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Fertilising your plants doesn’t have to be expensive. I’ll always remember there being so many varieties on the shelves at garden centres during visits with my Grandma and while there are many chemical fertilisers on the market, you’ll find that most if not all are completely unnecessary! There are many organic products that will do as good of a job without adding harm so be sure to check them out and save yourself some money!
Simple and Inexpensive Fertilisers
Probably the most obvious one to many but one that everyone tends to avoid entirely (for an obvious reason!) … manure! There is no getting away from the fact that it does an excellent job of restoring nutrients to your soil and you can actually purchase manure at many nurseries or garden centres. If you live in a rural area you may want to speak to a local farmer and see if you can get manure at a discount – or even free!
Composting is another excellent source of fertilisation of your plants & soil. You can purchase compost again from garden centres or you can create your own compost pile. Making your own will allow you to also recycle some wastes and actually use them for a purpose!
Did you know that compost is actually a mixture of organic materials that are broken down and then can be used in the soil as fertilizer? The finished compost will be rich in color and will be an incredible addition to your garden.. you’ll never want to use anything else!
How do you make a compost pile?
It’s actually quite simple. All you need to start with is some sort of container. Many people make their own using plywood – you can even use wooden pallets tied together. You’ll just need a large container.
You need to make sure your container has holes for aeration and that you have space around it to ensure
- Dried leaves
- Vegetable scraps
- Fruit scraps
- Spoiled fruits and vegetables
- Eggshells
- Coffee grounds
- Dead plant material
You could use your green food box (if you have one!). You’ll want to avoid any type of animal products such as meat or milk though as these will cause your compost to develop harmful bacteria. Once you combine materials, you’ll just need to add water. Your compost pile should always be a little damp.
As I’ve already touched on you’ll need to turn the compost as often as possible. The more often you turn it, the faster the materials you put in will decompose. It’s a good idea to turn it daily if you want
Compost piles will naturally have a lot of warmth because of the biological processes occurring inside. If you’re having trouble getting your compost to break down, it’s totally ok to add some existing compost to get the good bacteria started.
Rotating your crops can also help keep the soil you’re using, fertilised. There are many plants that complement each other. For example, planting peas and carrots near one another will help them both to thrive.
Be sure to not plant the same crop in the same spot every time. Look for guides on crop rotation to make sure you’re getting the most out of the process. This is one of the oldest and simplest forms of sustaining the land and fertilising you plants!
Feel free to PIN to read again later!
