How to Choose the Right Fertilizer

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook walks host Kevin O’Connor through the choices in fertilizers CORRECTION: Roger misstates the functions of Potassium and Posphorous in this video. Potassium helps with chemical reactions and Phosphorous helps with root growth. Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the official This Old House YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thisoldhouse Cost: $15 and Up Skill Level: Beginner Shopping List: Soil Test Fertilizer Steps: 1. A soil test will determine what nutrients are lacking in your soil and need to be augmented. 2. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions to ensure plants are overly fertilized and susceptible to burning. 3. The three main nutrients a plant needs are Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium, and these are noted as ratios on fertilizer containers. 4. Nitrogen-heavy fertilizers encourage green top growth on lawns. 5. Phosphorous-heavy fertilizers help with root growth (this is mis-stated in the video). 6. Potassium-heavy fertilizers help with chemical reactions (this is mis-stated in the video). 7. Liquid based fertilizers are good for establishing planters like a window box because they work quickly, then a granular slow-release fertilizer can be used over time. 8. Organic fertilizers have less nutrient density and are better for slow release applications like trees and shrubs. Resources: Fertilizer can be found at garden centers or home centers. Ask This Old House TV Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.   This Old House releases new segments every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.   Keywords: This Old House, How-to, home improvement, DIY, ask this old house, roger cook, kevin o'connor, fertilizer, lawn care, gardening, landscaping Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: https://ift.tt/1psm4fC Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisoldhouse https://twitter.com/asktoh Pinterest: https://ift.tt/1psm4fE G+: https://ift.tt/1CtsNjJ Instagram: https://ift.tt/1psm1QZ Tumblr: https://ift.tt/1CtsLbH