Fertilizers are one of the best options to use to provide the nutrients your plants and lawns need. This is why it is always recommended to use a good fertilizer when it comes to gardening a lawn care. This article will explain all you need to know about the 20-0-0 fertilizer and why you should use it.
But keep in mind that there are many types of fertilizer in the market, and many are similar, so it is always great to have the flexibility to experiment; this way, you can determine by yourself which one works best for you and your plants.
What is 20-0-0 fertilizer used for? The 20-0-0 fertilizer is responsible for delivering and returning to the earth the necessary nutrients for the proper growth of plants, trees, meadows, and shrubs. It is made with nitrogen and micronutrients to optimize plant health—ideal for golf course tees, fairways, sports field, and home lawns.
I always recommend using a fertilizer; this 20-0-0 is great if you have a big backyard.
This fertilizer is great for:
- Killing major broadleaf weeds while feeding your lawn with 20 percent nitrogen formulation
- Controls mallow, dandelion, knotweed, chickweed, plantain, clover, purslane, and many broadleaf weeds.
I recommend using Spectracide Weed & Feed 20-0-0.
You can also use the 20-0-0 granular fertilizer for your garden.
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20-0-0 Fertilizer Meaning
If you’re a new gardener, you may have considered the numbers that come in the fertilizer bags, which is a common question to have.
With so many number combinations, these compost/fertilizer bags can appear intimidating for beginners.
For example, you may see a combination of numbers like 10-10-10, 20-10-20, or actually almost any other combination.
So what does all this mean?
These numbers are really called NPK values and speak to the estimation of the three macronutrients that plants use.
When you buy fertilizers, you can see three numbers on the box or bag.
The first number refers to nitrogen; the second is phosphorus and the third potassium.
The numbers reveal the percentage of nutrients a fertilizer bag has.
And it is calculated as follows.
If you have a bag of 5-10-5 fertilizer, and it weighs 10 pounds, it means that 5 percent or a half-pound is nitrogen. Now you can figure out the amount of phosphorus and potassium.
If the number on the bag is high, it means there is a greater amount of nutrients.
For instance, if you have a fertilizer 20-5-5 that means there is five times more nitrogen than there is phosphorus or potassium.
A 20-20-20 fertilizer has twice the concentration of nutrients as a 10-10-10 fertilizer.
These numbers are used to calculate the amount of fertilizer to apply to equal 1 pound of the nutrient you add to the soil.
To give you another example, if you have a 10-10-10 fertilizer, divide 100/10; the result means you need 10 pounds of the fertilizer to add 1 pound of nutrients.
A fertilizer can also contain only 1 macronutrient, for example, 20-0-0, which means it only contains nitrogen.
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What Does NPK Mean?
Each macro-nutrient of the fertilizer is responsible for a specific job!
Nitrogen (N) is responsible for the growth of leaves on the plant.
Phosphorus (P) is responsible for the growth of the root, the flower, and the fruit’s development.
Potassium (K) helps the plant to function well in general.
When to Use a 20-0-0 Granular Fertilizer?
This is a great option if the area where you live has rainy days as it will only dissolve with water.
Let’s say it is almost time to fertilize your lawn, and you’re looking to get it ready for the rainy season. This will be a great time to use it, every time you’re looking to plan fertilization in advance, granular fertilizer is a great option.
But I personally prefer liquid fertilizer as I feel it will work instantly. But they both have their benefits. And you can definitely use both methods for fertilizing.
Conclusion: What Is 20-0-0 Fertilizer Used For?
This is a great fertilizer if you’re looking to grow new grass or if you notice that your plants are weak. It will provide the necessary energy for them to grow strong and healthy.
But I do recommend using the other elements of the NPK value in order to have healthy lawns and plants.
Always use fertilizers for your plants, whether organic or not, but please provide the necessary nutrients they need, especially in pots.