How to Fertilize With Sea Salt
Sea salt contains up to 90 minerals that plants need to grow healthy and strong. When used in moderation, sea salt can be an effective and inexpensive organic fertilizer. Sea salt is beneficial to a variety of plant types including flowers, trees, lawns, vegetables and more. Roses especially appreciate the occasional sea salt application and will reward your efforts with plenty of healthy, vigorous growth. Fertilizing with sea salt is a simple way to revitalize the plants in your indoor or outdoor landscape. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sea salt
- Tiller
- Spreader
- Sprinkler or sprinkler system
- Garden hose, (drip, soaker or bubbler)
- Sprayer, hand-held
Instructions
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Use sea salt to enrich the soil in your garden before planting. Scatter one cup of sea salt per every 100 square feet of garden space. Till the sea salt into the top 12 inches of soil. Generously water the soil to dilute the sea salt.
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Fertilize your lawn with sea salt. Apply three pounds of sea salt for every 1,500 square feet of grass. Use a spreader to distribute the sea salt to ensure even coverage. A spreader is a piece of garden equipment, similar in appearance to a wheelbarrow, that evenly distributes the fertilizer as it is wheeled over your lawn. Slow-water your lawn with a sprinkler or sprinkler system for at least 15 minutes, but no longer than a half an hour.
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Nourish your trees with an application of sea salt once every four months. Sprinkle the sea salt over the roots of your trees, using 2 tbsp. per every 8 square feet. Slow-water the trees with a drip, soaker or bubbler hose for 20 minutes to dilute the sea salt.
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Keep your flowers healthy and beautiful with a monthly application of sea salt. Sprinkle a half cup of sea salt around the flowers in your flower bed. Keep the sea salt at least 3 inches away from the base of your plants. Water in the sea salt application to avoid over-fertilizing your flowers.
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Encourage healthy growth in garden vegetables with an application of sea salt every two weeks. Mix 3 tbsp. sea salt with 1 gallon water. Apply the sea salt solution to your vegetable garden with a hand-held garden sprayer.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a high quality sea salt that contains at least 80 minerals. In 2010, a 10 lb.-bag of suitable sea salt can be purchased from your local garden center or nursery for under $20.
Sea salt can also be used to fertilize houseplants. Mix 2 tbsp. sea salt with 1 gallon water. Water your houseplants with the sea salt solution once per month. The sea salt solution can be stored in a cool place for up to three months.
Always water outdoor plants after applying the sea salt to dilute the sodium chloride it contains. While sodium chloride is beneficial to your plants in moderation, too much can cause slowed growth and yellowing foliage.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit fleur de sel, white sea salt crystal, white background image by Oliver Mohr from Fotolia.com
