Fertilizer helps plants grow to be stronger, healthier and bigger. There are many ways to make your own fertilizer, including creating compost piles, mulching leaves and grass clippings, and mixing together several ingredients to restore nutrients and vitamins to your soil. Use these tips to make your own fertilizer.
1Acquire a large container to store your fertilizer. The size depends on how much fertilizer you want to make. Your container can be a large bucket, plastic box, garbage can or bag, or anything else you find that suits your needs. A lid on the container helps with mixing and keeping it from being exposed to the air.Ad
2Measure 4 parts of seed meal for your mixture. Seed meal is found at farm supply stores or feed and grain dealers. It is an agricultural product, so the likelihood of finding it at your local garden store is slim. If you cannot find seed meal, use grass clippings as a substitution.
3Acquire 1/4 part ground agricultural lime for your fertilizer. Agricultural lime contains calcium carbonate, which is necessary for productive soil that will grow strong plants. Find agricultural lime at a farm supply store, or agricultural seed or grain dealership.
4Mix in 1/4 part gypsum. Gypsum contains sulfur and adds plant nutrients to your soil that are often missing. Gypsum can be difficult to find, especially in large quantities. Substitute agricultural lime for gypsum, if necessary.
5Add 1/2 part dolomitic lime to your fertilizer mixture. Calcium and magnesium carbonates are nutrients in dolomitic lime and are necessary elements to healthy soil. Dolomitic lime is also a less expensive substitute for other forms of lime.
6Stir in 1 part bone meal with the rest of your fertilizer ingredients. Bone meal increases the phosphorous levels of your soil, which helps plants grow. Most garden stores carry bone meal in their fertilizer and nutrient sections.
7Attain 1/2 to 1 part kelp meal. Kelp meal is more costly than the other ingredients, but it adds trace minerals, growth regulators and hormones to the soil. These additions function as vitamins and help produce plants that resist stress or cold conditions. Rock dust may be substituted for kelp meal, if necessary.
8Combine and stir all ingredients together. Mix the ingredients with a shovel or large spade. Put the lid on your container. Turn the container over and around several times to tumble the ingredients together. The mixture must be well combined for it to enhance your soil and increase your plant output.Ad
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- Internet or farm supply outlets may provide cheaper alternatives to garden store prices. Garden stores usually provide ingredients in smaller quantities. Internet-based suppliers often provide ingredients in bulk quantities.
Things You'll Need
- Container with lid
- Seed meal
- Bone meal
- Kelp meal