Optimize Your Lawn Gardening With An Injector

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Garden Fertilizer Injector

A popular garden fertilizing technique is the use of an injector. Farms, golf courses, and greenhouses have been using injectors for years and now you too can use one.
The idea behind a fertilizer injector is to offer the gardener an automated fertilization system. Instead of having to sprinkle fertilizer onto a lawn or pour fertilizer onto each plant individually, the gardener can make fertilizing part of the whole watering system.

How the Fertilizer Injector Works

Fertilizer injectors pump liquid fertilizer into your water system. The injector fits into your water line after a backflow device and before a filter and regulator.

To fill a typical injector, you pour liquid fertilizer or soluble fertilizer into the injector's plastic reservoir. Pressure differences within the injector cause the fertilizer to be sucked into the water line, then distributed to your plants.

Gauging Fertilizer Amounts

There are several factors that determine how much fertilizer you need: First, the number of emitters in your garden water system (more emitters, more fertilizer), second, the manufacturer's specifications, and lastly, the fertilizer's dilution rate.

Fertilizer injector directions should tell you how much fertilizer to use. Using liquid fertilizers limits the amount of nutrients you can inject into a system at a given time. For example, if your injector only has a one-pint reservoir, your garden can only get one pint of fertilizer. You can fertilize more often, but then you risk over watering.

Water Soluble Dry Fertilizer

Water-soluble or dry fertilizer gives you better dosage flexibility because you can increase the concentration of fertilizer. You can simply dissolve more fertilizer for a stronger product.

Generally, injectors range from $15 to $60 (most are about $35), not including filter and pressure regulator. They are widely available at garden centers. Garden nurseries that carry drip systems will also sell injectors.

About the Author

Alex Russel is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Since graduating from Syracuse University he has worked at many different media companies in fields as diverse as film, TV, advertising, and journalism. He holds a dual bachelor's degree in English and History.