Oraganic Fertilizer for Your Garden 101

Organic fertilization is an efficient, environmentally friendly, and often cheaper way to add the necessary nutrients to your garden’s soil. We’ll walk you through the most common organic fertilizers, what minerals they contain, and how to use them to maintain a healthy and flourishing lawn.

You will learn everything you need to know, from the best organic liquid fertilizer to different formulas, to determine which organic fertilizer works best for your vegetable garden.

Fertilizer Numbers Basics

Each fertilizer contains a certain amount of minerals that can seriously benefit the health of your plants and grass, as follows:

• Nitrogen: facilitates the formation of proteins in plants and stimulates the growth of stem and leaves;
• Phosphorus: helps soil breathe and provides an energy boost
• Calcium: determines the growth and resistance of plants
• Potassium: confers firmness to the plant and allows it form strong, resistant roots
• Sulfur: stimulates the formation of organic compounds and vitamins needed for plants’ growth.

“Up, down all around” is a simple phrase that is an easy way to remember the primary nutrients your plants require to achieve successful growth:

• Nitrogen for vegetative growth like plant leaves or grass (Up).
• Phosphorus for root development (Down).
• Potassium for everything (All Around).

How Fertilizer Helps Plants

Besides the valuable nutrients an organic fertilizer can add to the soil, there are numerous other benefits it can bring to your grass and plants:

• When organic fertilizers break down, they improve the soil structure and its ability to retain water and nutrients.
• There is no risk of toxic accumulation of chemicals and salts that can seriously harm your grass and plants, as in the case of all chemical fertilizers.
• The materials used to create organic lawn fertilizers are biodegradable and recyclable.
• Organic fertilizers stimulate the natural development of plants and help them become more resistant to diseases and pests.

What to Use: Liquid or Dry Fertilizer?

When you use organic fertilizer, you should choose the right one for the plants you want to nourish. Thus, fertilizers can be either liquid or solid, and there are specific rules you should take into consideration for both:

1. Organic Liquid Fertilizer
   Liquid fertilizers are obtained from soluble fertilizers and are distributed chiefly through the watering system. The great advantage is that distributed in this way. The fertilizers do not come in direct contact with the soil’s substrate. It maintains its pH level and salt concentration. The main disadvantage is the temperature of the air conditions the use. At temperatures above 25 degrees, liquid organic lawn fertilizer absorption is reduced. The wind also has a negative impact, causing organic fertilizer to be distributed unevenly.
2. Organic Solid Fertilizer
   Slow dissolving solid fertilizers can be found in the form of granules. They will enter the soil’s substrate directly. Using a solid organic lawn fertilizer reduces salt concentration in the substrate and increases the nutrients’ use efficiency. Once applied, they provide nutrition for an extended period, from four months to one year and a half. Their disadvantages are also related to temperature fluctuations. High temperatures will cause an acceleration of the release of nutritional elements. It can lead to root burning, but periodic soil analyzes can help to avoid it.

Types of Organic Fertilizers

You can obtain the best organic fertilizer for your plants in numerous ways. Most of them are popular and represent the first choice of experienced gardeners and beginners. So let’s address some of the lesser-known organic fertilizers that you can quickly get your hands on:

1. Organic Green Fertilizers

   A natural method of improving soil quality is crop rotation. Some plants, especially vegetables, release organic fertilizer nutrients into the soil during their growth. Others behave like mulch and benefit the other cultures around them. Peas, soy, clover, rapeseed, mustard, and rye are among the most edible plants. But it would be best if you were careful, as each plant has its own rules on whether it can develop adequately or not. Take, for example, pepper, which successfully grows when planted after beans, but never after potatoes.

2. Homemade Kitchen Organic Fertilizers

   The first items on the list are banana peels or eggshells. The potassium from the banana peels and the eggshells create a highly efficient organic fertilizer, especially for tomato seedlings. Then there’s coffee beans and tea. Both are good for plants that grow in acidic soil, such as tomatoes, blueberries, roses, and azaleas.

3. Crushed Tree Bark

   Crushed tree bark is excellent for fertilization and protecting plants and soil. Before adding crushed tree bark, the soil should be raked, and all weeds should be removed. Once the ground is ready and clean, you can add a thick layer of tree bark after crushing it into tiny pieces. The result mustn’t contain too many significant wood residues because they will retain the nitrogen needed for soil.

4. Fish Emulsion Fertilizer

   Fish emulsion, or fish fertilizer for plants, is a fast-acting, organic liquid fertilizer made from the byproducts of the fishing industry. Not only is fish fertilizer an organic option, but it is also made from fish parts that would otherwise be wasted. It contains plenty of nutrients for quick absorption by plants. Fish fertilizer for plants is a mild, all-purpose feeding option that can be used anytime. I use fish fertilizer on my seedlings for my garden, my houseplants, and our lawn to help the grass grow in the areas where the dogs play. I buy Alaska Fish Fertilizer. 

You must thoroughly document and research specifics for your plants and lawn. Only then can you adapt the process and come up with the best fertilizer according to the needs of each species, the age of plants, season, and, of course, soil.

Author’s Bio

Archie was a builder for more than 40 years. Mainly after his retirement, he enthusiastically works in the garden and writes for a blog Homemakerguide.com to keep himself occupied. His many years of experience can get you the right tool reviews, whether a drill, welding machine, or so. An impressive fact to note about him is that almost everything in his house represents his skills made by his hands.