There was a time when people gardened because garden supplies were much better and cheaper than anything from the market. Humans used their compost and homemade fertilizers back in time.

Yet some are sure that to have a perfect safe garden, you have to invest a bunch of money. This perception was born of the fact that most individuals had backyards filled with very weak soil.

The causes for this are complex—a discussion for another day. It is enough to assume that the plants would also be weak if the soil is poor. And so it implies that weak plants have a low yield, resulting in more money and time being invested on a limited amount of vegetables of low quality.

This suggests that your soil needs to be enriched. Since most people at home don’t make their own compost, they have to buy fertilizer. Plant fertilizers sold locally often contain chemicals that can damage your crop and are not eco friendly.

Furthermore, fertilizer can be a little costly, and this is most likely why the misconception persists that home gardens are expensive. You don’t have to invest a bunch of cash. Believe it or not, you’re stuffed with fertilizer.

Make Your Homemade Fertilizers

It’s simple and fun to make your own organic fertilizer. It should be noted that most people recognize that using compost to amend the soil is the only way to get healthy garden soil; that is true, of course. From leftover organic waste and yard waste, compost can be made at home,

For a good home vegetable crop, composting can be all one needs. However, if the soil is still low in nutrients or you are growing a more demanding vegetable, it might be beneficial to increase it with another form of fertilizer. So why waste good money on store-bought fertilizer when, with a little knowledge, you can make it yourself? This article is all about how you can make your own fertilizers at home.

Nourishing Nutrients For Plants

Healthy soil is the secret to a good garden. The soil contains many of the essential nutrients that plants need to survive. Macronutrients are classified as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and to a lesser degree, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur: these are the nutrients most required by plants. Also, some of the most deficient soil out there will supply the remaining micronutrients in smaller quantities.

While it may not be the most fascinating of gardening subjects, nothing is more critical than getting a clear understanding of fertilizer. Understanding a little bit of fertilizer information will go a long way to helping your garden grow nice, healthy plants on a small investment.

Organic Fertilizers vs. Synthetic Fertilizers

All fertilizers fall into one of two main categories: chemical/synthetic or organic/natural. Chemical/synthetic fertilizers are produced using synthetic substances that typically contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in highly concentrated forms.

Since they feed the plants directly, these fertilizers work quickly. But they do come with a drawback; they do not strengthen the soil itself and can even kill the beneficial microbes required for healthy soil over a period. When you continuously use large amounts of this inorganic material, the by-products will eventually build up in the soil and may impede crop production.

To provide nitrogen, organic fertilizers often use alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal, or fish emulsion; bone meal or rock phosphate to provide phosphorus; and potassium-providing kelp meal or granite meal.

The disadvantage is that they function far slower, first dissolving into the soil that can be absorbed more readily by the plant roots, then finding their way up the plant roots to your starving plants.

In other words, natural fertilizers do not directly feed the plants but rather bring vital nutrients to the soil where, over time, they become accessible to the plants.

Understanding The N-P-K Basics

Although good fertilizer also contains many essential micronutrients, knowing the “big 3,” the N-P-K, is the secret to producing your own potent fertilizer at home. N is for nitrogen, P is for phosphorus, and K is for potassium. All have significant roles to play in your garden’s wellbeing.

Nitrogen is the most commonly used nutrient to grow plants large and lush. If you analyze the N-P-K content of commercial goods that claim “miracle growth,” you will see that there is no actual miracle at all. The incredible growth is due to a balanced yet high N-P-K ratio with high nitrogen levels in the formula.

To develop robust, healthy root systems and to encourage abundant flowering, phosphorus is required. Usually, industrial “blooming” formulas are high in phosphorus.

Potassium helps with crop growth, production of proteins, plant sturdiness, resistance to diseases, resistance to insects, and efficient water use. Plants without adequate potassium are slow-growing and may have yellow foliage.

Easy Homemade Fertilizer Recipes

These are some fertilizer recipes that you can use:

Simple Tea Fertilizer

For centuries, this easy recipe has been used. For a fast and cheap dose of nutrients for your plants, give it a try in your garden.

