Isn't the citrus/avocado/mango fert 4-6-8? I see that for sale everywhere.

Hmmmm...I think it's a ban for Pinellas and surrounding counties, now that I think about it.
Extended release is supposed to be fine, but it seems it's easier for the retail stores or the manufacturers not to sell it that way.

Lisa, where are you? Here's some in Tampa.

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: 4-6-8 Citrus Granular Fertilizer - 5lbs.

Not knowing how many lbs. are in each of your bags, lets just say that each one weighs 100 lbs. That means you have 4 lbs of N and 8 lbs of K in the 4-0-8 bag, and 45 lbs of P in the 0-45-0 bag. You need six lbs of P, which would be 6/45 x 100 or about 13 lbs from the bag of Phosphorus. Of course you probably don't have 100 lb. bags, so you'll have to adjust these figures or post the weight of your bags.

It does not matter what a person tells you to apply.
A general fertilizer formula is fine as a starting point.
A detailed soil test will tell you what the soil needs.
There is no way to know if there is too much N-P-K
in your soil or too little without a test.
Test first, adjust formula accordingly.
Repeat Test every 2 years.

Gatormom,

I have never tested my soil but I am interested. Where do you buy your soil test kit? What brand? What does it cost? Is it difficult to do and can you test more than one place in your yard with a single kit?

If you send your soil somewhere to be tested, where do you send it? What does it cost? Is that for a single sample?

Thanks!
Carol

@Carol - that's a link to Jene, and she can't carry it any more. I'll have to tell her to take it off her website. She's here in St Pete.

I need to show her pix of my avocado tree; hope she's there this visit so that I can ask her about the 4-6-8 as well. Meanwhile I'll ponder @pawsnplants posting.

So phosphate fertilizer is banned in Pinellas? No doubt for good reason - water quality concerns.

Animal manures are fairly high in P. If you can find someone who beds their horses in hay rather than wood shavings that would the stuff to have.

Oh Lisa, too funny. Thanks for letting me know it had come full circle. Sorry for the No-Help!

Carol

Stay with 12-6-8, which is readily available and recommended by IFAS for most plants and trees in Florida.

According to this article, it is a ban on summertime use of N or P, presumably only as synthetic salts, though it isn't clear.

Here is a link that might be useful: not just 4-6-8

Don't stress on the fertilizer. Excalibur Rare Fruit Trees in Lake Worth uses and recommends palm fertilizer on all their nursery plants.

Article that pnbrown linked to says; Applying that fertilizer on "lawns" will be banned starting this summer.

Article also says farms and golf courses will be exempt. At least they got that part half right ;)

Re: Soil test kits are available here in Osceola county at the extension office plant clinic. There is no charge for a simple test. You collect the soil, following directions supplied with the kit, & mail it to UF at Gainesville. For a more detailed test there is a small charge, $15.00 I believe.

Why not simply buy some bonemeal & follow the application rate for that, in addition to the other fertilizer?

Talked to Jene today and she told me just to use the normal amount of 4-0-8 and sprinkle a bit of the phosphorus around.

Turns out the leaf drop on my bacon avocado is normal because it's setting fruit.