| You've probably heard some conflicting views about | | | | harmful to the soil; over time, chemical fertilizer can |
| the advantages and disadvantages of chemical and | | | | contribute to soil acidity and deplete the |
| organic garden fertilizer. Although both types of | | | | microorganisms present. |
| products can improve the growth of a lawn or | | | | Since liquid organic fertilizer functions by providing |
| garden, solid and liquid organic fertilizer products have | | | | nutrients directly to the soil, it has quite the opposite |
| been shown to produce greater long-term benefits | | | | effect. With time, organic garden fertilizer will improve |
| than chemical fertilizer while posing no risk to humans, | | | | the moisture retention and aeration of the soil, |
| animals, or the environment. | | | | among other factors. It even can help clay and |
| Like chemical fertilizer, organic products contain a | | | | hardpan soil take on a more workable texture. |
| mixture of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, three | | | | Additionally, organic fertilizer can be used in |
| powerful nutrients essential to growth. All fertilizers | | | | conjunction with nitrogen activators to allow the soil |
| are labeled with an N-P-K ratio showing the relative | | | | to better absorb the nutrients provided. Organic lawn |
| quantities of each, such as 3-1-5. | | | | fertilizer is safe for children, pets, and the |
| Now, let's take an in-depth look at some of the | | | | environment. Studies have linked chemical fertilizers to |
| benefits of organic garden fertilizer: | | | | a variety of health problems, including asthma and |
| Organic lawn fertilizer provides a slow release of | | | | certain types of cancer. It can also pollute our |
| nitrogen and other nutrients. Organic fertilizer enriches | | | | drinking water by running into nearby lakes and |
| not just your lawn or garden, but also the soil itself. | | | | streams. Since organic liquid fertilizer is made from |
| This allows microorganisms in the soil to break down | | | | natural products, it contains no harmful agents and is |
| the nutrients over time, so that plants absorb them | | | | naturally biodegradable. |
| in small increments. | | | | Organic lawn fertilizer is cost-efficient. Organic |
| Alternatively, chemical fertilizer provides a "quick fix" | | | | products often get a reputation for being more |
| for growth, as plants must absorb all of the nutrients | | | | expensive than their artificial counterparts, but this is |
| at once. This leaves your garden or lawn vulnerable | | | | not the case for organic liquid fertilizer. This is |
| to overfeeding, which is not a risk for gardeners | | | | because organic fertilizer is made from natural |
| using organic liquid fertilizer. Chemical fertilizer is also | | | | byproducts from a variety of industries, including fish |
| more easily washed away due to excessive | | | | emulsion, sewage waste, cottonseed meal, and |
| watering, while organic fertilizer will remain in the soil | | | | manure. Plus, the slow release time means fewer |
| regardless of its water content. | | | | applications per season. Whether you're shopping for |
| Organic lawn fertilizer improves soil health in the long | | | | lawn or tomato fertilizer, or even fertilizer for roses, |
| term. Chemical fertilizer is only designed to foster | | | | organic garden fertilizer will provide impressive results |
| plant growth, not improve soil health. In fact, many | | | | that are also cost-efficient. |
| of the elements in chemical fertilizer are actually | | | | |