As your plants grow, organisms propagate with them as well, and the growth of both changes the property of the soil that they grow on. The solution is Soil Additives.
It’s vital to keep the nutrient availability of the soil at optimal conditions for healthy plant and microbial development.
You can do this by adding a soil amendment recipe consisting of 2 parts lime, 2 parts gypsum, and 1/2 parts blood meal.
The mixture fertilizes and changes the physical conditions of the soil, enriching and improving soil quality to cater to the specific needs of your plants throughout their growth cycle. Here’s how these 3 additives enhance your garden grounds.
Mined Soil Additives
Dolomite Lime: Soil Additives
As your plants grow, they absorb the nutrients from the soil, lowering the pH of the ground, making it acidic.
A soil that is too acidic, below 5, is toxic to plants, especially crops that grow well in alkaline soil with pH levels between 7 and up.
Read also 4 Practical Uses of Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth for Gardeners
Adding lime into the soil during your plants’ growth cycle or after harvest increases pH to suitable, optimum levels between 5.5-7 ranges.
For most gardens, a pH of 6.5 is just about right, since most plants thrive between 6-7 pH levels.
The main active component of lime is calcium carbonate, along with varying levels of magnesium oxide, magnesium carbonate, and calcium.
Aside from increasing the pH level of soil or bringing it to the neutral levels, lime is also a source of magnesium and calcium for your plants.
It also enhances water penetration in acidic soil and boosts the capacity of plants to absorb major nutrients, including potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen.
Gypsum: Soil Additives
This soil additive is one of the oldest fertilizers and soil conditioners for farming and gardening and added to soil during the late 18th and early 19th century to amend high-sodium levels in the soil.
High salt concentration results in plants having too much sodium, boron, and chlorine, which accumulates in their stems and leaves and is toxic for plants that often manifests by leaf burning at the edges of the leaves.
High salt levels also produce an effect called osmosis, which prevent plants from absorbing water.
In response, plants use their organic and sugar components just to absorb water, resulting in reduced growth and lower crop yield.
Gypsum or calcium sulfate is also soluble, making its sulfur and calcium content readily available for plant absorption.
Like lime, its calcium content helps amend high acid levels in soil. It also helps break down heavy clay, increasing water absorption of the ground.
The Best Organic Soil Additives
Blood Meal Soil Additives
Blood is simply dried animal blood, usually cow blood, but can be blood of any animal.
This organic fertilizer is an excellent organic source of nitrogen, which also amends high acid level in your garden as soil microbes convert this element to ammonia.
It’s fast acting and helps increase the levels of nitrogen in the soil immediately.
However, careful application is needed since too much nitrogen can burn your plants.
Blood meal can be used to deter some animals, including deer, squirrels, and moles, which are believed to dislike the smell of blood.
On the other hand, blood meal can attract possums, raccoons, dogs, and other omnivorous and carnivorous animals.
Soil Additives Precautions
As useful as lime, gypsum, and blood meal, or any other amendment are, always test your soil for nutrient and pH levels.
No additive in the world, organic or mined, will do your plants any good if applied in toxic amounts.
For your garden lime, gypsum, and blood meal see our recommended soil amendment recipe supplies.
Soil Additives Amendment Video Review
Check also our Video Review for Soil Amendment Top Recipe
Top 3 Soil Amendment Features & Reviews
1- Espoma GL6 Garden Lime Soil Amendment
Garden lime soil amendment is the finest grade of pelletized, dolomitic limestone available.
Adjusts soil pH so plants can get the most from nutrients present.
Fine pellets spread easily, react quickly and do not pose the hazards associated with hydrated lime. Covers 100 square feet area. Comes in 6.75-pound bag.
- Garden lime soil amendment is the finest grade of pelletized, dolomitic limestone available
- Adjusts soil pH so plants can get the most from nutrients present
- Fine pellets spread easily, react quickly and do not pose the hazards associated with hydrated lime
- Covers 100 square feet area
- Comes in 6.75-pound bag
2- Espoma GG6 Garden Gypsum Fertilizer
Organic plant foods are organic supplements and natural soil amendments that is approved for organic gardening.
This diversified product selection provides a range of solutions from addressing specific nutrient deficiencies to loosening heavy, clay soil.
Comprised of 100-percent organic nutrients, these products are pure plant food with no fillers or sludge’s.
They enrich your garden with the best the earth has to offer.
- Pelletized for easy application
- Loosens heavy clay soils
- Helps cure turf burns from ice melters and pets
- For organic gardening
3- Down To Earth 5-Pound Blood Meal
A high nitrogen source, blood meal is guaranteed to promote rapid, green growth
- A wonderful fertilizer for heavy feeders like corn, spinach, salad greens and garlic in the early spring
- Blood meal also helps compost piles heat up and break down fast
- Place some in mesh bags and hang from tree branches for an effective deer repellent in your garden
- Apply 4 to 8 lbs per 100 square feet
- Additional application rates included on package
