The Latest Old Thing: Seaweed Fertilizer

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. There are some that have proved to be more effective, however. 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. It is subsequently used for various purposes including soil fertilization.

In Ireland, seaweed also enjoyed popularity as a fertilizer. Farmers would lift the soil in rows, lay down seaweed and then replace the soil. It's lost some of its popularity today, but it was commonly used for growing potatoes back then. 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. Seaweed absorbs these elements and passes them along to the soil when you add it to your garden.

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. 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. You'll find that it breaks down very rapidly.

You can also include it in your compost pile. It will assist in the decomposition process and will add valuable nutrients. 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.

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. But for the rest of us, a visit to the local garden center is almost as easy. 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.