Is Organic Fertilizer Safe

Is organic fertilizer safe? One of the most important things to remember when considering this question is that chemical fertilizers are not safe in most forms. Organic fertilizer is organic matter, often including manure, kelp, bone or plant debris. In comparison, chemical fertilizers are derived from petroleum or other hazardous products. Organic products are safer in several ways.

Fertilizer is a substance added to gardens, lawns or other plants to give them required nutrients for growth. Incorporating nutrients isn't always required; fertilizer is necessary only when the soil doesn't contain the nutrients the plants need. When you place organic fertilizers into the soil, you are simply adding those missing nutrients to the soil. In many situations, the organic material would normally be present in the soil and therefore the plants are counting on it to be there to do well.

Whenever soil doesn't contain the necessary nutrients for the plant's success, the plants will be smaller and less productive. Adding nutrients is necessary in some form. Test the soil for nutrient levels to know if you need to add any fertilizer at all.

Whenever fertilizer is necessary, realize you have a choice in what products you use. Compare organic to chemical fertilizers to see how much better they are.

• Chemical fertilizers are added to soil in a form the plants can take in easily, nearly instantly. This can be problematic, especially if too much is added to the plant. There is little control.
• Organic fertilizers need to time break down fully, supplying a natural, long term benefit to the soil plants can feed off of for some time.
• Chemical fertilizers will wash away with several heavy rains or when plants are overwatered.
• Chemicals are harmful to microlife within the soil, including all-important earthworms that help plant roots to grow by creating tunnels for them.
• Organic fertilizers don't produce harmful gases or pollute water sources like chemical fertilizers do.
• Organic fertilizers build the soil, promoting a strong structure that supports and nourishes life.

There are many benefits to using organic fertilizers rather than purchasing chemical based fertilizers. Not only is organic safer, it's the natural way to improve the quality of soil.

The best type of organic fertilizer comes from your home and surrounding area. Purchasing premade organic fertilizer is an option, but not always the best option. Items including fruit and vegetable peels and seeds, coffee grounds, and egg shells are some of the best fertilizers from the home. Add to this broken down leaves and vegetation and you have a high quality fertilizer. Consider starting your own organic gardening compost heap which produces the best quality fertilizer for your garden.

You can also use an organic fertilizer recipe to create your own homemade fertilizer for use in gardens or lawns.

Buying organic fertilizer is an option. Is organic fertilizer safe when you purchase it from retailers? The answer is yes, most of the time. Look at the packaging and ingredient list. Determine what makes it organic. Most fertilizers will have terms you recognize as the ingredient list. Crab shell, cotton seed meal, kelp, or gypsum are all examples of ingredients you may find. Chemical terminology on the ingredients list is a worrisome sign.

Look for certified organic fertilizers. The federal government requires any product that's sold as true organic in nature meet specific requirements. The States Department of Agriculture monitors this and gives certification to products meeting the high standards. All certified organic products are safe to use as directed.

It is highly unlikely to develop soil that's dangerous using homemade organic fertilizers. Using compost in your garden doesn't have to be monitored.

Purchased organic fertilizers are safe when used as the manufacturer intended. However, over fertilizing can lead to soil pH that is dangerous to animals or humans. Therefore, whenever you purchase any premade organic compounds, read the directions and follow them closely.

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