Garden Medley

Getting your garden off to a good start requires fertile soil. However, the demands of your garden year after year mean that fertilizer is a must.

My personal favorite source of fertilizer is the compost heap. Everything that goes into your compost heap is something that could have ended up in the trash. Then you add in the fact that you don’t have to buy the compost and you have a great deal.

However, other fertilizers can be necessary for other reasons. You may not have a compost heap, may have started it too recently or you need something in your soil that compost can’t provide.

Manure makes a great fertilizer when used correctly. It can cause problems when used incorrectly. It can also contain many weed seeds, a major issue for most gardeners… and then there’s the stench and the flies that are attracted if you use raw manure.

To use fresh or raw manure, you need to mix it with soil. By itself it will keep your seeds from germinating well. However it is a relatively cheap option.

Composted manure can be used at any point, and you also have the option of dehydrated manure.

Bone meal is useful when your soil needs more phosphorus. Adding bone meal helps growth and does not burn seeds, so you can add it immediately. It’s great for potted vegetables as well. It is relatively expensive.

On the other hand, if you can wait a long time for the phosphorus to be added to the soil, granite dust is an option. It takes around 4 years to break down, so there is something of a wait for the benefit, but if you’re looking at the long term this can be a good thing. When buying granite dust make sure it is for the garden, as some kinds can contain aluminum, which is bad for your soil. Phosphate rock is another good option.

If you have acid soil or need both phosphorus and potassium, wood ashes are a great option. Ashes are alkaline, so they help to neutralize acid soil. They contain very little nitrogen, however.

Finally, consider a green manure. Plant alfalfa, clover, buckwheat or fenugreek, depending on your needs. Their roots help to fix the nitrogen in the soil. The timing for planting these depends on which variety you are using. Some can be planted in the fall and cut down in the spring, while others have a shorter growing period. Plow them under three weeks before you would like to plant your regular garden.

A good fertilizer works wonders for your garden. You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your garden grow beautifully.

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