Organic & Natural Fertilizers
While in certain situations it's possible to plant a tree and forget about it until it's fruiting, that's only really possible if planting into an ecosystem that is incredibly rich and full of organic matter, and even then it's prudent to at least prune your tree occasionally to help it build a strong structure to bear the weight of the crop.
99.9% of the time, we are planting into abused, degraded soil. And without healthy soil, we simply cannot have nutrient dense, healthy plants/food. So to achieve this end, we must consider the symbiotic relationship between plants, soil, and ourselves. Below is a collection of products to help us nurture Mother Nature.
Michael Phillips developed an excellent simple spray program (click here for more), which we highly recommend. We have been using his approach since 2016 with excellent results in our orchards and nursery. Nigel Palmer also has an excellent book on making your own amendments worth checking out for further learning (see books here).
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9 products
9 products
Azomite comes from an old volcanic deposit discovered in Utah in the 40s. It contains an array of minerals and rare earth elements that are beneficial for plants. While it is fairly easy to add macronutrients (NPK; or nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) to your soil, many often miss the importance of adding micronutrients like those contained in azomite which your plants also need.
Contents: A unique array of over 70 minerals, trace, and rare earth elements
Size: Bagged in 4.4lb/2kg bag (around 5 cups).
Application: 1/4 to 1/2 cup per tree, work the dust into the top 3in of the soil. This means a bag will treat 10-20 trees.
Soil: Any
As an organic slow-release fertilizer, bone meal is primarily used as a source of phosphorus and protein. Phosphorus promotes early growth, root formation and fruit development in trees, shrubs and other garden plants.
Contents: 4-10-0, bovine source
Size: Bagged in 2.2lb/1kg or 4.4lb/2kg bag
Application: Application rates depend on your soil type, but the general rate is 10lb per 100 square feet, or about 1/4-1/3 cup per tree mixed into the soil when planting; one 1kg bag has enough product for planting ~10-12 bareroot trees. DO NOT apply directly to the tree itself, apply it to the soil around the tree.
Soil: Bone meal is best suited for slightly acidic soils (below pH 7) for the bone meal to be most available to the plants.
Unsulphured blackstrap molasses are a great way of getting some much-needed nutrients to your trees in a more natural way, generally being considered high in iron, calcium, and magnesium. It is also a key ingredient in our Holistic Spray if you are using effective microbes.
Please note the molasses we carry is not food grade.
Contents: Organic, unsulphured, pasteurized, non-GMO blackstrap molasses
Size: 945mL bottle
Application:
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Root Drench - 1tsp per 1L of water during vegetative state every 7-14 days
- Root Drench During Bloom - 2tsp per 1L of water every 7-14 days
- Foliar - 1/4tsp of water per 1L of water every 14 days
Soil: Any
We use this in our orchard for all trees (both in our experimental orchard and nursery stock) as part of our holistic spray system. You can download the holistic spray recipe here.
Cold-pressed, live and nutrient-rich, this liquid fish hydrolysate is not sterilized with high heat like an emulsion. 100% no chemicals added, suitable for organic production. Excellent source of probiotics and mycorrhizae that aid the roots in nutrient and water absorption, and for earthworms that increase organic matter in the soil.
Bottle contains 1L. Enough to make 50L of spray mix.
Root Rescue is a certified organic mycorrhizal inoculant designed to set your plants up with a symbiotic relationship that will provide benefits such as establishing new roots more easily, improving nutrient uptake, and increasing disease resistance. This company has been working with the University of Guelph since 2009 to create this cocktail of 18 species of fungi. This inoculant is suitable for any transplanting a variety of plants including hardwoods and softwoods, bushes, flowers, veggies, etc.
Phosphorous is one of the most important nutrients required by plants, aiding in root growth among other aspects of plant development! Soft rock phosphate, aka colloidal phosphate, comes from clay collected from basins of former hard phosphate mining operations. The clay nature of this product means it does not leach out of the soil due to water, allowing it to better stay in place and remain accessible to plants.
Application Rates:
- About 1 cup per tree dusted into backfill soil when planting. One bag has around 5 cups (2kg).
- Light Applications: Apply 3.2kg per 1,000 square feet, ¼ cup per plant, or 0.45kg per 20 foot row of vegetables.
- Normal Applications: Apply 5.5kg per 1,000 square feet, 1/3 cup per plant, or 1kg per 20 foot row.
We use this in our orchard for all trees (both in our experimental orchard and nursery stock) as part of out holistic spray system. You can download the holistic spray recipe here.
Full of trace minerals, this liquid seaweed comes from the Ascophyllum nodosum plant in the Atlantic Ocean.
945mL bottle is enough for 200L of spray mix, or 4x 50L mixes.
Terra Biosa is a dynamic, microbial soil inoculant. It is categorized as a Biological Compost Aid for the cultivation and stimulation of soil productivity and plant health. This all-natural and organic product is useful in orchards, vineyards, gardens, and compost by providing the following benefits:
- Stimulates plants metabolism
- Enhances yield as well as quality of fruit and produce
- Improves resistance to fungal infestations
- Improves soil quality by restoring micro-organisms in the soil
We use this in our orchard for all trees (both in our experimental orchard and nursery stock) as the effective microbe component of our holistic spray system. You can download the holistic spray recipe here.
Recommended Application Rates:
Soil: Mix 1 tsp of Terra Biosa per 40 sq. ft. (4 m2) in your water and apply while irrigating. Apply every two weeks for best result.
Foliar care and feeding: Mix 1 tsp. of Terra Biosa per 1L of fresh (preferably structured) water and apply using a spray bottle. Remember to mist leaves on both sides.
TM-7 contains a blend of seven micronutrients as well as concentrated humic and fulvic acid. It can be used to stimulate microbial activity, increase nutrient uptake, and reduce nutrient leaching. It improves soil structure, builds plant immunity, and promotes growth and increased yields.
Derived from: Boron, cobalt sulfate, copper sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, sodium molybdenate, zinc sulfate and chelated with humic and fulvic acids derived from fresh water cretaceous humate deposits.
Application: Can be used for seed activation and soil or foliar applications
Soil, container, or foliar application: 0.75-1.25g/gal
Field application: 2-4 pounds per acre every 3-6 weeks
Soil: Good for all soil types including containers and hydroponics