Martha Stewart's Secret Fertilizer For Fast-Blooming Flowers

Don't you just love looking at Martha Stewart's stunning gardens that seem to look so lush and healthy with masses of amazing blooms? Like many gardeners, you may be wondering: "What's her secret? What does she use to grow the most delightful fast-blooming flowers?" Well, after spotting a recent YouTube video featuring her, we discovered the secret fertilizer she uses to get all of that magnificent growth and those outstanding blooms – triple superphosphate (TSP) with an N-P-K ratio of 0-46-0. These three numbers indicate that this specialist fertilizer only contains one of the three major nutrients necessary for plant growth: phosphorus.

According to the University of Connecticut, phosphorus is important for flowering plants because it promotes blooming. That's why it's recommended you select a fertilizer with a higher ratio of phosphorus to nitrogen, or at least equal amounts of each if you want lots of flowers. This vital nutrient also promotes strong healthy root growth which is another advantage. In fact, you can even grow more fruitful pea pods with the help of this fertilizer. Of course, you should always do a soil test first when starting a new flower bed to determine the levels of nutrients present and what type of amendments you need to add. And, if you don't feel like a trip to the hardware store, you can make your own DIY tests to check the health of your soil.

You might notice in the video that Martha Stewart applies triple superphosphate when she's preparing a new bed for planting. This is ideal and the only time you should need to apply this concentrated product because it will help give your new plants a good start. Apart from promoting flowering, phosphorus is also said to be instrumental in helping the plants to form a strong root system in their new home and to stimulate growth as long as there are no other nutrient deficiencies. Once your garden is well-established, it's best to use a more balanced fertilizer if necessary. Generally, if you've prepared the planting bed well beforehand by adding organic matter and you apply mulch regularly, you shouldn't have to keep using additional nutrients constantly. In most cases, an application once a year in spring, if needed, is sufficient.

Remember to follow the dosage recommendations on the pack so you don't overdo it. With fertilizer applications, more is never better and a good balance should always be aimed for, as excessive fertilization can be detrimental to the environment. For example, an excess of phosphorus in the soil can result in the nutrient leaching into surrounding waterways. This can be lethal to aquatic life because it can promote algal growth and reduce oxygen supply. So, it's vital that you're aware of common mistakes when fertilizing your garden to ensure you get the balance right.