Chelated fertilizers help plants to absorb critical nutrients, especially in less than ideal conditions, such as a pH greater than 6.5 or when few micronutrients are available.
But just what does "chelated" mean? When used in gardening, the term first surfaced in the 1920s and it uses chelé, the Greek word for "lobster claw," to describe how an organic molecule can clamp itself over inorganic nutrients. Essentially, the organic "lobster claw" makes it easier for a plant to take in this inorganic nutrient package.
