Natural Yard Fertilizer
Natural yard and lawn fertilizers are available as store-bought products or are home-made. According to guarding-our-earth.com, many people do not realize the harmful effects that chemical-based fertilizers can have on their lawn, pets and groundwater. Chemical based fertilizers kill beneficial organisms and microbes, which soil naturally contains. Does this Spark an idea?
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Benefits
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Natural yard fertilizer is insoluble to water, which provides a slow release of nutrients over time. This slow release does not cause rapid growth spurts, allowing the plant to maintain its carbohydrate reserves. Natural fertilizers do not cause the pH of the soil to change as chemical fertilizers do; as a result earthworms and microorganisms remain unharmed. According to organiclawnfertilizer.org, natural yard fertilizer allows the root system of the plant to remain strong, increasing longevity.
Products
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Products that can be purchased from a nursery include seaweed, fish emulsion, and crab shell. Fish emulsion, made of fish parts, provides rich trace elements vital for healthy growth in plants. Crab shell, a multi-purpose natural fertilizer, adds nutrients to the soil and also aids in pest control. Seaweed extract, containing more than sixty nutrients and amino acids, will help plant growth and also aid flower blooming.
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Homemade
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Compost, often referred to as "black gold" amongst gardeners, is a rich mixture of composed plant products that can be made from home. Compost bins, sold at nurseries, collect kitchen waste and plant products allowing them to break down over time. After a period of approximately six months, the waste will be a rich soil that is added to existing soil as fertilizer. Compost does not contain the protein which plants require; as such an additional fertilizer will be required for optimum plant growth.
Soil
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Before applying natural fertilizer, the soil must be tilled. Tilling turns the soil, breaking up the hard top layer and mixing it with the soft soil beneath. The turned soil allows the fertilizer to mix in during application; creating fertile soil for the plant to grow in. Without this process, the fertilizer rests atop the soil while the roots reach for nutrients beneath it.
Application
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A layer of natural fertilizer should be spread evenly over tilled soil, after which it should be tilled once more to create true fertile soil. Once mixed, a second layer of the natural fertilizer should be applied before the seeds are planted. If the fertilizer is being applied to an existing lawn, application should be followed with a thorough watering.
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References
- Photo Credit lawn image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com
