In a humus-rich garden soil, billions of busy microorganisms mobilize the nutrients contained therein, so that your vegetable and ornamental plants thrive magnificently. Fertilizers only compensate for the shortage when the subsequent delivery from this process comes to a standstill. Organic fertilizers are very popular in the naturally cultivated home garden, because nobody likes to expose their health to the imponderables of chemical mineral fertilizers. This guide gets to the heart of how to fertilize your garden properly according to ecological principles.

Compost is a good fertilizer for the garden

Soil analysis provides information about nutrient requirements

Symptoms of deficiencies in plants or the lawn are merely an indication that the ecological balance of the soil has become imbalanced. This can be either an oversupply or an undersupply of nutrients. By taking soil samples from 5 to 10 places at 3-year intervals and having them analyzed in a special laboratory, you can be sure whether and in what form you should fertilize.

Properly fertilize with compost - this is how it works

In the course of the vegetation phase, there is a lot of activity among the soil organisms in the garden soil. Nutrients in the soil must be processed by microorganisms so that they are available for your plants. By fertilizing organically at this time, you feed the busy helpers in the soil so they don't run out of breath at peak times. The ideal food for worms, insects, bacteria and colleagues is compost. Fertilizing correctly with this all-purpose weapon is very easy:

  • Dig up the soil in autumn and work in 5 liters of compost per square meter
  • Spread mature compost on the ground from March to August
  • Lightly work in 3 to 5 liters per square meter with a rake
  • Then shower with water or nettle manure

You don't have to manage your own compost heap. You can purchase ready-made compost from specialist retailers or bagged at your local composting facility.

Organic fertilizers for the home garden - a brief overview

In addition to garden compost, you have other options for an ecological nutrient supply. The following list introduces you to proven natural fertilizers:

  • Horn shavings: (32.93€) rich in nitrogen, ideal as a supplement to compost with 100 to 300 grams per square meter
  • Cover crops: sow in the fall, mow and dig in in the spring
  • Horse manure and manure: valuable, natural nitrogen suppliers as an alternative to compost

Plants in tubs do not have to do without the advantages of organic fertilizers. Homemade liquid manure made from nettle and comfrey leaves is easy to administer thanks to its liquid form. Dilute the slurry with water at a ratio of 1:10 and apply the solution directly to the substrate every 2 to 3 weeks from March to August.

tips

With every sack of peat-containing potting soil that you leave lying around in the garden center, you are making a valuable contribution to preserving our nature. For more than 60 years, the misconception that peat is a miracle cure as a soil additive has persisted. Since then, more than 90 percent of irretrievable moorland has been destroyed. In fact, you keep the growth of your plants in the vegetable and perennial garden better going with renewable peat substitutes such as coconut fibres, wood fibers or bark humus.

Category:

Garden design