Whether you are raising a field full of crops, a bushel of berries and a backyard garden, a plush emerald lawn, or some award-winning decorative plants, you’ve got to know what you’re doing when it comes to fertilization.
Giving your plants the right nutrients that they need, and in the right ratios, is imperative if you want them to be healthy, no matter what they are!
But for beginners and even some seasoned growers, figuring out which fertilizers are best for application can be very difficult considering there are dozens and dozens of varieties on the market. Picking the wrong kind, or just applying too much at the wrong time, can spell death to your plants.
But you don’t need to sweat it because I’m here to help you make sense of the sometimes confusing world of fertilizer. Today we’ll be talking about 12-4-8. Grab your gloves, and let’s get going…
What Does 12-4-8 Signify for Fertilizer?
On any kind of fertilizer, no matter the type and brand, when you see a series of numbers like the ones we are talking about, 12-4-8, you know you’re looking at a ratio. Specifically, it is a ratio that tells you as a percentage how many of the prime elements are in the fertilizer formula.
In that order, these are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You’ll often see this formula expressed as NPK. Don’t let the K throw you off, that’s the atomic symbol for potassium.
So, in the case of 12-4-8, you know it has 12% nitrogen, 4% phosphorus, and 8% potassium. Knowing that this formula is universal you can look at pretty much any fertilizer out there and quickly get an idea of what it contains and what it is probably best for. Or at the very least, how you can put it to use!
What Ingredients are Typically in 12-4-8 Fertilizer?
12-4-8 is a pretty good general-purpose fertilizer though it is one that is biased towards plants that need extra nitrogen.
Depending on the manufacturer, it will derive the 3 majority of ingredients from various organic and inorganic sources and also contain a variety of other ingredients like soil conditioners, water retention aids, even insecticides.
Some varieties will also have additional elements and nutrients that plants might require in trace amounts, or supplementary food that releases more slowly over time. Pretty much anything and everything can be in the mix depending on the whims of the maker.
Depending on your objectives and requirements you should look for and purchase one that has only what plants need in it, or one that is a better all-purpose supplement for your soil and plantings.
As always, double-check that ingredients list before you buy!
Main Benefits
12-4-8 is a pretty well-rounded formula that’s suitable for all kinds of plants, including grass, as long as they need a decent shot of nitrogen while also needing a little pop of phosphorus and potassium.
A good rule of thumb is that 12-4-8 is a great choice for regular usage if any plant or veggie, in particular, has dark green leaves or is known to be nitrogen-hungry, but is otherwise healthy and in good shape.
For plants that fit into this category, 12-4-8 can give them a boost of nutrients and you won’t need to worry that they’ll be overloaded or shocked by too much nitrogen or other elements.
What Plants Is This Fertilizer Best For?
So, what kind of plants are best served by 12-4-8? As a rule of thumb, any plant that is otherwise healthy but known to be nitrogen-loving is the perfect choice, as mentioned.
In this category are all kinds of grasses (including winter grasses), lettuce, spinach, kale, cress, and cabbage, along with evergreens, (trees and shrubs). All are good “customers” for 12-4-8.
And all sorts of decorative plants, particularly those that are fairly sensitive to higher levels of nitrogen or phosphorus, can make great use of this fertilizer as a regular option for maintenance or giving them a little bit of perk after they’ve been stressed or exposed to harsh weather.
When Should You Use 12-4-8 Fertilizer?
The use of any fertilizer always depends on the situation, and the overall condition of your plants and soil. That being said, 12-4-8 is a dependably good choice at two particular times:
- in the middle of spring if you want to help your receptive planes prepare for the stresses of intense summer sunlight and heat,
- and also getting close to the end of fall when the plants might need a surge of nutrition to brace up and withstand the ravages of cold winter weather.
And assuming your plans aren’t badly out of balance, 12-4-8 is a fine choice as a regular fertilizer for maintenance use throughout the season. Most plants can benefit from it every few weeks, sparingly.
As always, make sure you test and stay on top of soil levels because it is very easy to overdo it on nitrogen even with a relatively mild formula like this.
When’s the Best Time to Apply 12-4-8?
Like with so many other fertilizers containing even a modest amount of nitrogen, you’ll want to fertilize with 12-4-8 at dawn or dusk.
The rule is that you want to avoid fertilizing in the heat of the day, when plants are in direct sunlight. Even with a milder formula like this, the chances of causing additional stress or even scorching your plants are just too high.
The only exception is if you are fertilizing a particularly hardy plant that has continuous shade one way or the other during the middle of the day, and even then, I’d think twice if temperatures are on the warm side. Waiting until sundown or the following morning won’t hurt!
How Much To Use per Acre
The old rule of thumb for fertilizing acreage is that you want to use about a pound of fertilizer for every thousand square feet that you are treating.
But I’ve got to level with you: these days that advice is only somewhat useful…
Fertilizers are available in so many varieties, and in so many different concentrations, that shooting from the hip with that baseline could lead to your plants being tragically undernourished or scorched by excess nitrogen phosphorus. That’s not even taking into account your existing soil levels, either.
The only smart answer to this question is “it depends”: check your soil levels, and then read the instructions that come with your fertilizer before treating a large area. Thank me later!
How to Apply It
Depending on the brand, 12-4-8 might be found in solid or liquid formulas, though liquid varieties like the famous Miracle-Gro are most common. If it is solid, it usually comes in pellets or granules and less commonly as powder. Liquids might come pre-diluted or require dilution before you spray.
If you’re using a liquid variety, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for dilution to the letter and then load in your sprayer and you’ll be ready to go.
Using a broadcaster requires a little bit more experimentation to figure out the interaction of the fertilizer with the setting on your tool. Getting this part wrong might lead you to accidentally overfertilize your land!
Remember that the old common-sense rule still applies: you can always come back and add more, but you sure can’t pick it up easily. If you have any doubts, go light.
Is It Fertilizer Good for Lawns?
Yes, 12-4-8 is a pretty good general-purpose fertilizer for lawns. In fact, it’s excellent for many common types of lawn grass as it has plenty of nitrogen to help green it up and promote photosynthesis.
It also has phosphorus and potassium enough to boost overall health and the uptake of other needed nutrients and water.
It’s especially good for helping your lawn snap out of a period of stress owing to rough weather.
Is 12-4-8 Fertilizer Good for Gardens?
Generally, yes, it is. Any sort of leafy vegetable like lettuce, cabbage, kale, cress, chard, and so forth will respond wonderfully to it.
But be cautious with other types of vegetables and especially with fruit like berries: it has a little bit too much nitrogen in it to be used as a maintenance fertilizer when they’ll benefit more from phosphorus and potassium alone in most cases.
What’s the Average Price?
For liquid varieties of 12-4-8, you can expect it to go anywhere from 30 to 80 cents an ounce. Solid types usually retail anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar a pound, but these days it’s far more likely to go for closer to a buck a pound.
Where To Buy
12-4-8 fertilizer is extremely common and can be found everywhere. Miracle-Gro is sold anywhere you might expect home or garden goods to be found, including home improvement superstores, grocery stores, garden centers, and more. It is also widely available online.
What’s the Best Brand of 12-4-8?
No surprises here: Miracle-Gro all-purpose concentrate liquid plant food! You know it, you love it, and so does everyone else because it straight up works and is easy to handle.
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.