Fertilizers that are always at hand. Natural and unusual

The list of fertilizers used in gardening is not limited to ready-made mixtures sold in specialized stores. An equally effective natural product - do-it-yourself fertilization - remains underestimated. In this article, we will talk about them.

The use of ash left over from cleaning aquariums and compost as organic fertilizer not only saves money, but also supports the natural recycling cycle. Therefore, fertilizing with your own hands is also cheap.

By buying synthetic mixtures instead, we often cause irreparable damage to nature, because the efforts spent by it on the processing of inorganic waste lead to depletion of the soil layer, reducing the yield and quality of crops.

Below is a description of the varieties of organic fertilizers that are easy to find in the home or garden.

DIY fertilizer: the best of natural

fertilizer with your own hands

fertilizer with your own hands

1. Green fertilizers

This type of fertilizer, also called green manure, is quite widely known. It includes fast-growing plants, whose active development contributes to the formation of a large amount of green mass.

Plowing green manures into the soil improves its quality, making it looser and easier to cultivate. This method is especially effective in areas with a large area, since it is simple and does not require additional efforts: the humus contained in the green manure will independently penetrate into the soil.

Along with the general improvement of the land, this type of fertilizer successfully fights against the development of weeds, as well as against water and wind erosion. The most popular green manures are peas and white clover, which can accumulate nitrogen in the soil layer, as well as white mustard, rapeseed, and winter rye.

All these crops are recommended to be sown immediately after the snow melts, and mowed shortly after the formation of strong growth. Then the seedlings need to be mowed and, without removing them from the site, dig up the soil. The optimal time for this procedure is two weeks before planting other crops.

2. Compost

Another popular type of organic fertilizer is a mixture of plant or animal residues processed by microflora, called compost. Its advantage is that it improves nutritional quality over time.

The composition of the compost includes a wide variety of components: almost always there are plant waste, decayed foliage, manure (no more than 10% of the total mass), less often - bird droppings (no more than 6-7%), crumbled eggshells, tea or coffee grounds ( preferably natural, not a substitute), weeds, mown grass, small twigs, straw.

For the formation of compost, special depressions in the ground (compost pits) or containers are used, located in a remote part of the site, as a rule, on the southwestern edge. It is recommended to put sawdust or strong branches (about 10 buckets) on the bottom of the pit or container.

This will create a drainage layer that will allow any inevitable rot to flow down without mixing with the compost. It will also not be superfluous to lay the contents of the pit in layers separated by a drainage layer, especially in the case of the proximity of wet and dry layers.

The mixture must be stirred every 2-3 days, providing air access.Properly prepared compost has a rather pleasant earthy smell and a loose consistency.

3. Do-it-yourself nitrogen fertilizer - liquid weed-based fertilizing

For the preparation of such a fertilizer, any plants are suitable, including weeds that do not have seeds and rhizome remnants. In general, this variety differs little in its composition from compost. Many gardeners find it even more efficient and easier to make.

Most often, young nettle, the middle part of wheatgrass, quinoa are included in the mixture for liquid fertilizer, but its composition may vary. The addition of nitrogen fertilizer to the mixture is unchanged - it helps to improve fermentation (urea in the amount of 1 tablespoon is suitable as a nitrogen additive).

Liquid fertilizer is infused in a barrel, half filled with the mixture, and then filled to the top with water. The lid on the container must be tightly closed, and then daily open and stir the contents of the barrel, supporting the fermentation process and not allowing the mixture to rot.

The readiness of the liquid fertilizer can be determined by the persistent ammonia odor and the brownish green color of the bubbling liquid. For fertilization, both liquid and solid fractions are used: the first in a diluted form (ratio with water 1: 3) can be used to fertilize the beds, and squeezed grass - for mulching.

4. Ash

The ash left after burning wood and herbaceous plants is a rather effective tool for lowering the level of soil acidity, as well as a source of potassium (5%).

