When you pour ash or manure under your plants, are you sure you are doing them a favor?
It turns out that even organic fertilizers can become poison.
Fresh manure, for example, releases ammonia, which burns the roots and attracts mole crickets. Ash is also not suitable for all plants.
The Secret to Safe Fertilization
An alternative could be a fertilizer made from fermented herbs.
Fill the barrel with nettle, dandelion and water, let it sit for 2 weeks. Dilute 1:10 and water - this is a "vitamin cocktail" for plants.
But remember: you can only feed after the soil has warmed up to +10 degrees Celsius, otherwise the roots will “fall asleep”.
What to do with store-bought fertilizers?
Superphosphate granules often stick together, forming lumps that do not dissolve for years. Just don't throw them away.
Grind them into powder and mix with sand before adding.
And liquid fertilizers marked "for spring" may contain excess nitrogen, causing foliage growth to the detriment of fruits. Therefore, read the composition: phosphorus and potassium should prevail after mid-May.
And never fertilize dry soil - water it first, otherwise the chemicals will burn the roots.
But there are also hidden threats
For example, coffee grounds, which many consider useful, acidify the soil.
For plants that like a neutral pH (cabbage, beetroot), this is detrimental. Use it only for hydrangeas and rhododendrons.
And eggshells, which are recommended as a source of calcium, take years to decompose. To make them work, heat them in the oven and grind them into powder.
And don't believe the myths
Banana peels buried in holes attract ants and mice. It is better to make an infusion from them: soak the peel in water for a week and water it under the root.
And yeast fertilizers can disrupt the balance of soil microorganisms - use them no more than once a month.
For tomatoes and peppers, try a "fish cocktail." Bury small fish (sprat, capelin) under the bush - the rotting remains will saturate the soil with phosphorus. But remember that the smell will attract cats.
To avoid annoying pests, replace fish with bone meal.
And remember: overfeeding is worse than underfeeding. Excess nitrogen makes plants vulnerable to aphids, and excess potassium blocks the absorption of magnesium.
Learn to read the signals: if the leaves curl, there is too much phosphorus; if they turn yellow between the veins, there is not enough iron.
