When fertilizing your lawn or garden, it’s very important to perform a soil test, as this will provide you with the exact NPK requirements you need in order to fertilize properly. So if you have determined that you need a 6-24-24 fertilizer in this article, I will share all there is to know about it.
Also, remember when using fertilizer is very important not over fertilizer; doing so will burn your lawn or plants. So do keep it in mind; having said that let’s get into the topic.
What is 6-24-24 fertilizer used for? This fertilizer contains a higher percentage of phosphorus and potassium when compared to nitrogen. It’s commonly used with lawns, gardens, vegetable plants, or when your soil doesn’t require too much nitrogen.
This fertilizer can also be used with food plots, turfgrass, soybeans, alfalfa, etc.
It’s quite versatile.
But like I said at the beginning of the article, the best thing to do is to perform the soil test as this will give you a more accurate result when it comes to your soil health.
Remember that we are fertilizing the soil, not necessarily the plant. Plants benefit from the nutrients the soil provides.
To give you an example, if you perform a soil test and discover your soil has too much nitrogen and phosphorus but is really low in potassium, then instead of using a 6-24-24 fertilizer, you might need a 0-0-60 fertilizer.
This is why I always recommend doing the soil test. It gives you some perspective on the overall health of your lawn or garden.
Sometimes, we like to categorize fertilizers with certain types of plants or lawns. But in reality, the best thing to do is to examine the NPK in your soil, and you might discover you also need other types of nutrients as a complement.
What Does 6-24-24 Fertilizer Mean?
The 6-24-24 represent the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium this fertilizer has.
Meaning it has 6% nitrogen, which helps with plant growth, 24% phosphorus that helps with the roots, and 24% potassium, providing the overall health and helping the plant assimilate other nutrients.
The rest will typically be other types of nutrients, or in the case of liquid fertilizer, it will just be water.
Like previously mentioned, this fertilizer is used when you require a higher amount of phosphorus and potassium. The nitrogen is quiet in comparison to the other nutrients.
You might have some plants or lawns that don’t need too much nitrogen but require higher amounts of phosphorus and potassium; for this occasion, this is the fertilizer you should use.
6-24-24 Fertilizer Application Rate
You can typically find the application rate in your fertilizer label, but if you don’t, we can go by the industry standard of 1 pound of fertilizer per 1000 square feet.
You will then cover the nitrogen percentage into a decimal.
So the formula goes like this.
1 lb x 1000 = 1000/ 0.06 = 16.6 pounds of 6-24-24 fertilizer is needed for 1000 square feet.
If you need more details, you can use our fertilizer calculator.
6-24-24 Fertilizer per Acre
To know how much fertilizer you need per acre, you just have to follow this formula.
Just follow the results from our previous example.
The formula goes like this.
(16.6 x 43560) = 723 pound of 6-24-24 fertilizer is required to fertilize 1 acre.
Remember, this is just an estimate; this number could vary depending on how many pounds of fertilizer you’re looking to use per 1000 square feet.
6-24-24 Fertilizer Spreader Settings
It depends on the type of spreader you’re using. But a general rule to follow is to set it up so the biggest particle of your spreader can spread out. You will have to test this.
Another option is to set it up to ⅓ of your spreader opening and test from there.
Where to Buy 6-24-24 Fertilizer?
The easier place to buy this type of fertilizer is online.
But you can also try at Walmart, Lowes, or even Home Depot.
But many companies have this fertilizer online available with free shipping.
When to Apply 6-24-24 Fertilizer?
You can fertilize during spring, summer, or fall.
And even winter depending on where you live.
How to Apply 6-24-24 Fertilizer?
When fertilizing your lawn, simply apply it section by section.
I recommend watching this video to get a visual example that I’m sure will help.
Is 6-24-24 Fertilizer Good for (Grass, Tomatoes, Clover, Soybeans, Corn, Garden )
This fertilizer is a great option for this type of plant.
But the most important rule you should follow to determine if you need this fertilization rate is performing a soil test.
I previously explained this, but your soil is what provides the nutrients your plants need, and if you don’t know the needs of your soil, you might use the incorrect fertilizer value.
This is why you can see recommended fertilizers for specific types of plants or lawns not work.
Conclusion: What Is 6-24-24 Fertilizer Used For?
This fertilizer is commonly used with lawns and gardens that have a high amount of nitrogen when compared to phosphorus and potassium. But it also works great with food plots, turfgrass, soybeans, and alfalfa.
But I always recommend doing a soil test if you want to see better performance with your lawn or garden.
If this is your first time using a fertilizer, make sure not to over fertilizer as this could put the life of your plants or lawn in danger.