5. Animal waste

Manure and poultry droppings, which are usually abundant in rural areas, have a number of beneficial properties for plants. However, they can only be added to the soil in a diluted form in order to reduce the risk of burning crops with caustic substances, as well as to protect them from bacteria.

A quick way to disinfect manure and droppings is to moisten it with boiling water, but it is fraught with the death of not only pathogenic, but also beneficial bacteria. It is much more efficient, albeit longer in time, to process fertilizers by drying them in the open air for 1-2 years.

DIY fertilizers for the garden - undeservedly forgotten species

fertilizer with your own hands

1. Drank coffee

It is quite simple to make the soil looser and lighter with the help of coffee grounds - it is enough to add 100 g of drunk coffee per 1 sq. M. soil. It should be borne in mind that only natural coffee is effective enough.

2. Decoction of potatoes

This type of fertilizer is suitable for all plant species, except for the nightshade family. Watering potato or tomato beds with potato broth will attract Colorado beetles to them.

It is very simple to prepare top dressing - it is enough to boil any amount of potatoes, which will allow the starch contained in it to pass into the water and fill it with substances that strengthen the immune system. The resulting broth in a cold form is suitable for watering plants (0.5 kg per 1 sq. M).

3. Ground bones

Grinding the bones of animals and poultry produces a calcium-rich flour, which is an excellent means of reducing the acidity of the soil. The nitrogen and phosphorus contained in it also make bone meal a natural analogue of complex mineral fertilizers.

4. Cereal infusion

Everyone knows that before cooking, the cereals must be soaked in water, but few then use the resulting infusion with benefit. But it is rich in iron, magnesium and silicon and is suitable for watering vegetables.

5. Water from the aquarium

It should be noted right away that only water from large aquariums will do. As a rule, once a month, half of the aquarium water is simply poured down the drain, while it can be used to fertilize the plants. The microorganisms in it have a beneficial effect on plant growth and soil composition.

6. Sawdust

Semi-ripe sawdust is often used to mulch the soil because it helps retain water in the soil and also restricts weed growth.

The sawdust layer acts as thermal insulation during the cold season. However, this type of fertilizer tends to acidify the soil, which must be borne in mind.

7. Yeast starter culture

Rich in vitamins, proteins, minerals, sugar and fats, yeast is extremely popular among gardeners. Their use accelerates the growth of all parts of the plant, which is especially useful for seedlings, which are significantly strengthened as a result of yeast feeding.

The beneficial microflora of yeast helps to increase immunity. This type of fertilizer is suitable for all types of plants. Yeast can be purchased dry or compressed at the store, or you can make the sourdough yourself. For this, stale bread, hop cones, wheat, crackers.

8. Egg crumbs

Crushed egg shells are a valuable source of calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. The villagers have long used it when planting seedlings in the soil, pouring a little crushed shells on the planting hole.

At the same time, not thermally processed shells left from raw eggs are suitable for fertilization. It is also believed that the shells from the eggs of domesticated chickens are more useful than those from the poultry farm.

Before adding the shell to the soil, it must be thoroughly rinsed and the remaining protein removed, and then dried for 2 days. The ground shells can be stored in a cool, dry place.

The eggshell infusion is prepared as follows: the shell remaining from 4-5 eggs is poured with water (1 l) and left under a tightly closed lid for a week. Fertilizer readiness can be determined by the presence of a strong unpleasant odor.

The infusion is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3 and applied to the soil (1 tablespoon per 1 square meter).

Recommendations and precautions

As in the case of chemical fertilizers, the manufacture and application of organic fertilizers requires adherence to a number of rules.

First, you should choose high-quality natural ingredients for fertilizers. Secondly, it is necessary to follow a certain dosage and feeding regime depending on the type of plants. Thirdly, it is recommended to correctly assess the condition of the plants and the quality of the soil.

It is quite possible that no fertilization is required; ordinary weeding and watering of the soil is enough. Finally, fertilizer should be applied based on the level of acidity of the soil and its type, because many fertilizers can significantly lower or increase its pH values.