Seaweed Fertilizer: It’s Not a New Thing
For as many years as people have engaged in agriculture, fertilizer has been an essential part of the process. In the search for ways to improve the quality and quantity of the crop, countless types of fertilizers have been tried. There are some that have proved to be more effective, however. One of the time honored ways to enhance the quality of your soil, strangely enough, is with seaweed fertilizer.
Seaweed fertilizer has been in use in coastal regions throughout the world for hundreds of years. There is even an industry that centers around the harvesting and drying of seaweed in the Channel Islands of England. Then it’s used for a variety of products, including garden fertilizer.
In Ireland, seaweed also enjoyed popularity as a fertilizer. The soil would be lifted up in rows, the seaweed laid down, and then the soil would be replaced. It’s lost some of its popularity today, but it was commonly used for growing potatoes back then. The coastal regions of Ireland continue to count seaweed and kelp as a major industry to this day.
You can make a big difference in the quality of your garden soil by using seaweed. This is because seaweed grows in seas and oceans, where all the elements that are known to exist can be found. These elements become part of the seaweed as well, and are then passed along to the benefit of your garden soil.
Environmentally conscious gardeners are particularly attracted to seaweed fertilizer. The reason for this is that it’s an organic product derived from plants, and can enhance the soil in cooperation with other forms of natural fertilizer. There’s no downside to it as there is with so many of the chemical laden commercial fertilizers. There are somewhat questionable ingredients contained in many of these products. As well, the production of these products releases a considerable amount of pollutants into the air.
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 add nutrients and help to break down the other ingredients in the mix. As well, both the powder and liquid forms can be made into a tea-like solution. Then you gently spray the mixture on the leaves, thereby providing them with a readily available source of nutrition.
The history of seaweed as a fertilizer goes back countless years, everywhere throughout the globe. If you live near the sea, you might be lucky enough to pick it up on a nearby beach. However, taking a trip to a nearby nursery is an option for just about everyone. Ask for kelp meal or other types of seaweed fertilizers. And while you’re there, ask them to give you some tips on how to add it to your garden to give it new life.