Everyone who grows plants believes that fertilizers are good. But what if some fertilizers act as a slow poison?
For example, excess nitrogen makes greens lush, but deprives vegetables of flavor and reduces immunity to disease.
And popular yeast solutions that are praised on the Internet can upset the balance of soil microorganisms, especially if used too often.
Even more dangerous is "chicken manure in its pure form" - it burns the roots if you do not dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:20. But the most insidious enemy is ash. The same one that is considered a universal salvation.
If you add it to soil with a high pH, it will make the soil even more alkaline, and the plants will simply stop absorbing iron. Let's learn to fertilize wisely so as not to harm!
The problem is that many gardeners act on the principle of "the more, the better." But overfed plants become lazy.
For example, too much potassium causes roots to stop growing deep, remaining at the surface where they are vulnerable to drought.
And phosphorus fertilizers applied to fruit trees in the fall can provoke the growth of shoots before winter, which will then die from frost.
How to avoid this? Always check the soil composition with test strips or folk methods. If horsetail grows on the site, the soil is acidic, and nettle likes nitrogenous soil.
Another trap is "organic means safe." Manure that has not rotted for at least a year contains ammonia and weed seeds. And compost with the remains of diseased plants will infect the entire garden.
And remember: even harmless coffee grounds, which are recommended as a source of nitrogen, acidify the soil in large quantities. It is better to mix them with ash or add them to compost.
The easiest way to avoid overdoing it is to use "green manures." Sow mustard, lupine or clover in empty beds.
These plants will enrich the soil with nitrogen, and when they grow, mow them down and bury them in the ground. This is both nutrition and natural loosening.
And if you want to feed the flowers, pour water over the nettles for a week - you will get an infusion, which, when diluted (1:10), works better than store-bought products.
Author: Igor Zur