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Gardening with Organic Fertilizers |
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Written by Kenneth Scott
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Why should you use organic fertilizers in your garden? Simply
because they are good for your plants and good for the
environment. Nearly 70 percent of water pollution comes from
agricultural areas that use chemical fertilizers, according to
the EPA. These chemicals leach into the water and cause soil
erosion. While large-scale farming operations are a chief source
of chemical fertilizers in water, home gardeners are also guilty
of such pollution. However, many growers are attempting to
correct their mistakes by using organic growing methods.
Organic fertilizers are those that use organic soil amendments
to raise the nutrient content and improve the soil
characteristics of a garden. The addition of decomposing organic
materials in an organic garden provides a natural fertilizer,
supplying plants with the nutrients they need for optimal
growth. These fertilizers also improve the nature of your garden
soil, not matter what type you have. If your garden has clay
soil, organic fertilizers preserve its tilth, which prevents it
from clumping together. Organic fertilizers are also an
excellent means of holding water in the soil. This is a boon if
you have sandy soil in your garden. Fertilizers made of organic
materials have properties that make micro-nutrients like iron
and zinc available to your garden plants.
Plants need three important nutrients in order to grow:
nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous. All three of these are
found in organic fertilizers. One organic material - manure, for
example, does not have all three of these nutrients, however.
Therefore, most organic fertilizer suppliers combine and mix
different materials to ensure an appropriate mix. Alfalfa meal
is a green manure favored by gardeners who grow roses. It is a
good source of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, and it also
contains Triacontanol. This is a hormone that helps to regulate
the growth of your plants. Blood meal is another good organic
fertilizer. It is an excellent source of readily available
organic nitrogen. Bone meal is a good source of calcium and
long-lasting phosphorous. These two materials can be blended
together for better results. Kelp meal has a high potassium
content, but it has no phosphorous. This organic fertilizer must
be used together with bone meal to make up for its lack of
phosphorous.
It is important the gardeners check the exact composition of any
organic fertilizer they buy, since they can contain a number of
micro-nutrients and lack others
About the Author:
Discover more articles and information about gardening and
fertilizers here: Environment Advice
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