Soil Additives & Their Uses
|
Name |
Use |
How |
Notes |
| Blood (dried) |
Fast N |
2-4oz/sq yd |
Activate compost |
| Bone (inal) |
Slow P (Ca) |
4oz/sq yd |
|
| Bracken |
K; P |
11b (ash)/sq yd |
Cut green, compost orburn first |
| Calc. seaweed |
50% Ca + K; P |
4oz/sq yd |
Also raises pH |
| Dolomite |
Ca; Mg |
4oz/sq yd |
Corrects Mg deficiency |
| Fishmeal |
N: P; K + traces |
3oz/sq yd |
Variable quality, expensive |
| Goat manure |
N; P; K |
Compost. Liquid manure |
Rot with straw. Hang bagful 1 week in water, dilute well |
| Gypsum |
Clay conditioner (lowers pH) |
8oz/sq yd |
Also adds S |
| Hair, fur, wool, feathers |
Slow N |
Compost |
Dig into bed in winter |
| Hoof and horn |
Slow N |
2-4oz/sq yd |
|
| Hops |
Soil improver |
2-31b/sq yd |
Dig in, with N source |
| Horse manure |
N; P; K |
Strawy, rot well |
Enclosed heap |
| Leafmould |
Soil improver |
alb/sq yd |
Mulch in spring |
| Mushroom compost |
Compost |
Mulch |
Beware insecticide |
| Pig manure |
N; P; K |
Compost with straw |
Beware Cu |
| Poultry manure |
P; K; N |
Compost Powdered top-dressing, 8oz/sq yd |
Good activator, Leafy crops; can spoil clay
soil |
| Rock potash |
Very slow K |
8oz/sq yd |
Natural rock flour |
| flock phosphate |
Very slow P |
8oz/sq yd |
Natural rock flour |
| Seaweed |
Many |
Fresh, dry, spray |
See 'Seaweed' |
| Soot |
N; P |
For trees |
Darkens soil |
| Wood ash |
Fast K |
4oz/sq yd |
Very soluble; store dry or use to activate compost |
