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Fertilize Now for Winter
By Cindy Bellinger
Depending on what rumor you listen to, winter will be dry, cold or snowy. I say, it'll be a little of everything. No matter what occurs, though, make sure your plants are ready. Give them a nip of fertilizer and they'll be happy for months.
Roots take up nutrients throughout the fall until soil temperatures drop low enough to inhibit root function. Because of this, fall is the opportune time to fertilize. So take advantage of the warm days now and feed your root systems. Warm soil aids root growth.
Which Fertilizer to Use
 Look for the three hyphenated numbers on fertilizer products. These indicate the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It's a formula of percentage often referred to as the NPK.
- N = nitrogen
- P = phosphorus
- K = potassium (usually listed as potash)
For fall, fertilizers low in nitrogen are preferred. Nitrogen stimulates green above ground growth. What you want now is a fertilizer richer in phosphorus and potassium because these feed the root system.
Brands We Recommend
 Take Gro-Power Flower and Bloom, for example. It has a 3-12-12 ratio, which means nitrogen is 3 percent of the nutrients, the phosphorus and potassium are both 12 percent. It's a good fall fertilizer. Another good fall fertilizer is Yum Yum Mix Winterizer (2-3-2)
Plant Hardiness
Another advantage to fall fertilizing is a one time application promotes recovery of root systems damaged by drought and heat during the summer. The hardiness of plants depends on the strength of their roots. Supplying nutrients in the fall keeps them in good shape when it's snowy and blustery outside, conditions we think nothing can live through.
New plants need to get their root systems established before winter and mature plants need a healthy dose of nutrients. After applying fertilizer, add a layer of mulch for winter protection.
Think of it this way. Feeding plants in the fall is like giving acorns to bears. It's a sure way to get them both through the winter.
Read My Little Garden Patch - gardening column by Cindy Bellinger.
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Learn how to prepare your garden to survive harsh winter weather and return in the spring, hearty and healthy! Andy will also demonstrate techniques for soil preparation and bulb planting for fall.
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