What Can I Use To Amend My Soil?

Have you performed a soil test?

Does your soil lacks any of the primary nutrients - nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or potassium (K)?

Does your soil lacks nitrogen (N)?

Does your soil lacks phosphorus (P)?

Does your soil lacks any of the secondary nutrients -magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), or sulfur (S)?

Does your soil lacks magnesium (Mg)?

Does your soil lacks calcium (Ca)?

Does your soil needs micronutrients - boron (B), zinc (Zn) iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co)?

Only after performing a soil test you can be sure what type of amendments if any, your soil needs. The soil test will tell you about any deficiencies that your soil might have.

You can amend your soil with Alfalfa Meal or Blood Meal. Alfalfa Meal is a source of readily available nitrogen for plant growth and also feeds soil organisms. It contains vitamins, folic acid, and trace minerals. Blood Meal is rich in fast-release nitrogen and it repels deer as a side effect. If you need potassium (K) as well as nitrogen you can use Soybean Meal or Fish Meal.

Bone Char is burned bone meal that provides a readily accessible source of phosphorus. Bone Meal is used as a source of slow-releasing phosphorus and calcium. Calphos Colloidal Phosphate is a good choice if your soil is low in calcium and phosphorus.

Granite Meal is a rock powder that provides slow-release potassium and trace minerals without changing the pH of your soil. Sulfate of Potash contains 51% potassium and 18% sulfur along with trace amounts of calcium and magnesium. Sul-Po-Mag, also called Langbeinite, is used if you need magnesium and potassium but not more calcium. It does not raise pH. Fish Meal and Soybean Meal are an excellent source of nitrogen and potassium if you lack both elements.

Dolomitic Limestone, among other properties, provides calcium and magnesium. If your soil doesn't need more calcium, you can use Sul-Po-Mag (langbeinite). Magnesium can also be found in Greensand (glauconite) that is high in potassium and iron, and in Sulfate of Potash that is high in potassium and sulfur.

Aragonite is a source of calcium that comes from mollusk shells. It's low in magnesium so if you don't need any magnesium, use aragonite. Calphos Colloidal Phosphate is a good choice if your soil is low in calcium and phosphorus. Gypsum is 23% calcium and 17% sulfur, which means that it can provide a source of calcium without raising pH levels. Hi-Cal Lime is used to raise the pH and add calcium at the same time. Bone Meal is used as a source of phosphorus and calcium.

Gypsum is high in calcium and sulfur.

Most soil amendments will contain some amount of micronutrients in addition to the main nutrient. Azomite (A to Z Minerals Including Trace Elements) is a good all-round choice if you need microelements in your soil. Other than nitrogen, Alfalfa Meal contains vitamins, folic acid, and trace minerals, and is considered a good organic choice if you need microelements.

If you need to lower your soil pH, adding elemental sulfur is the preferred way. Raising the pH of the soil can be done by using Limestone, Dolomitic Limestone, or Hi-Cal Lime.