any nutrient. A complete test should be done periodically through your county extension office or a certified soil testing laboratory. A simple test kit for Phosphorus is available from your favorite garden retailer. But there are some physical symptoms that may indicate that your soil is lacking in Nitrogen:
1. Poor subsoil drainage. |
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| How can you tell if you need Nitrogen? | ||||||||
| A soil test is the best way to determine the need for any nutrient. A complete test should be done periodically through your county extension office or a certified soil testing laboratory. But there are some physical symptoms that may indicate that your soil is lacking in Nitrogen:
1. Top soil is eroded or missing, often from new construction. |
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| How can you tell if you need Potassium? | ||||||||
| Potash is a principal source of Potassium for plants. Potassium is a metabolic regulator and an essential element to balance leaf and root growth. Potassium is also vital in helping a plants environmental stresses such as cold winters and hot, dry summers. Potassium exists in ample amounts in many soils, but can be unavailable to plants due to mineral imbalances or a low soil pH. To check levels of Potassium, a complete test should be done periodically by your county extension office or by a certified soil testing laboratory. But there are some physical symptoms that may indicate that your soil is lacking in Potassium:
1. The soil is sandy. |
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| How can you tell if you need Manganese? | ||||||||
| Manganese, in small amounts, is necessary for photosynthesis, the process of food production in plants. Manganese also functions in many plants enzymes systems and is thought to be important in a plant's growth and maturation. Although a soil test laboratory is the best way to tell, Manganese could be lacking if:
1. Plants are slow to grow and mature late. Note: In some cases a Manganese deficiency could be confused with an Iron deficiency. If you see the above symptoms but are not sure, check with your garden center. |
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| How can you tell if you need Iron? | ||||||||
| Iron chlorosis is one of the most common minor element deficiencies in plants. Iron, in small amounts, is necessary for the formation of chlorophyll (responsible for the green color in plants) and functions in some of the enzymes in the plant's respiratory system. Although a soil test from your county extension office or a soil test laboratory is the best way to tell, Iron could be lacking if:
1. Young leaves are small and pale green or yellow. |
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| How to read a fertilizer label | ||||||||
| Fertilizers are rated by three numbers such as 13-8-2. The numbers tell what percentage of primary nutrients the fertilizer contains. The first number is the percentage of Nitrogen, the second is the percentage of "available" Phosphate (P2O5), the third number is the percentage of "soluable" Potash (K2O).
So a 13-8-2 contains 13% Nitrogen, 8% available Phosphate and 2% soluable Potash. Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potash are the nutrients that plants use most. Many fertilizers contain all three. They are often abbreviated as NPK: N for Nitrogen, P (P2O5) for Available Phosphate and K (K2O) for soluable Potash. When purchasing fertilizer, keep in mind that typically the first number, or Nitrogen, emphasizes a green color and denser foilage. The middle number, Available Phosphate, emphasizes the development of flowers, fruits or vegetables. And the third number, Soluable Potash, emphasizes overall plant hardiness and its ability to withstand natural stresses. |
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| The importance of pH | ||||||||
| One major factor affecting plants is soil pH. pH is a measurement of the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the soil.
Alkalinity occurs naturally in areas with chalky soil and from high pH water. Soils that are alkaline (pH over 8.0) may be low in the availibility of the nutrients Iron, Manganese, Copper, Zinc and Boron. The soils may also suffer from poor drainage and may be more susceptible to disease. Plants that prefer acid soil can be harmed by alkaline soil. Every plant has its ideal pH range
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| Sulfer is nature's way to lower pH | ||||||||
| One major factor affecting plants is soil pH. pH is a measurement of the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the soil.
