Just like people, plants need nutrients to stay healthy. However, unlike people, plants can't do a Target run to grab a bottle of multivitamins to stay in the pink. With a sharp eye, you can maintain the health of your plants, and they'll thank you by looking great.
- Patrick Murphy, host of GLT's Grow, said that there's four areas in our yards where we would most likely encounter nutrient deficiencies: lawn, veggie gardens, woody plants and trees.
- The main way you can tell there's a nutrient deficiency is there's a lack of greenness in your plant.
- When the deep green of leaves or grass gradually turns lighter, that means something is going on.
- Other things can cause discoloration, so it's best to have your soil tested to see if any key ingredient that your plant needs, like potassium, iron or nitrogen, is missing.
- Lack of density is another sign of nutrient deficiency. You'll see this in lawns when bare spots appear and then weeds move into those vulnerable areas.
- Try your local extension office to get your soil analyzed for nutrient deficiency.