Organic lawn fertilizer: properties & effects

Organic fertilization benefits people, animals and nature. We show why you should supply your lawn with organic lawn fertilizer and what advantages it has.

The use of organic fertilizers represents a kind of revolution in fertilization: it has long been known that purely mineral fertilizers lead to a deterioration in soil quality. In addition, a not insignificant part of the nutrients settles in the absence of healthy soil life, without plants being able to absorb them. In the meantime, with the end of phosphate resources approaching and climate change in sight, the energy-intensive processes for the production of artificial fertilizers are viewed more and more critically. Organic fertilizers are intended to counteract artificial fertilizers and restore the natural health of soil and plants. In the meantime, organic fertilizers are also available as organic lawn fertilizers.

In organic lawn fertilizers, materials are processed that are “bioeffective”, that is, they interact with and act on the biological phase of the soil. In contrast to mineral lawn fertilizers, the organisms in the soil - fungi, bacteria, insects, algae and all sorts of other things - should not be bypassed, but rather used. In the following you will find out everything about the components, properties, effects and use of organic lawn fertilizers.

Organic lawn fertilizer: components and properties

Here you can find out which special components make up organic lawn fertilizer and how they affect the properties of the fertilizer.

Components of organic lawn fertilizers

Organic raw materials form the basis for an organic lawn fertilizer. In keeping with the principle of circular economy, they are primarily made from waste from the food, luxury and animal feed industries. Remnants of vegetable or animal origin can be processed in them, examples are bowls, vinasse, oil cake, horn and blood meal or animal droppings. The leftovers contain plant nutrients, enclosed in natural, organic packaging. However, this organic shell is not just ballast: its presence promotes healthy soil life and the formation of humus. Even living organisms or perennial forms of them can be found in organic lawn fertilizers. Strains of bacteria or fungi that have a positive influence on turf root growth or nutrient availability are not uncommon. But organic lawn fertilizers do not have to be of purely organic origin. Some mineral substances that can also be used in organic farming can be used to optimize their effect.

Tip: Often the phosphate content of organic fertilizers is lower than in conventional fertilizers, because there is sufficient phosphate in most soils. However, it is “fixed” in the form of calcium phosphates, only sparingly soluble and therefore not available to plants. Bio-fertilizers should enable the soil and soil life to make this phosphate usable again, instead of simply bringing in more.

Properties of organic lawn fertilizers

The properties of organic lawn fertilizers can be derived from the ingredients:

nutrient	- The nutrients it contains can be used by the lawn as well as the microfauna and flora of the soil. The nutrient composition is of course tailored to the needs of the lawn - Trace elements are also present in the natural materials used - The high content of organic matter means that nutrients are released slowly and slowly. A natural long-term effect occurs. Since the soil life is influenced by the environmental conditions, nutrients are only made available in vigorous weather - The conversion of nutrients is pH-neutral: the acidity of the soil remains unaffected
Soil properties	- The organic substance can - if available in sufficient quantities - be used to build up humus
Soil life	- The organic material enables soil organisms to survive, as it serves as a sustainable source of energy - The microorganisms contained can enter into symbiosis with the lawn roots and thus improve the absorption of water and nutrients. Other organisms, in turn, ensure that nutrients bound to soil particles are released again or change the pH value of the soil in a favorable way
Environmental compatibility and animal welfare	- As the materials contained are largely biological waste, their use is sustainable and environmentally friendly - The application has no harmful potential for wild animals, domestic animals or humans

Tip: Healthy soil should contain all of the microorganisms that are necessary to develop nutrients in the soil. Symbiotic fungi are also widespread, and lawns can also enter into symbiosis with specific mycorrhiza. However, if there is no soil maintenance, the existence of soil life is constantly thinned out, so that the establishment of new strains can have a positive effect.

If you know more about Organic fertilizer in general, you will find it here.

