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Store-Bought Organic v. Mother Nature’s Fertilizer

The power of organic fertilizers
A hot-button issue in today’s world of agriculture is synthetic versus organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are made up of—you guessed it—animal excreta (manure), and varying degrees of animal and vegetable matter, which make such products extremely rich in nutrients and are wonderful fodder for plants and soil improvement.

Cow and sheep manure has been the cornerstone of fertilization in agriculture for centuries. Some farmers have asked themselves the question, “Do I really need to buy fertilizer when manure is readily available?” To answer this question accurately, let’s explore the world of organic fertilizers versus manure and how to understand their true values.

Manure v. store brands
Manure is essential to plant growth, whether it comes from cows or sheep. Natural manure is extremely rich in nitrogen and provides phosphorus and potassium, which are also essential elements in plant growth. Manure is a safe 100% natural resource, when properly composted, and helps to provide slow-releasing nutrients that not only help plant growth but can improve soil structure.

That being said, let’s look at store-bought fertilizers. Fertilizers, in general, be they synthetic or organic—though, we highly recommend not using synthetic fertilizers, you can read about that in a previous blog—are specifically tailored for precision growth. Some store-brand organic fertilizers cater specifically to plant phylum down to the genus. That’s impressive! Health-wise, these fertilizers are usually pasteurized to reduce pathogens and are odorless, which can be a plus.

Individual circumstances and goals play a major role in determining what kind of fertilizer you want to use, especially if purchasing from a store. If you are more of an urban gardener, store-bought organic fertilizers might be the way to go, as they are a convenient and cost-effective solution, not to mention but will mention it again anyway, store-bought can give you the option of a more controlled and isolated fertilizer depending on what you are growing. However, if you are a rural gardener and have access to large quantities of manure, that may be the most effective method for that particular situation.

So, market-wise, what’s the best organic fertilizer?
One company that is making headlines is Espoma Garden-Tone, known for its balanced nutrient profile and a proprietary blend of beneficial microbes. Dr. Earth Organic Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer has also made some waves with their specialized blend for fruits and vegetables. The truth of the matter is that we could sit here and go back and forth on what’s the best, which one has better this and that, it really comes down to personal gardening needs. Soil testing can help provide some more details regarding which direction you should go with your fertilizer.

Benefits of using organic fertilizers
Some gardeners would tell you to stick to 100% all-natural manure, however here are a few good reasons why adding store-bought fertilizer to your arsenal might not be such a bad idea.

1.    Nutrient diversity: Iron, zinc, and manganese, are just three of many micronutrients that are found at a higher level in store-bought fertilizers compared to manure alone.

2.    Safety: Pathegons can be a serious health risk and often a concern for many gardeners and farmers when determining which direction of fertilization they are wanting to go. Store-bought fertilizers are treated to kill pathogens thereby increasing safety precautions.

3.    Convenience: Handling raw manure can be… well, messy to say the least, while pre-packaged organic fertilizers are made to be easier to handle.

Conclusion: balancing nature and convenience
Now that we have weighed a few options and looked at store-bought v mother nature’s fertilizer, which is the best? Often times gardeners have found that a combo of both has yielded the best results. If you have access to an abundant amount of manure, go with that! That’s a fantastic method of building the backbone of your soil fertility. However, store-bought organic fertilizers can provide missing nutrients in a convenient package and help to take your gardening to all new heights.

Which do you use? Do you use both? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, happy gardening!