Sumner releases poster guide to help gardeners, keep fertilizer out of water supply

Published 11:39 am Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The City of Sumner has released a poster guide to help green thumbs appropriately fertilize their gardens and keep excess fertilizer out of the city water system.

The chart cross-references the season to type of vegetation to find the right timing and amount of fertilizer, using information borrowed from Washington State University’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.

A tip for people growing annuals this spring: “Fertilize one to two times during growing season. Use higher nitrogen until plants reach full size, then switch to (a mixture) high in phosphorus for increased blooming.”