The Latest Old Thing: Seaweed Fertilizer
Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Fertilizer has been important to farmers and gardeners as long as they’ve been cultivating the fields. Innumerable kinds of fertilizer have been experimented with in the quest for a bigger and better harvest. Some have been more successful than others. One of the time honored ways to enhance the quality of your soil, strangely enough, is with seaweed fertilizer.
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.
Seaweed was also popular as a fertilizer in Ireland. Farmers would lift the soil in rows, lay down seaweed and then replace the soil. Although it’s not so popular these days, this was common practice for planting and cultivating potatoes in that country. The coastal regions of Ireland continue to count seaweed and kelp as a major industry to this day.
Seaweed is a remarkably effective way to improve the soil quality of a garden. 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. 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. There’s no downside to it as there is with so many of the chemical laden commercial fertilizers. These products frequently contain dubious ingredients. As well, the production of these products releases a considerable amount of pollutants into the air.
Similar to mulch, you can put seaweed fertilizer right on top of the soil. Lay it in between and around your plants. It tends to break down quite quickly.
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. You then mist this concoction onto the leaves to provide another source of nutrients.
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. However, taking a trip to a nearby nursery is an option for just about everyone. 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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