Organic fertilizers provide a safe and natural way to keep your lawn healthy, lush, and green. There are many kinds of organic fertilizers available, but once you know your soil’s specific needs, it will not be difficult to choose a fertilizer for your lawn.
You can evaluate the condition of your lawn by having a soil test done. Soil test reports will reveal nutrient deficiencies and advise you on how many pounds of specific nutrients will be needed to correct the problem. After reviewing the report, you will be able to choose the organic fertilizer that will enrich your soil and replenish needed minerals. The most common organic fertilizers are blood meal, bone meal, fish meal, cottonseed meal, rock phosphate, limestone, elemental sulfur, and humic shale.
Blood meal: If your lawn’s soil needs more nitrogen, blood meal can be added sparingly to replenish the nitrogen loss. Blood meal is a commodity of the slaughterhouse and is composed of dried and ground blood. Water the blood meal into the soil after you apply it. The first application should last a few months. Blood meal is very effective in restoring the nitrogen level to your lawn but it is also expensive when compared to other nitrogen fertilizers.
Bone meal: Steamed bone meal is composed of ground animal bones, which are steamed to break down the particles. This organic fertilizer is a rich source of nutrition and promotes the cellular development of grass and other plants. It is also essential for root development and provides phosphorus for the soil.
Fish meal: If you want to give your lawn a jump-start in the early spring, apply fish meal fertilizer to the soil. Fish meal is the left over fish scraps that have been dried and ground. It contains nitrogen and many of the minerals needed to stimulate plant growth. Once it is applied to the soil, its effect lasts many months.
Cottonseed meal: After cottonseed oil is pressed, the discarded waste is called cottonseed meal. Sometimes it is difficult to find pure cottonseed meal because cotton is usually sprayed with a lot of pesticides. It will therefore be necessary to ensure that the cottonseed meal you purchase is pesticide-free and verified organic. Cottonseed adds nitrogen to the soil and produces quick greening lawns.
Rock phosphate: If your lawn tests low in phosphorus, an application of rock phosphate will eliminate the deficiency. Rock phosphate is produced by an extraction process, and is derived from the mined skeletal remains of ancient animals. Rock phosphate works best with acid soils. After it is applied, phosphorus is released slowly into the soil. It is more economical to use than other phosphorus fertilizers.
Limestone: A slow-growing lawn with a pale green color is usually deficient in calcium. The fertilizers used to correct this problem are limestone or seashells, i.e., oyster shells. Dolomitic limestone is used to correct both magnesium and calcium deficiencies, while calcitic limestone and oyster shells supply mainly calcium. Both limestone and oyster shells are usually applied with a garden spreader or broadcasted over the lawn by hand.
Elemental sulfur: Lawns that are colored with a yellow tinge usually need elemental sulfur. It is a naturally occurring mined mineral, which works rapidly to correct sulfur deficiencies, and lowers soil pH. Elemental sulfur should be applied sparingly in the fall. Too much elemental sulfur can give the soil a black color.
Humic shale: When compacted, decayed plant remains decompose to a rich, black, spongy material, it is called humus. The humus is converted into a product called humic shale and is rich in nutrients including trace minerals. When humic shale is applied to a mineral-deficient lawn it restores lost nutrients and builds the soil. Humic shale also reduces watering during periods of drought because it helps keep water near the roots. Since humic shale is both a soil builder and conditioner it is an asset to all soil types. For example, an application of humic shale will increase oxygen flow in compacted clay soils and hold water in sandy soils.
Organic fertilizers can be applied as liquids, pellets or granules. Remember to wear gloves and comply with manufacturer instructions whenever you apply fertilizers. Using organic fertilizers instead of intoxicating synthetic products will provide protection for you, your family, and your pets. You will also have the satisfaction of having an attractive chemical-free lawn.
