When to Apply Ironite to Shrubs? How Often Should You Apply Ironite?

The lawn and shrubs in your home are an essential part of the scenery because they beautify your home and provide a place where your kids can play safely.

But to get that lush lawn you want and the healthy-looking shrub in your backyard, you should be ready to give these plants all they need, including water, sunlight, and the right nutrient. To give the right nutrient, you give ironite.

Ironite, a fertilizer like no other which can be applied 4 times a year on your lawn and shrub, is guaranteed to keep your lawn and shrub looking green and healthy, thus making them the envy of your neighbors.

Since the greener your lawn and shrubs are, the healthier they truly are, it becomes imperative that you use ironite to maintain these plants. Today, we will show you how you can get the best from your shrubs and lawn by using ironite.

What Is Ironite?

There is nothing attractive about a pale-looking lawn; it just speaks of a lack of vital nutrients that the grass needs to look healthy; hence there is a need to supplement the nutrient available in the soil using fertilizer, and ironite is a fertilizer of choice for most homeowners.

Ironite is an iron-based, nitrogen-rich fertilizer specially formulated to promote the quick greening of your lawn grasses.

It can achieve this fit because it aids the production of enzymes required for synthesizing the protein that is the building block of chlorophyll.

We know that chlorophyll is responsible for plants’ green color and ability to produce food through photosynthesis.

Hence, plants with iron deficiency look faded, and we call this condition iron chlorosis; this is like anemia that humans suffer, which is when the amount of blood cells in the body is deficient. Shrubs that are deficient in iron quickly absorb ironite when applied to them.

Iron is one of the major ingredients in ironite (as the name already suggests). It also contains varying amounts of nitrogen, potassium, manganese, and other micro-elements, depending on the ironite formula.

The Benefits Of Using Ironite?

Even though we have already established that ironite makes your lawn and shrubs look greener, there are other reasons why many gardeners are supplementing the natural nutrient in their soil with ironite, and some of those reasons include:

1. While we have clearly shown that ironing is good for lawns, do you also know that you can use them on trees, flowers, shrubs, and vegetables, and you will get very good results.

Applying ironite to all your plants promotes their health and growth and helps your soil since ironite helps to balance the pH of the soil.

2. The unique formula of ironite ensures that you do not have to water your lawn so frequently to get it looking lush; this is because, unlike other nitrogen-based fertilizers, which require a lot of water to be applied for the fertilizer to work optimally, ironite is iron-based and so dies not to have that problem.

3. This product comes in different forms: liquid and granular works well on all soil types, be they sandy, loamy, silt, or clay soil, and is also effective in any weather or climatic condition.

4. Ironite helps improve the soil quality of your lawn because it helps improve the water penetration, reducing the amount of soil lost.

5. Ironite does not stain nor burn the grasses because of its iron base, but this does not mean that you should apply more than the recommended dose because it will change your lawn’s color to grayish.

Types of Ironite Fertilizers?

For garden use, there are 2 main types of ironite fertilizer, and they are:

1. Organic Iron Fertilizer

These are ironite fertilizers that are gotten from an organic source. Most of these fertilizers are slow-release in action, but the plants quickly absorb the nutrient they give out.

Milorganite and greensand are 2 good examples of organic ironite. This type of fertilizer is Eco-friendly and will never turn your lawn gray from over-application, nor will it stain your concrete.

2. Synthetic Iron Fertilizers

These are iron-based fertilizers that are manufactured from inorganic iron compounds. They are fast-release in action, so you see instant results upon application in a matter of days. However, they are not eco-friendly and can turn your grass gray if you apply more than the recommended dose.

What Are The Forms of Ironite That There Are?

How a product comes tells its form. There are 2 main forms of ironite, and they are:

1. Granular Ironite

This type of ironite comes in the form of granules which you can use a broadcast spreader to spray on your lawn; you can use your hand to broadcast it on the lawn.

For this form of ironite, you will need to apply some water Immediately after broadcasting the granules so that they can become available to the plants. This form of ironite is best applied on clay in a loamy soil.

For the standard granulated ironite, you have 1 percent nitrogen, 1 percent potassium, and a whopping 12 percent of the fertilizer is iron. Phosphorus and other elements are available in trace quantities.

