Seaweed Fertilizer: It’s Not a New Thing
Fertilizer has been important to farmers and gardeners as long as they’ve been cultivating the fields. In the search for ways to improve the quality and quantity of the crop, countless types of fertilizers have been tried. Some have been more successful than others. As strange as it may seem, seaweed fertilizer is among the most valued ways to improve soil quality.
For centuries, coastal regions around the world have relied on seaweed fertilizer. In England, in the Channel Islands, there is actually a trade specifically dedicated to harvesting and drying seaweed. Then it’s used for a variety of products, including garden fertilizer.
In Ireland, seaweed also enjoyed popularity as a fertilizer. Farmers would lift the soil in rows, lay down seaweed and then replace the soil. It’s lost some of its popularity today, but it was commonly used for growing potatoes back then. Even today, the coastal industries of Ireland harvest huge quantities of seaweed and kelp.
Seaweed is a remarkably effective way to improve the soil quality of a garden. The reason behind this is that the large bodies of water that are home to seaweed contain every element known to mankind. These elements become part of the seaweed as well, and are then passed along to the benefit of your garden soil.
Seaweed fertilizers are a popular choice among conscientious gardeners. This is because it’s an all-natural plant based product which can be added to the soil along with other organic kinds of fertilizer. It doesn’t carry the stigma of many of the commercial products that are full of chemicals. These products frequently contain dubious ingredients. And the manufacturing process is associated with high levels of pollution.
Seaweed fertilizer can be added directly to the soil, just like mulch. Place it around and in between the plants. You’ll find that it breaks down very rapidly.
It can also be added to your compost bin. It will assist in the decomposition process and will add valuable nutrients. You can also make it into a tea, either using the liquid or powder forms. Then you gently spray the mixture on the leaves, thereby providing them with a readily available source of nutrition.
Seaweed has a long and fruitful history in gardens throughout the world. If you live near the sea, you might be lucky enough to pick it up on a nearby beach. But for the rest of us, a visit to the local garden center is almost as easy. Check the shelves for various kinds of seaweed fertilizer, including kelp meal. Since you’re there, try to get some advice on how to use it for maximum effect in your garden.
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