A typical combination is 5-10-5 or 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 5% potassium.

If you have a vegetable garden, then you are looking for 1-2-1 with the same names. N-P-K.

Complete fertilizers are those with all 3 most needed nutrients. Law requires organic fertilizer. To list the way the organic status was configured. One might be 14% organic and 6% synthetic fertilizer. Organic could come from animal tissue, plant tissue and synthetic tissue.

The term organic refers to carbon atoms in the fertilizer.

A major consideration to buying fertilizer will be to test the soil and see what it needs.

If the soil PH is too low or too high, then your plants will need added nutrients.
The PH need depends on what plants you are going to be growing. Always follow the label when choosing fertilizer, and apply it according to the recommended instructions on the bag.

If you are using organic fertilizers, you will need to add more to get the desired level. The boon of an organic fertilizer is that there are nutrients in it, besides the N and P and K. This is added strength for your plant.

These nutrients are the final building blocks of your soil. Plants need nutrition to grow plus a way to fight disease. When you use an organic fertilizer you are replacing all the ingredients lost from the soil from erosion, run offs, planting year after year etc. Organic fertilizers release these beneficial ingredients little by little. So the nutrition is released as the plant grows, and as needed. There is no sudden change to hit a plant too hard.

Building good soil is a continual process. Soil testing can tell PH balance but not nutrients missing. Often plants give the best indication of what is needed. Healthy plants that are green and developing well, and are pest free, are being grown in good soil. On the other hand, a plant that is long and lanky, discolored, not developing normally probably is missing major nutrients.

There are products that are good for your garden outside, your landscaping, or your potted plants in the home. There are many such products.

A good rule to remember is 1-2-1 is a great mix for vegetable gardens. 5-10-5 is good for all purpose gardening. Then there are specific mixes for specific flowers. For example there is rose food, also flower food for lilies is found on the market in a gardening store or landscaping store. Etc.

Choose the blend for the soil type as well as the plants being grown. There is no need to exceed the recommended amount of the synthetic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers might need more without burning the plants. Organic fertilizers also contain more of the natural nutrients the soil should have.

If you are using synthetic fertilizer, you should supplement the soil with some type of organic matter such as compost or manure to maintain soil health.

Also, some homeowners will build a mulch pile, and put in their household left over that are non-citrus, non-onion and garlic. This pile or box of compost is allowed to set in the weather or under plastic all year, to be added to the garden when needed in the spring.

Other gardeners use companion planting, like marigolds outside the veggies, to ward off the bugs and pests that will be busy eating the growing plants.