Top 5 Organic Fertilizers
Top 5 Organic Fertilizers
Why Do Plants Need Organic Fertilizer?
Plants need organic fertilizer to obtain the essential nutrients that are necessary for their growth and development. Fertilizers provide plants with a balanced mix of nutrients, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), which are the primary macronutrients required for plant growth. Our top 5 organic fertilizers include these essential macronutrients.
Nitrogen is necessary for plant growth and is used in the production of chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis. Phosphorus is essential for root development and flower formation, while potassium helps plants build strong stems and resist disease.
In addition to these macronutrients, fertilizers can also contain secondary macronutrients (such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur) and micronutrients (such as iron, zinc, and manganese) that are necessary in smaller quantities for plant growth and development.
Fertilizers are particularly important in situations where soil nutrient levels are low or where plants are grown in containers or hydroponic systems, where nutrient availability can be limited. Without sufficient nutrients, plants may exhibit stunted growth, poor fruit or flower production, and other signs of nutrient deficiency.
Overall, fertilizers are an important tool for ensuring that plants have access to the nutrients they need to grow and thrive, and can play a critical role in supporting healthy, sustainable plant growth.
(Featured Image: Hand Trowel With Soil by I. Catalogue)
This post contains affiliate links to the fertilizers mentioned. We may earn a small commission if purchases are made through those links.
The Benefits Of Using Organic Fertilizer
There are several benefits to using organic, granular fertilizers in your garden, including:
- Slow-release nutrients: Organic, granular fertilizers break down slowly over time, releasing nutrients gradually into the soil. This slow-release process provides a steady supply of nutrients to your plants, which can help promote healthy growth and reduce the risk of over-fertilization.
- Improved soil health: Organic fertilizers can improve soil health by adding beneficial microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, to the soil. These microorganisms help break down organic matter in the soil, improving soil structure and nutrient availability.
- Reduced chemical exposure: Organic, granular fertilizers are made from natural materials and do not contain synthetic chemicals or pesticides. Using organic fertilizers can help reduce your exposure to these potentially harmful chemicals and promote a healthier environment for you and your plants.
- Increased soil fertility: Organic fertilizers can help increase soil fertility over time by providing a range of nutrients that plants need to thrive. This can help improve crop yields and support a more sustainable, long-term approach to gardening.
Overall, using one of our top 5 organic, granular fertilizers can provide a range of benefits for your garden, including improved plant growth, soil health, and environmental sustainability.
Pretty Plot by JNZL
Top 5 Organic Fertilizers
Garden-tone is an all-purpose fertilizer that is specially formulated for use in vegetable and flower gardens. It contains a blend of natural ingredients, including bone meal, poultry manure, and composted cow manure, that provide essential nutrients for healthy plant growth.
We recommend Espoma Garden-Tone if you’re looking for a high-quality all around fertilizer that can be applied to any plant. We most commonly use Garden-Tone for newly planted plants, and as a boost to some of our container plants.
Bio-tone Starter Plus is a high-quality, all-natural fertilizer that is designed to help new plants establish strong roots. It contains a blend of beneficial bacteria, mycorrhizae, and other organic ingredients that improve soil health and promote healthy root growth.
We recommend using Espoma Bio-Tone Starter Plus when preparing soil for seed planting, or when planting seedlings that have already been grown in containers. Keep in mind that most bagged potting mixes do not need fertilizer to be added, so Bio-Tone Starter Plus should be used in ground planting only.
Holly-tone is a specialized fertilizer that is designed for use on acid-loving plants, such as holly, azalea, and rhododendron. It contains a balanced blend of natural ingredients, including feather meal, bone meal, and peat moss, that help these plants thrive in their preferred acidic soil conditions.
Espoma Holly-Tone fertilizer is hands-down our favorite fertilizer to use on any flowering shrub. During our first year at Bright Lane Gardens, we applied holly-tone to all of our hydrangea trees and we were blown away with the amount of blooms they had on them by August. We truly cannot recommend this enough for flowering shrubs!
Jobe’s Vegetable and Tomato Fertilizer is a high-quality fertilizer that provides a range of benefits for plants, including balanced nutrition, slow-release nutrients, organic ingredients, and ease of use. By using this fertilizer, gardeners can help promote healthy growth and improve crop yields in their vegetable and tomato plants.
We are avid gardeners and have implemented the use of organic fertilizers in our vegetable garden for many years. We recommend using Jobe’s Vegetable and Tomato Fertilizer on in-ground gardens, raised garden beds, and container gardens. Always source organic fertilizers when growing any type of food.
Jobe’s Organics Fruit & Citrus fertilizer is a specialized blend that is designed for use on citrus trees, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. It contains a balanced blend of natural ingredients, including feather meal, bone meal, and humates, that provide the essential nutrients that these trees need for healthy growth and fruit production.
We recommend using Jobe’s Organics Fruit & Citrus fertilizer on your Michigan fruit trees! While Michigan does not typically grow the classic citrus trees, our other fruit trees can benefit immensely from fertilizer application. Peaches, apples and pears all do well with this type of fertilizer. Even a healthy tree can increase fruit production immensely when fertilizer is added.
How Often Should You Fertilize Plants?
If you’re ready to start a landscape project this season, we can help! Bright Lane Gardens offers a wide selection of native plants, flowering shrubs, perennials, annuals and more. We also have all the supplies you’ll need to get the job done.
If you’re new to planting and need some help with your design, the staff at Bright Lane Gardens can help point you in the right direction. For more information and ideas about landscape design and gardening with Michigan native plants, visit our blog!
Have Fertilizer On Hand For Your Plants
Fertilizing can be an intimidating process to get started on, but with the right products you can successfully support good plant health. Vegetable gardens are a great place to start your fertilizer journey, as these plants grow quickly and the success of the fertilizer is noticeable within weeks. From there you can start incorporating different varieties of fertilizer into your other gardening routines.
You may have noticed we only recommended two brands of fertilizer overall. There are other organic brands of fertilizer out there, but we have had so much success with these two brands specifically that we really wanted to highlight the different varieties within these brands. We enjoy supporting brands that are sustainable, organic, and effective, and we hope you do too!
