• About Us
    • Hours & Locations
    • Rewards Club
    • Our History
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Our Community
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Weekly Features
  • Events & Workshops
  • Plant Selection
  • Products & Supplies
  • Gardening Advice
    • Garden Blog
    • Care Sheets
    • Q & A
  • Shop Online
  • Gift Cards
  • Contact Us

Wagner Greenhouses

> Care Sheets > Garden Maintenance

Garden Maintenance

Fertilizer   

Learn how plant food can be your best friend.

Basic Requirements

What’s in plant food? The three essential nutrients in plant food arenitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Each plays a role in building healthy plants. Nitrogen encourages growth of leaves and stems while phosphorus and potassium increase flowering and root growth. Plant foods are labeled according to the percentages of each of the ingredients they contain, always in the same order: N-P-K. The label indicates the relative amounts of the three essential nutrients with an analysis formula (for example: 15-30-15, 10-10-10, or some other combination).

Tips & Tricks

Selecting a Plant Food There are several types of plant foods. Different concentrations are used to achieve different results or meet different needs. Be sure to read the label of the product that you choose to purchase for more information on how to apply it. Check out our fertilizer aisle for a variety of products.

  • Water-Soluble Plant Foods start feeding almost instantly through the foliage and roots. To apply this type, mix it with water.
  • Slow-Release Plant Foods are easy to use and feed slowly and steadily for up to three months. This type should be applied directly into the planting hole and the soil should be watered thoroughly after applying.
  • Organic products such as Cow Manure, Compost, Plant Tone, Blood Meal, Bone Meal, Whitney Farms, or Miracle Gro Organic Choice are available and should be worked into the soil before planting. Ask about our organic products area.

Fertilizer Requirements

PLANT TYPELEVELAT WAGNERS
VegetablesHighOsmocote, Miracle-Gro Tomato, Bone Meal, Cow manure, Compost, Tomato Maker, Tomato Tone
LawnsMedium to HighNo-Phosphate Lawn Fertilizer
Annual FlowersMediumMiracle-Gro, Osmocote, Bloom Plus, Fish Emulsion
Perennial FlowersMedium to LowCow manure, Bone meal, Blood meal, Miracle-Gro
Deciduous Trees & ShrubsMedium to LowTree Food Spikes
BulbsLow to MediumBulb Food, Bone meal, Blood meal, Miracle-Gro
HerbsLow to MediumMiracle-Gro, Osmocote, Cow manure, Bone meal
EvergreensLowTree Food Spikes for evergreens
PRINT
Insects & Disease   

Learn everything you need to know about Insecticides and Fungicides.

Care & Maintenance

Insecticides
There are many insecticides to choose from, depending on the type of plant that will be treated, and the type of pest that will be controlled.

  • Systemic insecticides are absorbed by the plant and ingested by the bug eating the plant resulting in death. Systemic pesticides should not be used on vegetable or fruit crops except as recommended by the manufacturer. Systemic products to look for are Bonide Systemic Granules or Concentrate.
  • Contact insecticides stay on the surface of the plant and are absorbed by the bug coming in contact with the chemical. These types are easily washed off fruits and vegetables to make them safe to eat. Contact products to look for include Sevin, Eight, and Garden Safe.
  • Organic insecticides are safe mixtures derived from plants, and usually pose no threat to humans or animals. Organics seldom kill insects but rather repel them since they are made from something that the insect does not like. Organic products to look for include hot pepper wax, insecticidal soap, and garden dust.

Fungicides
These chemicals help to cure or control diseases on plants. Not all diseases can be cured, but can be prevented from spreading by the use of fungicides. Control of a disease can eliminate the need to destroy and/or replace a plant. Fungicides to look for are Daconil, Fungonil, RosePride, and Bayer All-in-One.

Again, always follow the manufacturer’s directions when using any chemical.

PRINT
Plants Deer Usually Avoid Eating   

Check out which plants deer usually avoid eating below.