Organic lawn fertilizer: effects and benefits

The specific effect on the lawn is what interests most amateur gardeners most. The properties of an organic lawn fertilizer do the following on your lawn:

1. The lawn plants are evenly supplied with all the main nutrients and trace elements. Over-fertilization and deficiency symptoms as well as washouts are excluded with fairly regular use.
2. The long-term effect leads to constant growth, which prevents disease and strengthens the heat and drought tolerance of the lawn. Due to the weather-dependent implementation, nutrients are only released when the lawn can use them sensibly.
3. By nourishing soil life, it is able to take part in the development of nutrients and their uptake. This means that the lawn is supplied more reliably and effectively. As a result, the amount of fertilizer required could even be reduced in the long term.
4. If humus is formed through the application of the organic fertilizer, this improves the soil's water and nutrient storage capacity. A lawn is better prepared for dry phases and forgives if you forget to fertilize or if it is done too late.
5. Humus also improves soil aeration and reduces soil resistance: the lawn can take root more deeply and is better supplied. Excess water from heavy rainfall is quickly drained away and cannot damage the roots of the lawn. More about the properties of humus can also be read here.
6. Since the pH value of the soil remains unaffected, there is no need for regular limescale. more on the subject Lawn limescale You will find here.
7. After fertilization, all living beings can enter the lawn again immediately, as no harmful or irritating substances have been distributed.

Compared to mineral lawn fertilizers, organic lawn fertilizers have many advantages. Although the latter provide nutrients for plants, they have negative effects in all other areas.

Application of organic lawn fertilizer

Organic lawn fertilizers can be used between February and October. Since, in addition to the nutrients, their important organic "shell" is also distributed, larger amounts are usually applied as if the same amount of nutrients were fertilized with mineral fertilizers. Since the process of implementation in the soil takes some time, the effect sets in gradually within a month and then lasts for a certain time, depending on the composition. Therefore, ideally, you should fertilize with foresight: For example, you should prepare the energy-sapping spring shoot of the lawn with fertilization between February and April. Because of the natural long-term effect, two to three fertilizations per year are sufficient - one or two between spring and summer and one between late summer and autumn. Spreading is best done with a spreader, even if a slightly less even distribution does not cause any damage. You can safely touch organic lawn fertilizer with your bare hands if you distribute it by hand. After fertilization, people and animals can walk on the lawn again immediately.

Tip: If not otherwise possible, you could even apply the entire annual fertilization in the form of organic lawn fertilizer on a single date, since over-fertilization is excluded. However, the division into spring and autumn fertilization is more beneficial for the lawn, because optimal winter preparation requires a different nutrient composition.

Summary: Application of organic lawn fertilizer

• The application takes place between February and October
• Depending on the weather, the effect starts within one month of application
• One or two fertilizations are carried out between spring and summer, and one between late summer and autumn
• The manual spreading or the use of spreader are equally possible
• After fertilization, the lawn can be used again immediately

More on how to own his Fertilize lawns optimally, You will find here.

Organic lawn fertilizer in spring and summer

Organic lawn fertilizers designed for use in spring and summer have an increased nitrogen content. This is essential for vegetative growth: As the basis of DNA and chlorophyll, it enables the development of photosynthetically active cells. It is also a component of all vegetable proteins that are involved in the life processes of lawn plants.

Strong growth in spring ensures that sufficient energy is available for branching and for bearing the mowing. This makes the lawn as dense as a carpet and can compete with wild herbs. This is exactly what we aim to achieve when developing our Plantura organic lawn fertilizer tracked. This is applied as follows:

• When planting a new plant, 100 g / m² are distributed over the seed bed
• Re-fertilization after the second or third cut of a freshly laid lawn area: 40 g / m²
• The maintenance fertilization between February and October: 80 to 120 g / m² per year in two or more doses
• For regeneration after scarifying: 70 g / m²

More about Fertilize the lawn in spring can be found in our special article.

Organic autumn lawn fertilizer

Organic autumn lawn fertilizers are used to prepare the lawn for winter. This preparation requires an adapted nutrient composition: the nitrogen content is lower, the potassium content higher than with a spring and summer fertilizer. Potassium ensures a high salt concentration in the vacuole of the plant cells and thus protects them from freezing through - just like the sea salt protects the sea from solidifying. It also ensures that stable cell walls are built up. Too much nitrogen supply in late summer or autumn, on the other hand, would not be beneficial: growth stimulated by increased nitrogen supply is very susceptible to frost. A lawn supplied with the right nutrient composition remains green even in winter and even continues to grow slowly at temperatures around 2 to 3 ° C. In our Plantura organic autumn lawn fertilizer we have realized exactly this composition of nutrients. We recommend the following application rate: between July and October 50 to 80 g / m².

More about Autumn lawn fertilization general you can read in this article.

More information about Lawn fertilizers can also be found here.