Today's Topic: Fertilizing Your Arizona Landscape - 1 of 5 Part Series

Before You Reach for the Fertilizer Bag

You walk outside and notice your favorite shrub doesn't look right. The leaves are a little yellow and it hasn't grown much lately.

Your first thought might be, “It probably needs fertilizer.”

Maybe it does. But before you open the fertilizer bag, take a closer look.

What appears to be a fertilizer problem could actually be caused by too much water, too little water, poor drainage, a broken emitter, insects, heat stress, or another problem entirely.

Fertilizer can help when nutrients are needed; however, It can't fix the wrong problem.

Four Things to Check First

Before you fertilize a struggling plant, spend a few minutes looking for clues.

1. Check the water.
Feel the soil around the plant. Is it constantly wet, extremely dry, or somewhere in between? Check the irrigation, too. A clogged or broken emitter can leave a plant struggling, while too much water can create problems of its own.

2. Look at the whole plant.
Don't stop at the first yellow leaf. Is the entire plant affected? Is the yellowing mostly on new growth or older leaves? Is only one section struggling? Where the problem appears can provide important clues about what may be happening.

3. Look for the obvious.
Check for insects, damaged branches, standing water, exposed or damaged roots, and other visible problems. Think about what's happened recently, too. Has the plant just been installed? Did we have a stretch of extreme heat? Has something changed with the irrigation
Sometimes the answer is right in front of you.

4. Know what you're growing.
A citrus tree, Bermudagrass lawn, flowering shrub, and desert-adapted plant don't have the same fertilizer needs. Some plants may benefit from a regular fertilizing program, while others may need very little supplemental fertilizer.

That's why the first question should always be:  What does this plant actually need?

Don't diagnose a plant from one yellow leaf.

Step back and look at the entire plant—and the area around it. Check the soil and irrigation and look for anything unusual.

The more clues you have, the less likely you are to treat the wrong problem.

Fertilizer is an important landscape tool, but it shouldn't automatically be the first solution when something doesn't look right.st. Fertilize for a reason.

Check first. Fertilize for a reason.

If something in your landscape is struggling and you're not sure what's causing it, Esteban Land Design can evaluate your landscape and help identify the problem before you spend money on products you may not need.

Looking Ahead

So, what if you've checked the basics and fertilizer is appropriate? Now you need to know what you're fertilizing.

Next, we'll look at why your lawn, citrus, shrubs, trees, and desert plants don't all have the same fertilizer needs.