How You Can Help

Fertilise Wise

You can help improve the health of our waterways and other ecosystems by:

• Minimising lawn areas - they require a lot of fertiliser and water.
• Improving your soil with organic matter and soil amendments including spongolite, zeolite, bentonite clay (for sandy soils only) and gypsum (for dispersive clays only) - they grab hold of water and nutrients and keep them in your soil. Click here for more soil improver information.
• Try fertilising only when symptoms of nutrient deficiency occur eg. yellowing
• Using Fertilise Wise endorsed complete fertilisers - they are rigorously tested.
  
• Otherwise use a complete lawn fertiliser containing a Nitrogen: Phosphorus: Potassium (N:P:K) ratio of 10:1:6.
• Look for fertilisers that also contain other nutrients such as sulphur (S), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) and the trace elements copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), zinc (Zn) and molybdenum (Mo) - they feed the soil that feeds your plants.
• The MAXIMUM individual application rate for the fertiliser should be 25 grams per square metre (half a large handful) for Couch and 12 grams per square metre for Kikuyu and Buffalo.
• If fertiliser is required, apply in spring or early Autumn (Sept, Oct, Nov, Mar and Apr) - when plants are growing.
• Do not fertilise in summer (increases water use) or winter (washes into waterways)
• Do not over water - it washes the fertiliser into waterways
• Grow local plants – they require less fertiliser and water
• Using the map below, identify your soil type. And then download the Fertilise Wise Guide and Local Plant Guide that applies to your area:
  
  

	Coastal
	Fertilise Wise Guide	Local Plant Guide
	Western Coastal Plain
	Fertilise Wise Guide	Local Plant Guide
	Central Coastal Plain
	Fertilise Wise Guide	Local Plant Guide
	Eastern Coastal Plain
	Fertilise Wise Guide	Local Plant Guide
	Scarp
	Fertilise Wise Guide	Local Plant Guide
	Click on map for larger view Click here for more fertilising information - Fertilising Your Lawn and Garden Brochure.

Look for the Logo!

Look out for Fertilise Wise endorsed fertilisers at your local hardware store or garden centre.

Fertilise Wise endorsed fertilisers have undergone a rigorous, independent testing process to ensure that they are effective and responsible. Thus you can buy these products with the confidence that they are going to grow great gardens without polluting our precious rivers.

Currently Stocktech's Shades of Green product range are the only fertilisers to achieve Fertilise Wise endorsement.





     




                    Jack Johnson