Organic Fertilizers & Natural Soil Amendments (Week 8)

Organic Fertilizers & Natural Soil Amendments (Week 8)

Hi everyone, it’s Mary from Will’s Garden! 🌿 Last week, we explored ways to improve soil drainage and aeration for healthier plants. Now that we’ve covered soil structure, let’s focus on feeding your garden with organic fertilizers and natural soil amendments!

Why Choose Organic Fertilizers? 🌱

Using organic fertilizers and soil amendments is the best way to nourish your plants while maintaining long-term soil health. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, which provide a quick nutrient boost but can harm soil microbes, organic options build fertility over time—improving soil structure, microbial life, and water retention.

The Benefits of Organic Fertilizers: ✅ Enrich soil with essential nutrients without synthetic chemicals
✅ Improve soil structure and encourage beneficial microbial activity
✅ Strengthen plant resilience against pests, diseases, and environmental stress
✅ Reduce nutrient leaching and minimize groundwater contamination
✅ Promote a sustainable and eco-friendly gardening approach

By incorporating organic fertilizers and amendments, your plants will thrive in a nutrient-rich, balanced environment. Let’s explore some of the best natural fertilizers and amendments for your garden!

Types of Organic Fertilizers & How to Use Them

1. Compost 🍂
A nutrient powerhouse that enhances soil structure and microbial life. Made from decomposed kitchen scraps, yard waste, and manure.
🌿 How to Use: Work finished compost into garden beds before planting or apply as a top dressing throughout the season.

2. Manure 💩
A rich source of nitrogen and organic matter that improves soil structure.
🔹 Best Types: Aged chicken, cow, horse, or rabbit manure.
🌿 How to Use: Compost manure before applying to prevent plant burn. Mix into soil in fall or early spring for best results.

3. Worm Castings (Vermicompost) 🪱
Packed with beneficial microbes and nutrients that boost plant growth, improve aeration, and enhance water retention.
🌿 How to Use: Mix into potting soil, garden beds, or brew into a compost tea for foliar feeding.

4. Fish Emulsion & Fish Meal 🐟
A quick-acting liquid or granular fertilizer rich in nitrogen and trace minerals.
🌿 How to Use: Dilute fish emulsion with water and apply every 2-3 weeks during the growing season. Fish meal can be mixed into soil before planting. Buy Organic Neptune's Harvest Fish & Seaweed Emulsion

5. Bone Meal & Blood Meal 🦴
🔹 Bone Meal: High in phosphorus—ideal for root and flower development.
🔹 Blood Meal: Nitrogen-rich—great for boosting leafy growth.
🌿 How to Use: Sprinkle around plants and lightly mix into the soil. Buy Down to Earth Blood Meal – Down to Earth offers a variety of soil amendments worth exploring!

6. Kelp & Seaweed Fertilizer 🌊
Packed with trace minerals, growth hormones, and beneficial enzymes to strengthen plants.
🌿 How to Use: Apply as a foliar spray or mix granules into the soil. Buy Organic Neptune's Harvest Fish & Seaweed Emulsion

Best Natural Soil Amendments for Long-Term Health

1. Rock Phosphate 🪨
Provides slow-release phosphorus to encourage strong root growth and flowering.
🌿 How to Use: Mix into soil at planting time for long-term benefits.

2. Greensand 🌿
Contains potassium and trace minerals to improve soil texture and nutrient availability.
🌿 How to Use: Sprinkle into garden beds for healthier plants. Buy Greensand on Amazon

3. Biochar 🔥
Enhances aeration, retains nutrients, and boosts microbial activity.
🌿 How I Use It: I soak biochar in worm casting compost tea before adding it to my soil. I’ve also used it in my chicken coop to absorb odors and keep bedding dry. After absorbing nutrients from manure, I spread the enriched biochar in my garden beds in winter, allowing it to break down and nourish the soil by summer. Buy Biochar on Amazon

4. Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) 🧪
Provides magnesium and sulfur to improve chlorophyll production and overall plant health.
🌿 How to Use: Dissolve in water for a foliar spray or mix into soil. Buy Agricultural Epsom Salt on Amazon

5. Wood Ash 🌲
A natural source of potassium and calcium that also helps balance soil pH.
🌿 How to Use: Sprinkle lightly in garden beds (avoid overuse in alkaline soils).

6. Mulch & Leaf Mold 🍃
Helps retain moisture, prevents compaction, and slowly adds nutrients to the soil.
🌿 How to Use: Apply a thick layer around plants for long-term soil improvement.

7. Homemade Compost & Red Worms 🪱
I raise red worms and collect compost for my garden. Once I have enough worm castings, I mix them into the soil for a natural nutrient boost. Raising worms is an excellent way to recycle food scraps while improving garden health! Buy Red Worms from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm

Bonus Tip: Test Your Soil Before You Amend! 🧪

Before adding fertilizers or amendments, it’s a great idea to test your soil so you’re not just guessing.

• For a fast and easy at-home option, try the Rapid Soil Test Kit to get results quickly.

• For more detailed lab results, the MySoil Test Kit includes everything you need to mail your sample to a lab—plus a prepaid envelope!

• And if you want to monitor your soil's moisture levels to avoid over- or under-watering, the Soil Moisture Meter gives you fast and accurate readings.

Testing your soil takes out the guesswork so your garden can thrive with exactly what it needs.

Building a Balanced Fertilizing Schedule 🗒️

For best results, use a combination of organic fertilizers throughout the growing season:
💚 Spring: Start with compost, worm castings, and a slow-release fertilizer like bone meal.
💚 Mid-Season: Boost plant growth with fish emulsion, compost tea, or seaweed extract.
💚 Fall: Replenish nutrients with compost, manure, and cover crops to prepare for next season.

Final Thoughts 🌍

By switching to organic fertilizers and natural amendments, you’re not just feeding your plants—you’re building a healthier, more sustainable garden.
💚 Nourish soil naturally for long-term fertility.
💚 Strengthen plants while reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals.
💚 Improve soil health by promoting beneficial microbes and organic matter.

Next Week: How to Start & Maintain a No-Dig Garden! 🌿🧰

In Week 9, we’ll explore the benefits of no-dig gardening, how to set up your garden using this method, and how it helps improve soil structure while reducing labor!

🌿 Happy Gardening!
Warmly,
Mary from Will’s Garden