Do I need to fertilise?

Two reasons to fertilise your garden are:

1. When you take something out of your garden, you should put something back in.  When you prune and take growth or fruit out of your garden, you are taking nutrients out.   For the plants to remain healthy it is important to put some nutrients back in.   Fertiliser is the way to put nutrients back into your garden.
2. The soil is being continually leached of its nutrients, mainly by water absorbing the nutrients and then running off the garden.  In high rainfall areas such as the Top End, the amount of leaching is very high.

I want my lawn to be healthy and look good but I don't want it to grow any faster!!!  How do I prevent this?

Well, tough.  If you want a healthy and lush looking lawn, it will grow faster than a sick lawn.  You should fertilise.  Different fertilisers give leaf and root growth.

One of the best ways to get rid of weeds in your lawn is to mow frequently.  Weeds hate being mowed but grass loves it.  Mow high and mow often.  Healthy grass has a dark green colour to it.  Sick grass can be light green or even yellow and is thinner on the ground.

What sort of fertiliser should I use?

That depends on what you are going to be fertilising.  For a full list of Tropigro fertilisers and the situations to use each of them in, click here.

The soil in the Top End is deficient in sulphur, so whatever you use, ensure that it has a high level of sulphur.  The best general-purpose fertiliser for the Top End is Tropigro 10-97.  It is a complete NPK fertiliser with trace elements and a high (11.2%) level of Sulphur.  It also has a high level (8%) of Calcium.

Tropigo 10-97 will last between 2 and 3 months, depending on the weather conditions.   Click here for more information about Tropigro 10-97.

Isn't it better to use organic instead of mineral fertiliser?

There are advantages and disadvantages in using organic fertiliser.

The advantages are that:

1. Organic fertilisers promote the important activities that micro organisms do in the soil, but constant use of mineral fertilisers can retard those activities.
2. It is more environmentally friendly to use organics.  Mineral fertilisers are mined.
3. Generally speaking, it is difficult to over-fertilise with organics.  With mineral fertiliser, if you put too much on it will burn the plant.

The disadvantages are that:

1. Organic fertilisers have a low analysis.  Generally, the most nitrogen you will get in an organic fertiliser is approximately 4%.  Most have less than that.
2. Blood and bone may attract dogs to your yard or even encourage dogs to dig up your plants.
3. Most organic fertilisers smell, although normally the smell is not too strong and only lasts one day.

When should liquid fertiliser be used?

You can alternate with your granular fertilisers.

How do I get rid of green ants?

Spray the nest with Termite Spray or Pyrethrum Spray.

How do I grow grass in the shade?

Try a tropical shade mix or cut the trees back to allow more light to get through.

What do I do if I have clay soil?

Use Gypsum or Claybreaker 10-88, which will break up the clay and condition the soil.

Why mulch?

To retain the moisture in your garden.  The micro organisms like these conditions, which help condition the soil, etc.