Plant & Fertilizer Projects

• Plants need 17 nutrients to grow and thrive, according to Utah State University Extension horticulturist Jerry Goodspeed. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are available from the air and water, and the remaining nutrients must come from the soil. Fertilizer increases the soil's nutrient content and therefore the nutrient content of food grown in the soil. Organic composted fertilizer increases the biological activity in the soil through its microorganism content. Microorganisms create the soil's structure and nutrient content and its ability to use water effectively. There are several garden projects that improve plant growth with fertilizer.

Compost Bin

• Backyard composting provides fertilizer for garden and house plants. One teaspoon of compost-rich soil has 4 billion living microorganisms that provide nutrients to growing plants. There are many types of commercially available compost bins, and it is also easy to make your own. Use a 30-gallon galvanized metal garbage can with a tight-fitting lid. Drill or punch 30 drainage holes, each ¼- to 3/8-inch in diameter, in the bottom and lower sides of the can. Dig a 15-inch hole in a well-draining corner of the yard and place the can inside. Push soil around the edges. Fill the can with alternate layers of shredded leaves and newspapers and green yard and kitchen waste materials. Water it thoroughly, but do not soak. Worms will enter the compost can, aiding decomposition. The compost will be ready in three to six months.

Vermicompost

• Fertilizer made by worms is higher in nitrogen content than compost. "Vermicomposting is the process of using worms and microorganisms to turn kitchen waste into a black, earthy-smelling, nutrient-rich humus," according to the University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension website. Use a 2-foot by 2-foot plastic storage container with a lid and drill eight to 12 ¼- to ½-inch holes in the bottom for drainage and aeration. Add 4 to 6 pounds of shredded newspaper or commercial worm bedding, moistened to wet-sponge consistency. Add red wrigglers, manure worms or tiger worms, which are available at local vermicompost workshops and online worm farms.

Compost Tea

• Compost tea is made by putting 1 gallon of mature compost into 4 gallons of water. The compost has been heated to above 135 degrees Fahrenheit in the compost pile, so it is free of disease-causing organisms. Stir the tea several times each day for three days to incorporate oxygen and dislodge microbes from solid material. Apply the tea with a watering can diluted in a 1:5 ratio of tea to water. Compost tea is used also as a foliar spray for pest control.