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It’s time to think about fertilizing your shrubs, trees and lawns. You want to apply fertilizer while it’s still warm as the plants won’t take in the nutrients if they become dormant with the cold weather.

It will be important for your plants to be strong and healthy going into the cold months of winter. Healthy plants will withstand stresses from cold weather better than underfed unhealthy plants.

What do those numbers on the bag’s label mean? A 16-4-8 analysis on a 100 pound bag means it contains 16 pounds of nitrogen, four pounds of available phosphoric acid, and eight pounds of soluble potash. The first three numbers are the primary nutrients. The first number is always nitrogen, the second phosphorus, and the third number is potassium.

In addition to these three primary nutrients any secondary nutrients, or micro-nutrients, are listed at the bottom of the label in a similar manner. For lawns a 16-4-8 or a 15-5-15 analysis would both be a good choice. Turf needs more nitrogen than do woody plants for turf density. This allows it to fight off weed invasions, tolerate foot traffic, and resist attacks from insects and diseases. On the other hand, too much nitrogen can cause insect and disease problems.

When the plant takes up too much nitrogen, its cell walls become thin, which makes it easier for fungi to invade. This will cause a higher than normal water need. Also this lush growth attracts insects. Turf will have a higher quality using a slowly soluble or “controlled release” material.

While these fertilizers are more expensive your lawn will be healthier if you use them. Look for the following when purchasing your lawn fertilizer. 1. Sulfur coated urea. Nitrogen release occurs as water moves through tiny cracks and pinholes in the sulfur coating. 2. Polymer coated urea. Urea granules with a polymer coating. Water diffuses through the coating to dissolve urea. Nitrogen release is affected by temperature and is more rapid in summer. 3. Sulfur and polymer coated urea. Polymer coating is added to the sulfur coated urea as protection and to slow the movement of water into the core. It combines the cost advantage of sulfur coated urea and improved release of polymer coated urea.

Palms under three feet use 6-6-6 monthly for maximum growth. For palms over three feet, four times a year in early spring, late spring, summer and early fall using a palm fertilizer at the rate of one pound per foot of trunk.

Be sure to use the micro-nutrients, especially manganese and magnesium, on your palms. For shrubs, vines and hedges a good quality 6-6-6 or 8-4-8 analysis is recommended at a rate of one and a half pounds per 100 square foot. Palm fertilizer is an excellent choice for all your acid-loving plants.

Four applications, in early spring, late spring, summer and early fall is what the literature recommends. Bougainvillea prefers only once a year fertilization with 6-6-6 or 8-8-8 at a rate of one-quarter pound per foot of height of bushy plant. Citrus should be fertilized at a rate of one-half pound of 6-6-6 every six weeks for the first three years. Wait until new growth begins after planting before fertilizing. After three years apply one pound per year of age of tree with each application of citrus fertilizer in January, June and October. Reduce to one-half pound per year of age after 10 years old. Also, if you missed the January fertilization wait until your fruit has set to fertilize.

If your citrus are in bloom it may cause the blooms to drop resulting in a reduced crop. I have found that two fertilizations, one in early spring and another in early fall, using a quality, slow-release nitrogen with micro-nutrients will keep the plants healthy and growing vigorously. If you have a weak or sick plant fertilize at optimal rates for a year or so until the plant is healthy again. Always keep in mind that limited fertilization is much better for the environment than excessive fertilization.

The Gulf of Mexico is beginning to show the results of our excessive fertilizer use. State and local governments are beginning to address the problem of over fertilizing by controlling the products available and educating the consumer. Sanibel is way ahead of the curve on this one. Naples has passed an ordinance requiring all lawn maintenance companies to become certified in the Greenscapes program in order to renew their license to operate in the city. Marco Island is looking into this same ordinance for our companies. I have taken the course and plan to have my employees also take it.

Education is always a good thing, but I think they need to also target homeowners and condominium boards. They are the people demanding too many chemicals and fertilizers in an attempt to make their property as attractive as possible. Spray companies should also be targeted and be required to offer Integrated Pest Management programs to replace the blanket spray programs now offered. With new state limits on fertilizer ingredients and education for all we can make great strides to stop the pollution flowing into our local estuaries, rivers and the Gulf of Mexico.

So please remember. When it comes to fertilizer, less is better!

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Plant of the Week

Beautyberry

• Native plant 5’ to 6’

• Partial sun to full shade

• Pale purple blooms in spring and summer

• Small, round bright purple fruit clustered along stems lasting all year

• Light green leaves 6” long

• Light brown, arching stems with open habit of growth

• Drought tolerant

• Birds and butterflies love this plant

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Eileen Ward and her husband, Peter, own and operate Greensward of Marco Inc., a lawn maintenance and landscaping company. Besides completing horticultural courses from the University of Florida, she has a commercial maintenance spray license and is a registered dealer in agricultural products in Florida. To reach Ward, call 394-1413.