Fertilize Your Plants-Organically

First, why should you fertilize your plants? Proper nutrition for plants is important for the same reasons proper nutrition is important for you and I. Your plants will look healthier because they are healthier. Your plants will develop more roots.

As a result, they will be able to absorb more moisture making the plant more likely to make it through a drought. Disease resistance is improved. Stronger plants are also less susceptible to insects. But what fertilizer should you use? There are two types of fertilizer. The first is synthetic plant foods and the second is natural organic plant foods. We are going to concentrate on natural organic plant foods. An organic fertilizer is derived from any material that originates from animal, plant, or minerals that contains one or more essential nutrient required for plant growth. Regardless of the type of fertilizer all plant foods feed plants in the same chemical form. The big difference is the way in which natural organic plant foods deliver nutrients. With organic fertilizers you are feeding the soil that feeds your plants. Plants are dependant on the soil surrounding them. Organic plant foods are digested by microorganisms in the soil which in turn release nutrients in a form that is available to the plant. This process results in the production of humus. Humus provides better soil structure that improves air, water and nutrient uptake. The nutrients in organic fertilizers are not readily available to the plants until they are digested by the soil microorganisms. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, organic fertilizers are extremely low in salt index. This significantly reduces the likelihood of plant burn during a drought or if over applied. Also unlike synthetic fertilizers natural organic plant foods are very resistant to leaching from the soil. And since most organic plant foods are derived from organic ingredients as a result of byproducts it is just like recycling. Secondary, trace elements, vitamins, minerals and plant hormones are also beneficial ingredients found in organic plant foods. Examples of organic ingredients are bone meal, blood meal and kelp meal. Natural organics are the primary source of nutrition in the Tone product line by Espoma found at your local garden center

This article was contributed by Shane Holderer of Landscape Plus LLC

Shane Holderer
Landscape Plus LLC
4734 Applebutter Road
Pipersville, Pa. 18947
215-646-1235
Landscape Plus LLC