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