Alkalinity occurs naturally in areas with chalky soil and from high pH water. Soils that are alkaline (pH over 8.0) may be low in the availibility of the nutrients Iron, Manganese, Copper, Zinc and Boron. The soils may also suffer from poor drainage and may be more susceptible to disease. Plants that prefer acid soil can be harmed by alkaline soil. Click here for pH ranges of various plants. |
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| Why Lime is the fastest way to raise pH ? | ||||||||
| One major factor effecting plants is soil pH. pH is a measurement of the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Heavy use of Nitrogen fertilizers can lower soil pH and make soils more acid. Raising soil pH with Glorious Gardens Calcitic Lime (low in Magnesium), Glorious Gardens Dolomitic Lime (high in Magnesium) or Glorious Gardens Hydrated Lime can help restore a soil environment where earthworms are able to move through the soil. Most importantly, raising pH of acid soils can make key nutrients, which support plant root activity, more available.
Click here for pH ranges of various plants. |
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| Gypsum is nature's way to improve your soil | ||||||||
| When left alone, garden soil can become unmanageable, crusty, and unable to drain properly. Natural depletion of essential elements by rainwater and plant removal, and unnatural depletion from fertilizers combine to make soil less workable. Gypsum helps make alkali/clay soils more workable, improves drainage, corrects nutrient imbalances and gives plants some of the key ingredients for growth.
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| Magnesium Sulfate is nature's way to improve your soil | ||||||||
| Nutrient balance is critical for good soil. Nutrients are depleted naturally through rainfall and through use by plants. Adding Magnesium Sulfate to the soil restores the essential nutrients, Magnesium and Sulfur, helping to make the soil more manageable and plants more productive.
Plants that remove the highest amounts of Magnesium:
Plants that remove the highest amounts of Sulfur:
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| General Potting Instructions | ||||||||
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| 1.Transfer to new pot large enough to allow about one inch more around the outside of the old pot. 2.Tap old pot on the sides to loosen root ball Tip pot and remove root ball. 3.Wash root ball and gently remove old soil from around roots. If the soil does not fall off easily, leave root ball intact. 4.Add a small amount of fresh soil to the bottom of the pot. Gently spread root inside pot. 5.Carefully add potting soil around roots filling all air pockets and spaces. Water thoroughly. |
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| Making a hanging basket is fun and easy | ||||||||
Nothing compliments your garden better than an abundance of beautiful hanging baskets filled with constantly blooming flowers and foliage of all colors and shapes. And, making hanging baskets is fun and easy! Sturdy reusable wire forms in just the right shape and size are available from your local garden center. Using the instructions below line the baskets with Glorious Gardens Green Moss and then fill them with a high quality potting soil such as Glorious Gardens All Purpose Potting Soil or Glorious Gardens Professional Potting Soil. Water your hanging baskets thoroughly. |
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| Transplanting in Pots, Containers and Hanging Baskets for Outside | ||||||||
| The greatest consideration when potting plants for outside is exposure to the elements, particularly wind and rain. Make sure the pot drains well to prevent over watering. If the plant will be subjected to wind add Glorious Gardens Washed Sand to the potting soil mix or some Glorious Gardnes Washed Gravel to the top as a mulch for weight.
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| Transplanting in Window Boxes | ||||||||
| Make sure window box will allow sufficient drainage without damaging house. Drill 1/2" diameter holes in the bottom of the window box approximately every 6 inches. Fill with Glorious Gardens Potting Soil and transplant as above.
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| What is New Jersey Green Sand? | ||||||||
| Greensand is a unique material that is found, in this form, nowhere else in the world but along the coast of New Jersey. The greensand or glauconite deposit runs along almost the full length of the state and is as much as ten miles wide in some areas.
No one is quite sure how this mineral formation came into being but some speculate that the glauconite was formed when some form of swampy organic matter came into contact with sea water along this Atlantic coastal area some 70 to 80 million years ago. Although, chemical analysis shows greensand as having no fertilizer value, it has been used by gardners and farmers for over two hundred years and is often recommended by gardening enthusiasts. |
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Copyright 2003 Glorious Gardens Inc. |
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