Boosting Garden Health

with Free

Organic Amendments

Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden, but commercial fertilizers and amendments can quickly become expensive whilst the chemicals used t create it, can actually harm the natural organisms in the soil in the long term. Fortunately, many powerful soil enhancers can be sourced for free from your kitchen, yard, and local community. These organic amendments not only improve soil structure and fertility but also reduce waste by giving new purpose to items that might otherwise end up in landfills.

Homemade Bone Meal: Calcium and Phosphorus Powerhouse

Bone meal is prized for its high phosphorus content, which promotes strong root development and flowering. Making your own is surprisingly simple:

1. Collect bones from your kitchen (chicken, beef, etc.)

2. Boil them to remove remaining meat

3. Roast in the oven at 400°F for 1 hour to make them brittle

4. Allow to cool, then grind using a dedicated coffee grinder or mortar and pestle

5. Apply directly to soil or add to compost

This slow-release fertilizer is particularly beneficial for flowering plants and root vegetables.

Banana Peels: Potassium-Rich Amendment

Before tossing banana peels in the trash, consider their garden benefits. Bananas are rich in potassium, which supports overall plant health and disease resistance. You can use them several ways:

• Cut into small pieces and bury directly in the soil

• Dry and grind them for a longer-lasting amendment

• Soak in water for 1-2 days to make "banana tea" for watering plants

Roses, tomatoes, and peppers particularly appreciate this potassium boost.

Ground Eggshells: Calcium Supplement

Eggshells are nearly pure calcium carbonate, making them perfect for preventing blossom end rot in tomatoes and strengthening cell walls in all plants. To prepare:

• Rinse shells thoroughly

• Allow to dry completely

• Crush finely (a coffee grinder works well)

• Sprinkle around plants or mix into soil

The finer you grind them, the more quickly they become available to plants.

Kitchen Scrap Compost: Complete Nutrition

Perhaps the most versatile soil amendment comes from combining kitchen scraps with yard waste:

• Fruit and vegetable peelings

• Coffee grounds and tea bags

• Leaves, small sticks, and cardboard (torn into small pieces)

Layer "greens" (nitrogen-rich materials like kitchen scraps) with "browns" (carbon-rich materials like leaves, cardboard, and sticks) in roughly equal amounts. Turn occasionally to aerate. Within a few months, you'll have rich, dark compost teeming with beneficial microorganisms.

Farmyard Manure: Nature's Complete Fertilizer

If you have access to local farms, aged manure is garden gold. Different animals provide different benefits:

• Horse manure: Good all-purpose amendment, may contain weed seeds

• Cow manure: Well-balanced nutrients, slower-release

• Chicken manure: Very high in nitrogen, must be composted before use

• Rabbit manure: Can be applied directly without composting

Always use well-aged manure (at least 6 months old) to prevent burning plants and eliminate pathogens.

***A little can go a long way. You can make a bucket of manure 'tea' by using one or two shovel fulls into a bucket, filling the bucket with water and letting it steep/sit for a couple of hours and then stir and use the liquid as the additive to your soil, or your compost.***

Application Tips

• Apply amendments in fall or early spring for best results

• Incorporate into the top 4-6 inches of soil

• Start with small amounts and observe your plants' response

• Keep records of what you add and how plants perform

By cycling these free resources back into your garden, you're not only saving money but participating in nature's perfect recycling system. Your plants will reward you with stronger growth, better harvests, and increased resilience against pests and disease—all without spending a dime on commercial products.

What will you try first in your garden?