No matter what kind of property you own and no matter what you do in life, you’ve probably got some plants to take care of.
This might be a garden, it could be some crops if you live on a homestead, or maybe it’s just taking care of the lawn year in and year out as a homeowner or renter.
But whatever you’re living situation and whatever kind of grass or plant you are taking care of, you’re going to need fertilizer at some point.
Fertilizer is what you use when you want to put nutrients back in the soil, the same nutrients that your plants need to thrive. But there are all kinds of fertilizers out there on the market, each with pros and cons.
Using the wrong one can be disastrous, so to help keep that from happening today we will be looking at 15-15-15 fertilizer and how it is best used.
What Does 15-15-15 Signify for Fertilizer?
The “15-15-15” you see on this fertilizer, and other sequences of numbers on other bags of fertilizer, indicate the percentage of elements in the mix that are primarily responsible for plant nutrition.
This is also sometimes expressed as “NPK” ratio, which stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium.
I know, that last K there is a doozy: it really does stand for potassium since that is the atomic symbol for this element.
Anyway, this system allows you to see what sort of nutrients are in your fertilizer at a glance, and in the case of 15-15-15 you know that it contains 15% of each one.
What Ingredients are Typically in 15-15-15 Fertilizer?
15-15-15 contains, naturally, lots of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but most brands will have other nutrients and resources that plants need.
Lime and iron oxide additives are popular, as are various soil conditioners and other elements that can help keep plants safe from bugs or disease.
But do note that this varies highly depending on the brand of fertilizer you purchase: some companies are known for using lots of extra stuff even in basic bags of fertilizer, while other companies do not.
If you need something cleaner or simpler, make sure you check the package for the ingredients.
Benefits of 15-15-15 Fertilizer
15-15-15 has a balanced but intense mix of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These are all things that plants need, but they do need them in varying amounts.
Because it has equal amounts of all three, it is usually considered a general-purpose fertilizer, suitable for many different plans and at various applications around your property.
It’s especially good as an early season or starter fertilizer to help give growing plants a quick boost of all the nutrients they need, or to recharge depleted soils in preparation for new planting.
However, care must be taken when using 15-15-15 because the high nitrogen content can easily burn delicate plants, or any plants that already have access to lots of nitrogen in the soil.
There’s definitely too much of a good thing when it comes to fertilizer…
What Plants is 15-15-15 Fertilizer Best For?
15-15-15 is a highly adaptable and versatile fertilizer that’s good for use on all sorts of plants, including turf and grass.
It is also a famously good and highly nutritious fertilizer for various ornamentals, trees and especially citrus fruits.
Any plant that benefits from winterizing or heat stress protection will usually benefit from 15-15-15, and this is one of its most common and popular uses.
When Should You Use 15-15-15 Fertilizer?
There are two sets of circ*mstances where it is ideal to use 15-15-15: the first is at the very beginning of the season when developing plants will need lots of nutrients as they establish themselves.
The other circ*mstance is anytime plants are bracing for major stress from hot or cold weather. 15-15-15 is a very popular winterizing fertilizer, and it can also work just as well to help keep lawns safe from intense heat.
When’s the Best Time To Apply 15-15-15?
Just to clarify, 15-15-15 is a great heat stress preventative, but that doesn’t mean you can apply it during the heat of the day to save vulnerable plants! That is the very last thing you should do!
If you do that, the heat, intense sunlight and nitrogen from the fertilizer is absolutely going to fry your plants like an egg.
To avoid this, you should endeavor to apply your 15-15-15 in the early morning or late evening when it is cooler.
If you are going to apply to the middle of the day, you should only do so if the area you are targeting has plenty of shade or it is a completely overcast day so plants have protection from the sun.
How Much 15-15-15 Fertilizer Should You Use per Acre?
This completely depends upon your intended use…
A good rule of thumb for general-purpose soil amendment is to use about a pound of fertilizer for every 1,000 sqft you need to treat.
But, as mentioned above, 15-15-15 is very popular for use on trees and citrus trees in particular.
Depending on the results of your soil testing, you might want to apply between 200 and 300 pounds per acre if you’re going to be planting a grove of fruit trees.
What’s the Best Method to Apply 15-15-15 Fertilizer?
You have several options for applying at 15-15-15 depending on your preferred method. Powders and granules are available that can be deployed with standard broadcasters.
Make sure you test your broadcaster for rate of application, and if in doubt set the aperture to only one-third open. Keep in mind that any dry fertilizer will need to be watered in after application.
Alternately, you can buy pre-mixed 15-15-15 liquid or mix up your own to deploy with a sprayer or garden hose attachment.
Be especially cautious if you go the liquid route because it’s easy to over-apply, and that can have harmful consequences for your plants going forward.
Is 15-15-15 Fertilizer Good for Lawns?
Yes, 15 – 15 – 15 can be surprisingly good for lawns. It’s especially good for early season rejuvenation of grasses that have endured a harsh winter, and as mentioned it is routinely used for protection both from heat waves and from cold snaps.
Is 15-15-15 Fertilizer Good for Gardens?
Yes. As mentioned 15-15-15 is a good general-purpose fertilizer, but a strong one, though most veggies will like it especially if they need a burst of nutrients as their fruits develop.
However, because it’s so potent you should be very careful with it around any young or tender plants. Herbs are especially vulnerable to nitrogen shock, so use great care around them.
What’s the Average Price of 15-15-15 Fertilizer?
15-15-15 is a reasonably common fertilizer but it’s more concentrated than your basic stuff like triple-8.
Accordingly, it tends to cost a little more if you compare apples to apples. Expect to spend between .15 and .20 cents an ounce on 15-15-15.
Where Can You Buy 15-15-15 Fertilizer?
You can buy 15-15-15 at pretty much any nice hardware store, big box home improvement center, nursery, garden center and even online from a variety of retailers.
What’s the Best 15-15-15 Fertilizer Brand?
There are several good ones on the market, but one of my consistent favorites is Triple Pro 15-15-15.
I like a lot of their products, and unlike some other brands, I’ve never run into a case where they’re mixer was a little too strong and wound up damaging my plants or grass. Consistency is a virtue, so they get my vote.
Tom Marlowe
Tom has lived and worked on farms and homesteads from the Carolinas to Kentucky and beyond. He is passionate about helping people prepare for tough times by embracing lifestyles of self-sufficiency.
