Growing healthy plants involves more than just throwing them into a hole in the ground. Making sure your plants are receiving the proper nutrients is one of the most important parts of successful growing. Unfortunately, your plants will not always receive the nutrients they need from the soil they are growing in. For this reason, it's important to consider using fertilizers to achieve your gardening goals. There are generally three different types of fertilizers you can choose from: organic, chemical or mixed. Learn more about organic and chemical fertilizers to decide which one is best for your garden.
Organic fertilizers are those that consist of natural or living materials. The most common organic fertilizer, and the one most people are probably most familiar with, is manure. Other materials used for organic fertilizers include fish emulsion, crab shells and seaweed. There are also synthetic organic fertilizers, which are essentially organic materials that are artificially produced. The main advantage of using organic fertilizers is the fact that they are much safer than using chemical fertilizers. Not only are they better for the environment, but they are a safe choice if you have small children or pets that could come into contact with your plants.
Chemical fertilizers are artificially manufactured. Ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate and superphosphate are a few examples of chemical fertilizers. These fertilizers are often more effective than organic fertilizers, but they are generally more harmful to the environment. Another nice thing about chemical fertilizers is that you can look on the packaging label and see exactly what the ingredients are.
You must take several things into consideration when choosing which type of fertilizer is right for you. Think about what your gardening, lifestyle and family's needs are so that you can choose the type of fertilizer that will help you grow a healthy, beautiful garden.