Natural Fertilizers For Garden
If you want to increase the quality of the soil in your garden and provide better nutrients to the plants grown therein, making use of fertilizers is a good option. However, as far as possible, you should avoid the chemical fertilizers available in the market, mainly because of the reason that they comprises of lots of chemicals. In fact, natural fertilizers are the perfect option in such a scenario and you should stick to them to the extent possible. In case you want to know more about the best natural fertilizers for your garden, the information given below is sure to prove useful.
Natural Fertilizers For Plants
Grass Clippings/Mulch
One of the most common natural fertilizers, grass clipping/ mulch is used to provide your garden plants with the much-needed nutrients. The best option would be to apply the clipping/mulch directly to the garden beds. However, before using this fertilizer, make sure that the clippings are not moist or too green. Otherwise, it might lead to creation of ammonia in the soil, while decomposing, and make it acidic.
In order to make sure that the soil does not turn acidic after using them, you can spread out the grass clippings on ground, under the direct rays of the sun, for a day or two. The other option will be to dig them into the soil to separate them. You should always make sure not to mulch the soil too much. Apart from the grass clippings, you can use the raked-up leaves and other small organic material from the yard, for mulching purposes.
Animal Manure
The manure of animals, be it horse, cow or chicken, can serve as an excellent natural fertilizer for you garden. The best way to use manure is to dig it into the soil, so as to conserve nitrogen. If the manure is left on the surface of the soil, it might end up losing majority of the nutrients, thus defeating the very purpose of its usage. At the same time, make sure that you do not use fresh manure near the roots of young plants. You also need to remember that if you use manure; all the chemicals in the diet of the animal will also go into the soil.
Wood Ash & Coffee Grinds/Cold Coffee
If, by any chance, you have a combustion stove or an open fireplace in your house, do not throw away the ash generated by burning wood. Rather, you can spread a thin layer of the ashes in the garden, digging in wherever it is possible. Wood ashes provide potassium, phosphate and other trace elements to the plants. While coffee grounds can be used directly in your lawn, by sprinkling it near the plants and digging them in a bit, cold coffee serves as the perfect natural liquid fertilizer.
Seaweed
Though relatively uncommon, seaweed proves to be very useful as a natural fertilizer. All you have to do is, go to the beach and pick the seaweed that gets washed up to the shore. Now, wash the weeds, so as to remove the salt and apply them directly to the soil. Whole seaweed has been known to not only capture water, but also bind soil, mainly because of its gelatinous nature. If it is not possible for you to get whole seaweed, you can also opt for its liquid extract, available in most of the gardening centers and nurseries.
Compost/ Vermicompost
Almost everyone who is interested in gardening is aware of the fact that compost/ vermicompost comprises of one of the best natural fertilizers for the plants. Setting up a compost bin and worm farm not only helps minimize the garbage for landfill sites, but also proves beneficial for your garden. If and when it is possible, use compost/ vericompost for your garden. It will be great for the health of all the plants grown therein.
Natural Fertilizers For Plants
Grass Clippings/Mulch
One of the most common natural fertilizers, grass clipping/ mulch is used to provide your garden plants with the much-needed nutrients. The best option would be to apply the clipping/mulch directly to the garden beds. However, before using this fertilizer, make sure that the clippings are not moist or too green. Otherwise, it might lead to creation of ammonia in the soil, while decomposing, and make it acidic.
In order to make sure that the soil does not turn acidic after using them, you can spread out the grass clippings on ground, under the direct rays of the sun, for a day or two. The other option will be to dig them into the soil to separate them. You should always make sure not to mulch the soil too much. Apart from the grass clippings, you can use the raked-up leaves and other small organic material from the yard, for mulching purposes.
Animal Manure
The manure of animals, be it horse, cow or chicken, can serve as an excellent natural fertilizer for you garden. The best way to use manure is to dig it into the soil, so as to conserve nitrogen. If the manure is left on the surface of the soil, it might end up losing majority of the nutrients, thus defeating the very purpose of its usage. At the same time, make sure that you do not use fresh manure near the roots of young plants. You also need to remember that if you use manure; all the chemicals in the diet of the animal will also go into the soil.
Wood Ash & Coffee Grinds/Cold Coffee
If, by any chance, you have a combustion stove or an open fireplace in your house, do not throw away the ash generated by burning wood. Rather, you can spread a thin layer of the ashes in the garden, digging in wherever it is possible. Wood ashes provide potassium, phosphate and other trace elements to the plants. While coffee grounds can be used directly in your lawn, by sprinkling it near the plants and digging them in a bit, cold coffee serves as the perfect natural liquid fertilizer.
Seaweed
Though relatively uncommon, seaweed proves to be very useful as a natural fertilizer. All you have to do is, go to the beach and pick the seaweed that gets washed up to the shore. Now, wash the weeds, so as to remove the salt and apply them directly to the soil. Whole seaweed has been known to not only capture water, but also bind soil, mainly because of its gelatinous nature. If it is not possible for you to get whole seaweed, you can also opt for its liquid extract, available in most of the gardening centers and nurseries.
Compost/ Vermicompost
Almost everyone who is interested in gardening is aware of the fact that compost/ vermicompost comprises of one of the best natural fertilizers for the plants. Setting up a compost bin and worm farm not only helps minimize the garbage for landfill sites, but also proves beneficial for your garden. If and when it is possible, use compost/ vericompost for your garden. It will be great for the health of all the plants grown therein.
