Choose Turfgrass Nutrient Sources

Compost

Compost is the heart of natural lawn care because it increases organic material, delivers nutrients, improves water retention, balances pH, and creates an excellent bed for seeds. You can make compost at home, or buy it in bags or bulk. Compost is an excellent addition to improve soil quality, as it does so much more than simply add nutrients. Read more about compost here. 

Compost Tea

Compost tea is a liquid form of compost that contains a lot of soil microbes. Microbes are an important part of soil because they activate nutrients in the soil. Use this brew as often as you like; compost tea can be either bought or home-made.

Corn Gluten

Corn gluten is a natural source of nitrogen and herbicide sold in three forms: powder, granules, or pellets. It prevents weed growth by drying out seeds after they crack open to sprout. If you choose to use corn gluten, be sure you purchase real corn gluten, not corn gluten feed or grain.

Alfalfa Meal

Often called ‘green manure,’ alfalfa meal is a great source of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous. Because alfalfa meal heats up the soil, only use it in small amounts to avoid plant burn. And be aware that some alfalfa meals may contain unwanted seeds.

Seaweed

Seaweed can give your soil overlooked nutrients like trace elements and natural plant growth hormones. This ‘ocean potion’ not only reduces the stress level of grass, but it also improves the availability of naturally occurring minerals in the soil.

Blood Meal

Blood meal is a by-product of animal processing and an excellent source of nitrogen. Mix it with your compost to speed up the decomposition process, but do not mix it with seedlings. Use it only in small amounts to avoid plant burn and be sure to activate the fertilizer with a basic watering.

Bone Meal

Bone meal is one of the top natural sources of phosphorous and it works especially well with root systems. It is a slow release fertilizer that should be raked into the soil either at the start of the growing season or a few weeks before planting. Remember, never use products high in phosphorus unless you are fertilizing a new lawn or responding to a soil test.

Fish Products

Fish products come in a variety of forms, such as fish emulsion, meal, powder, or liquidized fish. Nutrient release time depends on the type of fish fertilizer being used, but fish products are generally more available to plants than animal fertilizers.

Chicken Manure

Rich in potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus, chicken manure provides more nutrients than most other manures. Although considered safe, it is a good idea to handle any manure-based fertilizer with gloves.

Vermicasting

Often called ‘black gold,’ vermicasting is essentially worm waste. It is a unique fertilizer because it makes use of already present, but previously unavailable soil nutrients, making nutrients immediately available to plants after application.

Lime

Lime is useful in keeping soils within the acidic pH range where nutrients are more readily available. A soil test will determine the appropriate type and amount of lime to apply. Lime works best when used in the fall because winter weather can drive lime into the ground. Be sure to use lime pellets, not powder, since lime is a respiratory irritant. The liming of lawns takes a number of applications and growing seasons before the pH level changes.

Sulfur

Like lime, this mineral also helps to balance pH levels; however, it is used to lower an ‘alkaline’ pH soil reading that is over 7. Use this mineral after performing a soil test to determine the correct application amount. Adding sulfur to change the pH level will take a number of growing seasons and applications until the pH level changes.