Saturday, January 3, 2009

The Latest Old Thing: Seaweed Fertilizer

By Greg Holmes

As long as humans have planted and harvested, fertilizer has played a role in agricultural production. In the search for ways to improve the quality and quantity of the crop, countless types of fertilizers have been tried. Some have been more successful than others. As strange as it may seem, seaweed fertilizer is among the most valued ways to improve soil quality.

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.

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. Even today, the coastal industries of Ireland harvest huge quantities of seaweed and kelp.

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.

Seaweed fertilizers are a popular choice among conscientious gardeners. 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. It doesn't carry the stigma of many of the commercial products that are full of chemicals. These products frequently contain dubious ingredients. And the manufacturing process is associated with high levels of pollution.

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. You can also make it into a tea, either using the liquid or powder forms. You then mist this concoction onto the leaves to provide another source of nutrients.

The history of seaweed as a fertilizer goes back countless years, everywhere throughout the globe. If you're fortunate enough to live near a large body of water, you can probably find it at the water's edge. 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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