ANNUALSPERENNIALSBULBSGROUNDCOVERS
AgeratumAchilea (Yarrow)AlliumAjuga
AlyssumAquilegia (Columbine)DaffodilsEpimedium (Barrenwort)
BegoniaArtemisiaConvallaria (Lily of the Valley)Lamium (Dead Nettle)
CleomeAstilbePachysandra (Japanses Spurge)
DahliaBaptistaSedum Kamtschaticum (Yellow Stonecrop)
Dusty MillerChrysanthemumVinca Minor (Creeping Myrtle)
GomphrenaCoreopsis (Tickseed)
HeliotopeDigitalis (Foxglove)
Hypoestes (splash)Lavender
MarigoldsLeucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)
Portulaca (Moss Rose)Lupine
Scented GeraniumsPapaver (Poppies)
SnapdragonsRudbeckia (Black-Eye Susan)
Sweet BasilSalvia
ZinniasStachys (Lamb's Ear)
Veronica (Speedwell)
PRINT
Ground Covers   

Find ground covers that are perfect for your yard.

For Sun

Botanical NameCommon Name
Phlox SubulataCreeping Phlox
LysimachiaMoneywort
SedumStone Crop
Thymus SerpyllumLemon Thyme
Veronica SpeciesSpeedwell
Vinca MinorPeriwinkle

For Shade or Partial Shade

Botanical NameCommon Name
AgepodiumBishops Weed
AjungaBungleweed
AsarumGinger
Convallaria MajalisLily of the Valley
EpimediumBarrenwort
HostaPlantain Lily
LamiumDead Nettle
LamiastrumYellow Archangel
PachysandraSpurge
VincaPeriwinkle

Invasive

Botanical NameCommon Name
AegopogiumBishop's Weed
Ajuga ReptansBungleweed
Convallaria MajalisLily of the Valley

For Moist Soils

Botanical NameCommon Name
AegopogiumBishop's Weed
Ajuga ReptansBungleweed
AsarumGinger
Galium OdoratumSweet Woodruff
HostaPlantain Lily
VeronicaSpeedwell

For Acid Soils

Botanical NameCommon Name
AsarumGinger
Convallaria MajalisLily of the Valley
Epimedium SpeciesBarrenwort
Galium OdoratumSweet Woodruff
Hosta SpeciesPlantain Lily
Iberis SempervirensCandytuft
Pachysandra TerminalisJapanese Spurge
Phlox SubulataMoss Pink
Sedum SpeciesStonecrop
Sempervivum TectorumHens & Chicks
Thymus SerpyllumLemon Thyme
PRINT

Fertilizer

Insects & Disease

Plants Deer Usually Avoid Eating

Ground Covers

Minneapolis

6024 Penn Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN

Garden Center 612-922-6901

Store hours:
Open Daily: 10am-5pm

Holiday Hours:
December 31st & January 1st –  Closed

Directions

Bloomington

2100 W Old Shakopee Road
Bloomington, MN

Permanently closed. Thank you for your support.

We will see you at our Minneapolis location.

Hugo

4860 Frenchman Road N.
Hugo, MN

Garden Center 651-653-8863

Closed for the season. See you in 2021.

Directions

Wagner Greenhouses & Garden Center

Wagners is a fifth generation family owned company operating at the same location since 1901.
View Employment Opportunities

Garden Center

  • Shop Online
  • Visit Garden Center
  • Weekly Features
  • Garden Rewards Club
  • Care Sheets
  • Hours & Locations

Wholesale Plants

  • Visit Wholesale
  • Young Plant Programs
  • Young Plant Availability
  • For Landscaping Professionals
  • Plant Fundraising

Newsletter Signup

Sign up to receive periodic emails regarding our featured plants and products, upcoming events, and news updates!

© 2021 Wagner Greenhouses, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use - Privacy Policy.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Hours & Locations
    • Our History
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Community
    • Employment
    • Gift Cards
  • Garden Center
    • Visit Garden Center
    • Weekly Features
    • Events & Workshops
    • Garden Rewards Club
    • Plant Selection
    • Products & Supplies
  • Wholesale Plants
    • Visit Wholesale Plants
    • Young Plant Availability
    • Young Plant Programs
    • Ordering Info
    • Brokers
    • Finished Plant Availability
    • Holiday Plants & Evergreens
    • For Landscaping Professionals
    • For Retailers
    • Plant Fundraising
  • Shop Online
  • Gardening Advice
    • Garden Blog
    • Care Sheets
    • Q & A
  • Contact Us