How to Use Organic Fertilizer

Organic fertilizer is a popular alternative to synthetic fertilizers primarily because it's natural, adds nutrient-rich matter to the soil, and improves the structure of the soil. The organic matter that makes up organic fertilizer feeds microorganisms contained in the soil, which in turn converts the organic matter into fertile compost. Another benefit of using organic fertilizer is the natural, slow process of decomposition; organic fertilizer maintains compositional balance within the soil, which is better for all plant life.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• organic fertilizer hand shovel shovel garden tractor or lawn mower distributor for lawn

How to Use Organic Fertilizer

1. Apply organic fertilizer to flower beds early in the spring and in the fall. Due to organic fertilizer's slow decomposition, nutrients are not immediately available to plants. Unlike with synthetic fertilizers, you don't have to worry about over-fertilizing or measuring for proper application, because the ingredients are all-natural.

2. Reapply organic fertilizer to flower beds once every three or four weeks during the growing season. Growing plants and those preparing for bloom are hungry for nourishment essential for productive and plentiful growth.

3. Using a tiller or equivalent garden tool, work a generous amount of organic fertilizer into the vegetable garden after the last harvest is complete and allow the garden to "rest" during the winter.

4. Apply organic fertilizer to the vegetable garden again four to six weeks prior to spring planting and continue to "top-dress" throughout the growing season by adding a small amount of organic fertilizer every other week until the final harvest.

5. Using a shovel, scatter organic fertilizer around trees and shrubs in the fall, and again in the spring to allow root absorption of the nutrients. Reapply once a month when new growth is observed..

6. Using a garden tractor or lawn mower, rent a distributor to add organic fertilizer to a lawn in the early spring and again in the fall.

Tips & Warnings

• The absence of weeds and slow plant growth could be an indication that the balance of your soil has become unstable and could benefit from organic fertilizer.

References

• Bob Vila on Organic Fertilizer
• ExtremelyGreen.com

Resources

• The-Organic-Gardener.com