Organic gardening plays a critical role in both our physical wellbeing and the environment’s health. There’s a variety of all-natural fertilizers you can use in your garden or with potting soil. Best of all, you can make some of these fertilizers at home with everyday household items from your backyard or pantry.
Stay tuned to learn more about the benefits of DIY fertilizer.
Healthy Plants Sprout from Healthy Soil
Well-fed plants blossom faster and healthier than those without fertilizer. Since most people don’t make fertilizer, they resort to buying it at the store. Although this is convenient, store-bought ones typically contain chemicals that are harmful to your crops, and they’re not environmentally friendly.
Furthermore, fertilizer can be pricey, and you shouldn’t have to spend a lot of money when you can make your own. In today’s blog, we’ll teach you five ways to make fertilizer that won’t break the bank.
1. Grass Clippings
If you boast an organic lawn, you can collect your grass clippings to use as fertilizer. All you need is an inch of clippings to reap the benefits of a quality weed-blocking mulch. Moreover, it’s rich in nitrogen, which is an essential plant nutrient.
2. Kitchen Scraps
Give your kitchen and garden scraps a second life and use them as compost. Because compost releases nutrients slowly, your garden will be able to go approximately two years without fertilizer reapplication. Additionally, it helps soil retain moisture, which is crucial for vegetables to thrive during dry summers.
3. Tree Leaves
Instead of bagging your fall leaves and putting them out on your curb, you can collect them for your garden. Leaves contain trace minerals, so they attract earthworms, retain moisture, and make heavy soils lighter.
You can mix leaves into your potting soil, or use them as a mulch to keep weeds at bay and fertilize your plants.
4. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds make an excellent fertilizer because several types of plants, such as tomatoes, blueberries, and roses, thrive in acidic soil. You can sprinkle the used grounds over the surface of the soil, or you can pour a few tablespoons of coffee onto your plants. Soak up to five cups of used coffee grounds for up to a week to make garden coffee.
5. Eggshells
If you’ve ever used lime on your plants, you’re probably aware of its benefits. Lime can lower your soil’s acidity, which is ideal for plants that don’t need much acid. Furthermore, it provides them with calcium, which is an essential nutrient.
You can buy lime as an all-natural fertilizer at your local garden center, but if you’d rather save money, consider using eggshells as an alternative. Simply wash out your eggshells and crush them over your plants. It turns out; they’re 93% calcium carbonate, which is the scientific name for lime.
All Green Pest Control Can Help
Do you need a break from caring for your lawn? Although making fertilizer is feasible, you may not have the time to tend to your plants. All Green Pest Control specializes in lawn fertilization, and we’d love to help your lawn reach peak growth and performance. Contact us today for a free quote.