The ironite Plus granular fertilizer is also formulated differently from the standard granules. This ironite Plus, which you can spread up to 9 cups of it over 100 square feet, contains 12 percent iron, while nitrogen and phosphorus comprise 10 percent each of the total volume of the product.

2. Liquid Ironite

The liquid form of ironite is sprayed on the soil or lawn using a spray container. This form of ironite releases more nutrients faster than granules, which means you will see the impact of the fertilizer faster, and you do not need to apply water after applying the fertilizer. Your best bet is to use this type of fertilizer on sandy soil that is alkaline too.

Ironite Plus 6-2-1 liquid provides 6 percent nitrogen, 2 percent phosphorus, 1 percent potassium, and 1 percent iron. Water the garden before using this ready-to-spray formula. Attach the garden hose, turn on the water and spray plants thoroughly.

There are different formulations of the liquid ironite, and the nutrient deficiency of your soil will determine which you buy. The Ironite Plus 6-2-1 contains 1 percent iron, 2 percent phosphorus, and 6 percent nitrogen.

However, the Ironite Plus 7-6-6 has a different formulation from the former, with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium having a percentage composition of 7,6,6, respectively. The iron content is just 0.15 content of the whole formulation.

Suppose you want to apply the liquid ironite. In that case, you will have to dilute the fertilizer supplement with water and make a mixture of the ironite. 2 tablespoons of the liquid ironite goes into a gallon of water for spraying on shrubs, trees, and what gave you. But a mixture of 1 tablespoon in 1 gallon of water is adequate for foliage.

What Is The Rate Of Ironite Application?

Historically, the rate of applying the 2 types of ironite fertilizer has always been 1 pound for every 100 square feet. Still, the recommended application rate for granular ironite was changed to 1/3 pound for every 100 square feet.

You, however, must ensure that you evenly distribute the fertilizer so that every part of the lawn gets almost an amount.

To simplify the measurement, you should use a measuring cup to measure the amount of ironite fertilizer and add it to the spreader. Half a cup is approximately 1/3 of a pound of ironite, this means that for 100 square feet of lawn, you will need 5 cups of ironite.

How Do I Apply Ironite?

If you want to make your lawn or shrubs in your backyard look more attractive, then you should apply the right type of ironite and form of ironite.

Firstly, if the soil where your shrub or lawn is growing is sandy, it means you will need a liquid ironite, especially if your soil pH is above 7 points.

If you use granular ironite in this case, the root of your grass or shrub will not be able to absorb the fertilizer and so will be useless to the plant, but if you use the liquid fertilizer, the blades of the shrub can easily absorb it.

However, before applying any of these ironies, ensure that you wear protective clothing, including gloves and boots. While ironies are good on your shrub, they are not so good on your skin; they can cause a lot of itching and other discomforts.

Ensure that the liquid ironite does not get on your concrete walls or walkway because it will stain it. After applying the fertilizer, be sure that people do not play around the shrub or lawn, especially your kids and pets, because they can easily ingest part of this fertilizer which is dangerous for humans.

You should apply ironite to your shrubs at least 4 times a year to supplement the nutrient deficiency of your soil and regular fertilization. It should not be applied more than 10 times a year because it will negatively affect your shrubs.

When to Apply Ironite to Shrubs?

The time you apply fertilizer is almost as crucial as the fertilizer you are applying. When you apply ironite at the wrong time, the chances are that it will not be as effective as it is supposed to be.

Ironite is needed in soil that lacks iron and other elements like nitrogen, and to ascertain if your soil is lacking in these elements, a soil test should be conducted.

The best time to apply ironies to shrubs once you ascertain that the soil is deficient in iron, nitrogen and other plant nutrient is in spring when there is exponential growth. At this time, the ironite you apply will be most effective because it will aid the shrub’s growth.

Conclusion

If your shrub or lawn looks pale and unhealthy, the chances are that your plants are deficient in many basic requirements they need to thrive, and you can take care of the situation by using ironite in any of the 2 types and forms of ironite that there are.

Helpful Links:

We trust this article helped you know when to apply ironite to shrubs. You may also want to check out How To Properly Store Grass Seeds.

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