When fertilizing your lawn or garden, it is very important to use the right fertilizer, and with so many in the market, it could be overwhelming. This is why in this article, I tell you all you need to know about the 12-4-8 fertilizer and when you should use it.
Also, remember to get great results; when fertilizing, it is important to have an open mind; you might have to try different types of fertilizer and be persistent, especially if you’re not doing a soil test.
What is 12-4-8 fertilizer used for? This is an all-purpose liquid fertilizer that provides 12% Nitrogen, 4% Phosphorus, and 8% Potassium; it will provide the necessary nutrients your lawn and plants need in order to flourish. It can be used with houseplants, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and your lawns.
You will typically find this fertilizer in a concentrated liquid form, so it will have to be diluted with water.
To determine when to use this fertilizer it is recommended to perform a soil test, and while they are not perfect, they can give you an idea of the type of nutrients your plants and lawn currently need.
But since this is an all-purpose fertilizer and its NPK ratio is not too high, you can definitely use it without necessarily performing a soil test.
But what’s great about the soil test is that you can work in a much faster and precise way as you might need more or less of a specific nutrient that the 12-4-8 fertilizer can’t provide.
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What Does 12-4-8 Fertilizer Mean?
The 12-4-8 represents the NPK ratio which stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
These are the nutrients all plants need in order to live and thrive.
Nitrogen helps with the growth of your plants, Phosphorus with the strength of the roots, and Potassium helps your plant assimilate other nutrients, providing overall health.
For this fertilizer, the number also represents the percentage in value. Meaning it has 12% Nitrogen, 4% Phosphorus, and % 8 Potassium.
This ratio may seem random, but it’s not, plants have different needs when it comes to fertilizing, and this fertilizer is meant to provide more Nitrogen and Potassium than Phosphorus.
12-4-8 Fertilizer Application Rate
You will usually find the application rate in the package of your fertilizer, but if for some reason you can’t find it, you can use the industry standard of 1lb of fertilizer per 1000 sq ft.
So all we have to do is multiply 1lb by 1000 sq ft which is 1000, then divide it by the nitrogen percentage converted into decimal.
1000/0.12 = 8
So you will need 8 lb of 12-4-8 fertilizer to cover 1000 square feet.
If you need to cover more than 1000 square feet, all you have to do is multiply 8.3 lb of fertilizer by the amount of sq you have.
For example: to cover 3000 sq ft, you will need 25 lb of 12-4-8 fertilizer.
Is 12-4-8 Fertilizer Good for (Trees, Hydrangeas, Grass, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Vegetables)
Yes, you can definitely use this fertilizer with your trees, hydrangeas, grass, tomatoes, blueberries, vegetables, etc. Just make sure to never over-fertilize as this could cause permanent damage.
When fertilizing vegetables or fruit plants, if you’re not doing it on a big scale, I invite you to try an organic fertilizer. I know the process might be slower, but it can be quite interesting and fun to see them grow in a natural way. And I’m sure you will see a difference in the taste.
And if they really need a boost in nutrients, you can definitely make a natural fertilizer.
Where to Buy 12-4-8 Fertilizer?
This fertilizer could be found in Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, or any local store that specializes in gardening or has a gardening area.
The availability might vary depending on the demand, so the easiest way of purchasing this product is online.
Conclusion: What Is 12-4-8 Fertilizer Used For?
This is an all-purpose fertilizer that can be used with all types of plants and lawns; it will provide the necessary nutrients they need in order to thrive. You will typically find this fertilizer in its liquid form, and it will need to be diluted with water.
When fertilizing your lawn and plants, make sure to apply the fertilizer in an even way and don’t overdo it as this might burn your plants.
Also, if for some reason, this fertilizer doesn’t do a good job with your lawn or garden, I recommend you do a soil test to determine the correct amount of fertilizer you might need.
This is not the perfect solution, but it can give you an idea, especially if this is your first time fertilizing a lawn.