Feature

  • Add this story to stumbleupon
  • Add this story to Yahoo Buzz
  • Add this story to Digg
  • Add this story to reddit
  • Add this story to Slashdot
  • Add this story to newsvine
  • Add this story to facebook
  • Add this story to technorati
  • Add this story to del-icio-us
  • Add this story to furl

3 of the best: alternative fertilisers

G Magazine

Now is the perfect time to get in the garden – so here’s three of our favourite natural fertilisers to make your garden thrive!

fertiliser-story

- Advertisement -

1. Eggshells

Another kitchen waste product we are quick to toss, eggshells are made almost entirely of calcium carbonate.

Dried out and blended into a powder, they make a great lime alternative to reduce the acidity of your soil. They help to prevent blossom end rot on plants that are susceptible to calcium deficiency, such as tomatoes, capsicum and eggplant.

2. Fireplace ashes

Here’s a good reason to clean out the fireplace at the end of winter!

Pure wood ashes are rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium, and can be sprinkled on the garden in place of agricultural lime. Due to their potassium content, they are particularly good to use around flowering plants.

3. Used coffee grounds

Roses, tomatoes and blueberries are just some of the acid-loving plants that will benefit from the nitrogen, magnesium and potassium found in coffee grounds.

Ensure the grounds have completely dried out before sprinkling them sparingly around your plants. Any leftovers can be added to your compost with your other kitchen scraps.