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Why do we need to feed?
To keep them growing healthily, plants absorb through their roots about 30 different nutrients and minerals dissolved in water.
The ‘big three’ are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) – the letters in brackets are their chemical symbols. Think of these as ‘meat and two veg’.
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And then there are several minor elements, and 20 or so trace elements that are only needed in minute amounts. Think of these as the vitamins. They are all important to the plant.
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| In nature, as leaves fall and plants die, they decompose and return nutrients to the soil, maintaining the natural balance. However, we gardeners are forever clipping, mowing, weeding and tidying and by removing the plant ‘bits’ that would naturally rot down, we are actually depleting the soil of its nutrient reserves.
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So, if we want our garden plants to grow up big and strong, we need to ensure they’re not ‘undernourished’. And that’s where fertilisers come in – they help to keep the soil full of nutrients.
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