Gardening Tips

How to identify deficient nutrients & minerals:

  •  Nitrogen
  •  Potassium
  •  Phosphorus
  •  Calcium
  •  Magnesium
  •  Sulfur
  •  Iron
  •  Manganese
  •  Pale green or yellowish lower leaves (slower growth)
  •  Older leaf edges are yellow/brown. It may be yellowed, curling, or brown spots
  •  Stunted, extremely dark green leaves. Purplish to reddish veins, leaves, or stems. Flowers and fruits late
  •  Deformed or failed terminal buds and root tips. Results in blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers
  •  Yellow in area between veins and may show mottling of older leaves
  •  Entire plant is light green, yellow younger leaves
  •  Upper leaves are yellow between veins and eventually look bleached. New leaves may be yellowish white
  •  Yellow leaves between veins followed by spots that occur on the middle leaves first
  •  Nitrogen: Pale green or yellowish lower leaves (slower growth)
  •  Potassium: Older leaf edges are yellow/brown. It may be yellowed, curling, or brown spots
  •  Phosphorus: Stunted, extremely dark green leaves. Purplish to reddish veins, leaves, or stems. Flowers and fruits late
  •  Calcium: Deformed or failed terminal buds and root tips. Results in blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers
  •  Magnesium: Yellow in area between veins and may show mottling of older leaves
  •  Sulfur: Entire plant is light green, yellow younger leaves
  •  Iron: Upper leaves are yellow between veins and eventually look bleached. New leaves may be yellowish white
  •  Manganese: Yellow leaves between veins followed by spots that occur on the middle leaves first

Nutrients

Nitrogen

Organic Sources:

Manure, Vermiculite, Peat Moss, Cottonseed Meal, Liquid Fish Emulsion

When & Why to Use:

Springtime – Good leaf/stem growth and helps maintain green color

Phosphorus

Organic Sources:

Bone, Hoof or Horn Meal, Rock Phosphate

When & Why to Use:

Fall or start a permanent bed – For root development, to produce fruit/flowers, seeds, and resist disease. Needed for bulbs.

Potassium

Organic Sources:

Wood Ashes, Leaves, Compost

When & Why to Use:

Throughout the season – Plant growth and resistance to disease

Minerals

Calcium

Sources:

Lime (Dolomitic Limestone)

Magnesium

Sources:

Lime (Dolomitic Limestone)

Sulfur

Sources:

Ground Sulfur, Calcium Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, or Aluminum Sulfate

Iron

Sources:

Manganese

Sources:

Composting Tips

Adjustments

Not decomposing fast enough: Needs more Nitrogen (Green)

Has an ammonia odor: Needs more Carbon (Brown)

Nitrogen (Green)

Fruit

Spent Annuals

Grass

Manure

Coffee Grounds

Carbon (1/2 Brown)

Corn Stalks & Cobs

Evergreen Needles

Paper

Sawdust

Straw & Hay

Tree Leaves

Drought Tolerant Annuals for Containers

  •  Alternanthera
  •  Calibrachoa (Trailing petunia)
  •  Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’
  •  Geraniums
  •  Helichrysum
  •  Lantana
  •  Annual phlox ‘Intensia’
  •  Sedum
  •  Portulaca grandiflora (Moss rose)
  •  Verbena

– UMass Extension

Mason County Garden Club

A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Corporation

P.O. Box 193

Ludington, MI 49431

Member, National Garden Clubs Inc., Central Region, &

Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc., District V

Regular Meetings: 4th Thursday of each month, March through October

3rd Thursday in November, 1:00pm

Meeting Location: 5810 Bryant Rd., Ludington, MI

Holiday Luncheon: 2nd Thursday in December

Want More Information?

 

Send Us a Message

Mason County Garden Club

A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Corporation

P.O. Box 193

Ludington, MI 49431

Member, National Garden Clubs Inc., Central Region, &

Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc., District V

Regular Meetings: 4th Thursday of each month, March through October

3rd Thursday in November, 1:00pm

Meeting Location: 5810 Bryant Rd., Ludington, MI

Holiday Luncheon: 2nd Thursday in December

Want More Info?

 

Send Us a Message