Instructions

>   Mix 1/4 cup of Epsom salt, 2 cups of urine, and 2 cups of wood ash in a 5-gallon bucket.

>   Fill the remaining bucket with lawn clippings, trimmed leaves, or even green weeds picked straight from the field.

>   Fill the bucket with water to the top and give three days for the mix to steep.

>   Strain the tea or decant into empty milk jugs or old bottles after steeping.

>   Dilute 50 percent before use by adding half water and half tea into your favorite watering can.

>   Apply this incredible mix by pouring it directly onto the soil around your plants.

Fish Emulsion Fertilizer

Fish emulsion is a homemade fertilizer made from fish waste, such as pieces of fish, guts, and water. Also, this all-purpose organic fertilizer has been there for hundreds of years. It works well, but it takes weeks to prepare, and before you can use it, the mixture must have time to rot. There is a bad smell here: it is, after all, made from rotting fish.

Instructions

>   Fill a 55-gallon drum about one-third full with a ratio of 2 parts water and 1 part fish waste to begin the operation.

>   Give 24 hours to steep this mixture.

>   Upon dipping, add more water to the drum until it is full.

>   Cover loosely and permit the fermentation of the drum for several weeks, generally for about three weeks.

>   Apply the fish emulsion fertilizer at a rate of 3 gallons of liquid per 100 square feet of yard or garden to the soil around your plants for use.

Seaweed Fertilizer

Another fertilizer with a pedigree of hundreds of years. Seaweed is not only an all-purpose organic fertilizer, but it also has mannitol. Mannitol is a substance that increases the capacity of a plant to absorb soil nutrients. The fertilizer can be made using either fresh or dried seaweed. However, whether you use fresh seaweed or dried, salted seaweed, make sure it is washed before using it.

Instructions

>   In a 5 gallon bucket, add 8 cups of chopped seaweed and fill halfway with water. (Rainwater, if it is available, is always the best).

>   Cover the container loosely, and allow the seaweed to steep for about three weeks.

>   Strain the seaweed after steeping and transfer the liquid to a bucket to store it for up to 3 weeks.

>   Mix half water and half seaweed tea into your desired watering can to use and add it to the soil around your plants. Within just a few days, your plants will thank you for this.

Manure Tea Fertilizer

Manure tea improves the soil and provides nutrients that are much required for plant growth. The nutrients present in manure tea make it a perfect fertilizer or houseplants. The manure nutrients quickly dissolve in water to be added to a sprayer or used simply in a watering can. You can dump the remaining manure in the yard or reuse it in the compost pile.

However, to avoid burning the roots or foliage of plants, it is necessary to dilute the tea before using it. You can fill your watering can with the tea halfway and then fill it with water to the top. Use it in the growing season every three weeks or so.

Instructions

>   In a large burlap sack, place a shovel of well-aged manure.

>   In a 5 gallon bucket, suspend the manure-filled “tea bag” and add water to create a mixture of 5 parts water to 1 part manure.

>   Allow up to 2 weeks for this mixture to steep.

>   Remove the bag after steeping, leaving it to hang above the jar until the dripping has ended.

>   Skipping the tea bag and directly adding the manure to the water generally speeds up the process of brewing. You will need to strain it to remove the solids from the fluid once it has completely brewed.

Why choose Must Have Maintenance?

At Must Have Maintenance, we pride ourselves in providing our clients with the best and most comprehensive range of garden maintenance services. As Melbourne’s top-rated gardening company, we’ve worked hard to ensure our clients can enjoy a beautiful and healthy garden all year round.

Our seamless process allows you to quickly sign up for maintenance through our website. We’re always happy to have a chat and assist you with any questions or concerns you might have. Click here to speak to one of our friendly team members.

Request A Maintenance Quote

Fill in the form below or call us now on

1300 687 846

Feel free to attach some photos of your garden to help us with delivering the right solutions for you!

Click or drag a file to this area to upload.