Build Better Garden Soil With Free Organic Fertilizers!

1 / 16
You can build better garden soil by applying the right types and amounts of organic fertilizers.
You can build better garden soil by applying the right types and amounts of organic fertilizers.
2 / 16
By reading the packaging and doing a little math, you can compare exactly how much you’re paying for the nutrients in different types of fertilizer. For example, when you use this bag of alfalfa meal as fertilizer, you’re paying about $17 per pound of nitrogen.
By reading the packaging and doing a little math, you can compare exactly how much you’re paying for the nutrients in different types of fertilizer. For example, when you use this bag of alfalfa meal as fertilizer, you’re paying about $17 per pound of nitrogen.
3 / 16
One of the best options for organic fertilizer is also the cheapest. Putting fresh grass clippings in your garden is a great way to add nitrogen to your soil.
One of the best options for organic fertilizer is also the cheapest. Putting fresh grass clippings in your garden is a great way to add nitrogen to your soil.
4 / 16
With this type of fertilizer, it would cost about $14,000 to get a single pound of nitrogen!
With this type of fertilizer, it would cost about $14,000 to get a single pound of nitrogen!
5 / 16
With this type of fish emulsion fertilizer, a pound of nitrogen would cost about $112.
With this type of fish emulsion fertilizer, a pound of nitrogen would cost about $112.
6 / 16
Another useful strategy for improving your garden soil is to construct beds and paths. With this garden plan, you can add any soil-improving fertilizers directly to the beds, where they’re most needed, while restricting foot traffic to the paths, where it does the least damage.
Another useful strategy for improving your garden soil is to construct beds and paths. With this garden plan, you can add any soil-improving fertilizers directly to the beds, where they’re most needed, while restricting foot traffic to the paths, where it does the least damage.
7 / 16
Plant crimson clover as another nitrogen-fixing cover crop.
Plant crimson clover as another nitrogen-fixing cover crop.
8 / 16
Although it’s rarely labeled as a fertilizer, adding compost is a great way to build your garden soil. You can give plants an extra boost as they’re growing by applying the compost as a “side dressing.”
Although it’s rarely labeled as a fertilizer, adding compost is a great way to build your garden soil. You can give plants an extra boost as they’re growing by applying the compost as a “side dressing.”
9 / 16
For a great low-cost fertilizer, try planting vetch as a cover crop.
For a great low-cost fertilizer, try planting vetch as a cover crop.
10 / 16
Mother Earth News contributor Bill Adams in his Burton, Texas, garden.
Mother Earth News contributor Bill Adams in his Burton, Texas, garden.
11 / 16
Wood ashes can be sprinkled on acidic soils to provide phosphorous and potassium. Do not apply more than 2 cups per 100 square feet per year.
Wood ashes can be sprinkled on acidic soils to provide phosphorous and potassium. Do not apply more than 2 cups per 100 square feet per year.
12 / 16
A mulch of grass clippings, straw or leaves helps suppress weeds and also feeds the soil as the organic materials slowly break down.
A mulch of grass clippings, straw or leaves helps suppress weeds and also feeds the soil as the organic materials slowly break down.
13 / 16
Red clover is another great choice for a cover crop that will add nitrogen to your garden soil.
Red clover is another great choice for a cover crop that will add nitrogen to your garden soil.
14 / 16
Prices for various dry fertilizers.
Prices for various dry fertilizers.
15 / 16
Prices for various blended fertilizers.
Prices for various blended fertilizers.
16 / 16
Prices for various liquid fertilizers.
Prices for various liquid fertilizers.

The information in this article was reviewed and updated in January 2015. —MOTHER EARTH NEWS

As more and more people recognize the many benefits of organic gardening methods, a fresh crop of organic fertilizers are sprouting on store shelves. Many are overpriced, and some are stunning rip-offs that reputable stores and catalogs should be ashamed to sell. The really amazing thing is that two of the best organic fertilizers are easily available to most of us absolutely free! (See below) It’s definitely a buyer-beware world out there. If you’re not careful, you could pay five, 10 or 4,000 times more than necessary to get the nitrogen and other nutrients you need. Here’s what we found when we evaluated the pricing for 21 fertilizers:

The Best Free Fertilizers

All products labeled as “fertilizer” must be labeled with their content of the three major plant nutrients?—?nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (N-P-K). Most organic fertilizers are bulkier than synthetic chemical products, so their N-P-K percentages are typically lower than synthetic products, and their application rates are higher.

Also, because organic products are biologically active, their N-P-K numbers may change somewhat from batch to batch and over time. Because of this, it can be hard for producers to comply with the labeling laws. As a result, some excellent organic fertilizer options, such as compost, often are not even labeled as a “fertilizer.” One of the best free fertilizers, grass clippings, break down so quickly that they can’t be bagged and sold.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368