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Composts & Fertilisers

Compost Bins

My Compost Bins

Articles to do with improving the soil, making and using composts and fertilisers, using organic and inorganic fertiliser, composition of fertilisers and manures etc.

It’s really very simple, the better the soil the better your crops will be.

These  articles should help you to improve your soil providing the nutrients that your plants need.

Green Manure: Guide To Sowing & Growing Green Manure

Green Manure: Guide To Sowing & Growing Green Manure

Which green manure to grow and when, what to do when it's grown? This guide explains the basics of using green manures to improve your soil
Feed the Soil – Not the Plants

Feed the Soil – Not the Plants

Feed the soil, not the plants is a phrase often heard but what does it really mean? This article seeks to look at feeding the soil and the benefits.
Chelated Nutrients & Micronutrients for Better Crops

Chelated Nutrients & Micronutrients for Better Crops

Chelated nutrients promote better uptake by plants across a range of different pH levels giving improved growth and cropping.
Seaweed Feed, Using and Uses of Seaweed Extract Feed

Seaweed Feed, Using and Uses of Seaweed Extract Feed

Coastal growers have always known the value of seaweed as a fertiliser. Seaweed extract feeds bring the benefits to us all.
Composts, Composting & Making Compost

Composts, Composting & Making Compost

Includes: 6 Pages
These articles are all about composts, composting and making compost. including how to make compost bins and various types of composting
11 Nitrogen Fixing Green Manures

11 Nitrogen Fixing Green Manures

11 green manures that will fix nitrogen for your crops whilst surpressing weeds and stabilising your soil. Vital nitrogen fixing supports better growth.
Renew and Reuse Potting Compost

Renew and Reuse Potting Compost

How to revitalise and reuse potting compost, Growing great plants whilst saving money and helping the environment at the same time,
Woodchips – Using, Benefits, Problems, Composting

Woodchips – Using, Benefits, Problems, Composting

Woodchips have a useful role to play in the garden and on the allotment. What are the benefits of woodchips, how to use them in the garden.
Worm Composting & Farming

Worm Composting & Farming

Includes: 15 Pages
Guides to Making Worm Compost Vermiculture and Vermicomposting. 15 articles from world expert worm composter, explains how to compost and overcome problems
How to Use Fertiliser for Best Results with Vegetables

How to Use Fertiliser for Best Results with Vegetables

An introduction to using fertiliser to maximise yields and a general understanding of fertilisers in vegetable growing.
What Are NPK - Basic Components of Fertiliser Explained

What Are NPK - Basic Components of Fertiliser Explained

The three basic elements required for plant growth NPK, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium or potash discussed along with effects and the effect of shortage
Natural or Organic Fertilisers and Soil Conditioners

Natural or Organic Fertilisers and Soil Conditioners

Naturally produced or organic fertilisers provide the same basic elements as artificial fertilisers but some have an advantage in their slow release.
Artificial Fertilisers

Artificial Fertilisers

About using artificial fertilisers, the different NPK nutrient content and the benefits and drawbacks of various artificial fertilizers.
Lime - the Vital Fertiliser!

Lime - the Vital Fertiliser!

Garden Lime, the vital fertiliser. How much lime to use and when to use lime to increase or decrease the acidity - pH - of your soil to improve plant growth
Effects of pH on Nutrient Availability

Effects of pH on Nutrient Availability

An acid soil, a soil with a low pH, or alkaline soil with a high pH is effectively deficient in nutrients even when nutrients have been added to the soil.
Soil pH and Its Effect on Your Garden

Soil pH and Its Effect on Your Garden

Soil pH, effect on your garden, how to determine it and how to change it. Soil pH is critical to plant growth controlling nutrient uptake and availability.
Fertiliser Tips - Best Use of Fertilisers - Make Your Own Special Compound Fertilisers

Fertiliser Tips - Best Use of Fertilisers - Make Your Own Special Compound Fertilisers

