NPK?  IDK!!

What are we talking about? Fertilizer! Ah, feeding plants. Right? Nope. Feeding the soil plants grow in!

Let’s start with 2 terms: pH and NPK

pH is the term used to describe how acidic or alkaline a substance is. The scale runs from 0 (highly acidic/battery acid) to 14 (highly alkaline/drain cleaner.) 7 is neutral.

For gardening, we want to know the pH of our soil and water. The sweet spot for plant and soil health is 6 to 7.5. Austin soil tends to be 6.2 to 7.2 because of the physical makeup of our subsoil. Austin water can be as high as 8.82. The sweet spot for plant uptake of NPK is between 6 and 7.

NPK – the acronym for the top 3 macro nutrients that plants need from the soil.

N = nitrogen                             P = Phosphorous                                K = Potassium

Nitrogen (N) moves through and out of the soil quickly. Water leaches it, organisms use it. Plants use it in to convert sunlight into their food – a process called photosynthesis.

Phosphorous (P) moves slowly, becoming available to plants in small amounts at a time. It helps the plants flowers and roots and is essential for energy transfer.

Potassium (K) also moves slowly and helps in regulating all plant activities.

Finally, 1 more essential – Microorganisms.

Bacteria, fungi, and microbes, oh my! All soils and plants need microorganisms to get the nutrients needed from their environment.

Plants reward us when their environment provides the correct pH, availability of nutrients, and microorganisms. Check your soil health.

Gardening in containers?  Invest in a meter that gives pH, moisture, and light. Check often. Our high pH water can raise container soil pH levels. Expect to add nutrients during the growing season. In dried form and as foliar spray (fastest for P and K uptake.)

Landscape in Austin soil? Check at least once if you’ve never tested the soil around your home. It’s easy to do through Master Gardeners and Texas A&M (https://travis-tx.tamu.edu/?s=soil+test.) You will get an accurate picture of pH and nutrient levels. Chances are it could use a health boost.

AND, come to Leaf Landscape Supply. We carry a full line of products to keep your plants happy, healthy, and looking their best! We will help you choose what you need!