What Type of Fertilizer Should You Use in Your Garden?
- Briana Johnson
- Apr 17
- 4 min read
If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the garden aisle wondering whether you need a high-nitrogen blend, a slow-release organic formula, or something with phosphorus for your flowers—you’re not alone. Fertilizer is one of the most misunderstood but essential parts of maintaining a healthy landscape.
Whether your garden is bursting with color, freshly installed, or somewhere in between, the type of fertilizer you choose plays a big role in how your plants grow, how your lawn performs, and how resilient your soil stays. And with so many products out there, it’s completely fair to wonder: What type of fertilizer should I use—and when?
Let’s walk through the different types of fertilizers, how to match them to your garden’s needs, and why many property owners in Sonoma and northern Napa County choose to partner with a dependable landscape maintenance team like Gardenworks Inc. for the best long-term results.
Table of Contents
Why Is Fertilizing Important?
Think of fertilizer as a nutritional supplement for your garden. Even in fertile regions like Sonoma and Napa counties, not every soil has the right balance of nutrients for healthy, consistent growth—especially after years of use or construction.
Fertilizer helps:
Boost plant growth and resilience
Improve flower and fruit production
Strengthen root systems
Support lush, green lawns year-round
For homeowners, the right fertilizer choices ensure that your investment in landscaping—whether it’s a full installation or a seasonal refresh—continues to thrive. And when you're managing multiple plant types or transitioning to a new design, it’s important to choose products with precision.
Different Types of Fertilizers
Fertilizers are generally divided into two main categories: organic and synthetic. Each offers unique advantages, depending on what you’re trying to achieve.
Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers are derived from natural sources like compost, bone meal, manure, or seaweed. They improve soil structure and encourage microbial activity, creating a healthier foundation for your garden over time.
Best for:
Long-term soil health
Eco-conscious landscapes
Xeriscapes and pollinator gardens
Areas where slow, steady growth is preferred
Because they release nutrients slowly, organic fertilizers are ideal for maintaining healthy root systems and supporting steady, sustainable growth throughout the year.
Synthetic Fertilizers
These are lab-formulated blends designed to deliver nutrients in specific N-P-K (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) ratios. They're fast-acting and useful when you need quick results or want to target a particular issue—like yellowing grass or a flowering lag.
Best for:
Quick lawn recovery
Annual flower beds
Seasonal nutrient boosts
Nutrient-specific corrections
Used properly, synthetic fertilizers can be highly effective. But they require careful timing and application to avoid burning plants or washing nutrients away with runoff.
Choosing the Right Fertilizer
The types of fertilizer for grass may be completely different from what you use in your flower beds or shrub borders. Here’s how to make informed choices based on your site and goals.
Site Considerations
Start with a soil test. This gives you a baseline for nutrient levels and pH, so you’re not guessing. The results can help determine whether your soil needs nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium—or just better organic matter.
At Gardenworks Inc., we often begin with soil testing as part of a property’s maintenance plan. It’s the most efficient way to design a fertilizer strategy that supports the entire landscape instead of treating symptoms as they appear.
Matching Fertilizer to Plants
Here’s where things get more specific. Different plants have different needs:
Lawns typically thrive with nitrogen-rich blends, especially in spring and early summer.
Flowering perennials and annuals often need phosphorus to encourage blooms.
Shrubs and evergreens usually prefer balanced, slow-release options to support seasonal growth without overstimulation.
Fruit trees may require custom feeding plans that vary based on the time of year and production cycle.
Even timing matters—what you apply in early spring may be very different from what your landscape needs in mid-fall.
Picking the Best Application Method
Once you’ve picked the right formula, you’ll want to consider how it’s applied. Granular fertilizer offers slow-release feeding, ideal for beds and lawns. Liquid fertilizer is absorbed faster and can be used for a quick boost or targeted treatment.
A landscape maintenance crew can assess which method works best for your layout—and apply it evenly and effectively. That’s key for avoiding the patchy or burnt spots that sometimes happen with DIY attempts or uneven distribution.
Why Partner with a Landscape Maintenance Team?
Once you understand how many variables go into choosing and applying the right fertilizer—soil conditions, plant types, seasonal timing, and nutrient formulas—it becomes clear why so many homeowners choose to work with a landscape maintenance team.
A professional team:
Creates custom fertilizer schedules that align with your property goals
Monitors and adjusts the program for optimal results year-round
Delivers the value of a long-term maintenance fertilization program that prevents:
Over-fertilizing (and the damage it causes)
Incorrect application timing
Using the wrong formula for your plant type or soil
Failing to update your fertilizer strategy as your landscape matures
The result? A garden that stays healthy, vibrant, and resilient across every season. The right fertilizer improves plant health, strengthens your soil, and supports the long-term performance of your entire landscape.
Contact Gardenworks Inc. at (707) 857-2050 to schedule a consultation and see how a tailored maintenance program can make your landscape thrive.