Some tips on using fertilisers more effectively avoiding waste and making your own specialist compound fertilisers such as potato or onion fertiliser
Elements of Plant Nutrition: Calcium, Sulphur, Magnesium

Elements of Plant Nutrition: Calcium, Sulphur, Magnesium

Magnesium, Calcium and Sulphur are vital additional elements or macro nutrients in plant nutrition in addition to the better known trilogy of NPK.
Trace Elements in Plant Nutrition

Trace Elements in Plant Nutrition

Trace elements can be as important in growing and gardening as vitamins are in human nutrition. This article covers the different trace elements.
Green Manures - Uses & Types of Green Manures

Green Manures - Uses & Types of Green Manures

Green manures are a wonderful way to add and retain nutrients to the soil whilst improving the structure. They can even save time as they suppress weeds.
Mulching with cardboard or paper and grass clippings.

Mulching with cardboard or paper and grass clippings.

Mulching with a layer of cardboard or paper under grass clippings is a labour saving way to suppress weeds whilst naturally improving soil quality.
Farmyard & Animal Manures to Improve Soil Fertility

Farmyard & Animal Manures to Improve Soil Fertility

Animal manure add humus as well as nutrients to the soil to promote crop growth. Considers horse, cow, sheep, pig, goat, rabbit, rodent, cat and dog manures
NPK Nutritional Values of Animal Manures & Compost Etc

NPK Nutritional Values of Animal Manures & Compost Etc

Lists and compares the typical values of NPK in animal manure and composts which is useful for judging the amount of fertiliser to apply required for a crop
Horse or Cow Manure - Which is Better, Horse Manure or Cow Manure?

Horse or Cow Manure - Which is Better, Horse Manure or Cow Manure?

One question that seems to crop up frequently between gardeners and allotment holders is which manure is better to use, horse manure or cow manure?
Mycorrhizal Fungus & Kelp or Seaweed Meal

Mycorrhizal Fungus & Kelp or Seaweed Meal

The beneficial effects on plant growth of adding mycorrhizal fungus and kelp or seaweed meal to improve your soil's ability to support plants.
Improving Clay Soils, Methods & How to Improve Clay Soils

Improving Clay Soils, Methods & How to Improve Clay Soils

Clay soils are always a problem and some proven practical solutions are found in this article on improving clay soils.
What is Compost Tea?

What is Compost Tea?

Organic gardeners all know compost is fantastic stuff. But now, there's something some say is even better and that's compost tea.
Biochar & Terra Preta

Biochar & Terra Preta

Includes: 2 Pages
Separating the truth from the hype about biochar & terra preta from the Amazon basin. Biochar offers great benefits in theory but how will it actually work.
Rockdust (Rockflour) & Soil Remineralisation

Rockdust (Rockflour) & Soil Remineralisation

Separating the truth from the hype about the benefits of soil remineralisation utilising rockdust.
Gypsum, Using Gypsum in Gardening

Gypsum, Using Gypsum in Gardening

Many gardeners have been confused about the role of gypsum in gardens. It is a soil additive that provides micronutrients, a conditioner and a fertilizer.
Gypsum, A Valuable Input for Agriculture & Gardeners

Gypsum, A Valuable Input for Agriculture & Gardeners

A large proportion of land in the world could be improved and brought into productive use. Gypsum can be used as a aid in the reclamation of this land.
Using Soot on the Garden – Is Soot a Benefit to the Garden

Using Soot on the Garden – Is Soot a Benefit to the Garden

A look at using soot in the garden and on the vegetable plot. What are the benefits. Also the risks from using soot in the garden on the soil
SM3 Seaweed Extract - Plant Stimulant

SM3 Seaweed Extract - Plant Stimulant

Seaweed Extract was first developed by Chase after WW2. The history, production, use and future of seaweed extract by the creators of SM3

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Composts, Fertilisers & Additives