Probably the most important thing that will help you choose the best wholesale fertilizer is the needs of your plants, since they are the primary beneficiary of the fertilizer. Root crops have different nutritional needs from flowers, as well as from fruit trees and grass. Fertilizers generally have three major elements — potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus — that are mixed together in different ratios depending on how and where they are used. Potassium-rich fertilizers, for example, are good for vegetables to promote root growth, while nitrogen-rich fertilizers can be helpful for your lawn grass to thrive better.
Another factor to look into is the soil, and many experts recommend getting a soil test first to see what nutrition your soil lacks and needs. The results will then help you determine what kind of wholesale fertilizer you have to buy. If you have not gotten around to testing your soil and you are already at the store, just think of the general condition of the soil. If the soil is generally good and has been producing healthy plants, you may just need a nitrogen-rich fertilizer for upkeep. If the lawn is newly laid out and still fresh, phosphorus-rich fertilizer will help the soil keep the plants firmly rooted, while a potassium-rich fertilizer is ideal for soil that will undergo severe conditions such as in winter or summer.
Wholesale fertilizer contains other ingredients that can be either helpful or harmful to the soil and to your health. Generally, it is always best to stick to all-natural or organic fertilizers and avoid chemical-filled ones. Some ingredients you should be careful of are ammonia, urea, and nitrate, as these chemicals can do more harm to your plants and soil than good. If these chemicals are mixed in too frequently and in large amounts, it can add too much salt to the soil, causing water drainage from your plants and crops. Wholesale fertilizer made from compost, manure, and limestone can be more beneficial since it is safer for plants and requires less applications.
Buying wholesale fertilizer can be very expensive, since you are buying huge quantities. The general ratio is that for every 1,000 square feet (92.903 square meters) of soil, you only need about a pound (453.59 grams) of fertilizer. If you have a few dollars to spare, you might want to buy more than the amount you need to save you another trip to the store.