Best Organic Fertilizer
The best organic fertilizer is one that feeds the soil, not the plant. A healthy organic garden is based on a well-aerated soil that is teeming with life and organic matter. There are many fine organic products and soil amendments available, but there is nothing that fulfills these requirements quite so well as humble kitchen compost.
The Best Organic Fertilizer
In the University of Arizona's Master Gardener Journal, master gardener Mary Steenhoek explains that compost is the best organic fertilizer because it allows plants to take in nutrients at a natural rate. Plants are able to use resources as needed. Unlike harsher fertilizers, compost will not burn delicate plant structures with salt build-up or artificially hasten the growth process.
Compost has the added benefit of being a generalist fertilizer. Many organic fertilizers address specific nutrient needs. Blood meal, for example, is used to add nitrogen to the soil. Compost, typically made from a wide assortment of yard and kitchen scraps, is usually a well-rounded fertilizer that contains a balance of nutrients in addition to the microorganisms and organic matter necessary to keep soil healthy.
The Colorado State University Master Gardener Program's publication Using Compost cites the following benefits to using compost in your home garden:
- Nourishes soil microorganisms
- Enhances the food web of the soil ecosystem
- Releases nutrients gradually over the long term
- May suppress certain plant diseases that originate in the soil
The same source, however, cautions against using unfinished compost. Finished compost is dark and crumbly with a pleasant earthy smell. If there is any smell of ammonia to the compost, this indicates that the material is not finished decomposing, and is not yet suitable for use. Ammonia is an intermediary in the decomposition of organic matter, and can damage the fine structures of the roots.
Manure
In the absence of good compost, animal manure can be a beneficial source of nutrients, microorganisms, and organic matter to build up the soil structure and ecosystem. Manure is usually available in larger volume than compost, so may be preferable for large projects.
Most animal manures provide a wide range of soil nutrients and are readily available at a reasonable cost, but may contain undesirable salts or other substances passed on from the animal's diet. The CSU GardenNotes publication Using Manure presents a number of potential drawbacks to using manure in place of compost. Among them:
- Potential for Escheria coli contamination from poorly composted manure
- High potential for weed seeds
- Risk of salt build-up
- Risk of ammonia burn
These concerns do not mean manure is unsuitable for garden use. Used with caution, manure remains a good option for an organic soil amendment. Use only fully composted, aged manure from a known source to ensure a high-quality, trouble-free organic garden soil.
Bagged Soil Amendments
If you do not yet have an established compost and are unable to bring in manure, there is a third option. A number of high-quality organic fertilizers are available by the bag. Compost, worm castings, and aged manure are all available at any garden center to use on their own or to supplement your home compost. These products have a well-balanced nutrient profile and organic matter content similar to home compost, are immediately available, and can be brought home in the trunk of your car.
Feeding Your Soil
For most gardens, a home compost bin fed by kitchen scraps and yard waste will produce enough high-quality, organic fertilizer to keep your garden soil well-nourished. Home compost can be as simple as a worm-bin under the kitchen sink, or as elaborate as a multi-bin system that houses compost in various stages of decomposition. Work compost into the soil in the early spring and top-dress throughout the growing season, and your garden plants will respond with steady growth and vigor.
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