When to use a soil amendment versus fertilizer?

In the battle of soil amendments v. fertilizers, it’s important to note that these products serve different purposes in gardening and agriculture. The decision to use a soil amendment or a fertilizer depends on the specific needs and conditions of your soil and plants. Here’s a general guideline:

Soil Amendments

Soil Amendments: Soil amendments are substances added to improve the physical properties of the soil, such as its structure, drainage, water-holding capacity, and nutrient availability. They are usually used to enhance soil fertility in the long term and provide a favorable environment for plant growth. Common soil amendments include:

– Compost: Adds organic matter, improves soil structure, and enhances nutrient retention.
– Peat moss: Improves water-holding capacity and aeration in sandy soils.
– Vermiculite or perlite: Enhances soil drainage and aeration.
– Gypsum: Helps improve soil structure in heavy clay soils.

Soil amendments are particularly beneficial when dealing with poor-quality or degraded soils, as they gradually improve soil health and fertility over time.

Fertilizers

Fertilizers: Fertilizers are substances containing essential plant nutrients that are added to the soil to provide immediate nutrition to plants. They are used to address specific nutrient deficiencies and promote healthy plant growth. Fertilizers come in different formulations, such as granular, liquid, or slow-release, and provide concentrated doses of specific nutrients, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), as well as micronutrients.

Fertilizers are typically used when plants exhibit signs of nutrient deficiencies, such as yellowing leaves or stunted growth. They are also useful during periods of rapid growth or high nutrient demand, such as flowering or fruiting stages. Fertilizers provide quick results, but excessive or improper use can lead to nutrient imbalances, environmental pollution, or damage to plants.

In summary, use soil amendments when you want to improve overall soil quality and long-term fertility, while fertilizers are suitable for addressing immediate nutrient deficiencies or promoting vigorous growth during specific plant stages. It’s essential to assess your soil’s condition, perform soil tests to identify deficiencies, and consider the specific needs of your plants before deciding whether to use a soil amendment or a fertilizer.

Learn More about Soil Health

To learn more, check out our webinars on Soil Health or see Soil Amendments and Fertilizers for product information.

Peat Alternative During Shortage And Beyond

In 2020 and 2021, the beginning of the supply chain issues and product shortages began and the extreme shortages of peat moss have continued into 2022. Most suppliers are already out of peat moss for the year and do not expect inventory until another harvest during the mid-summer at the earliest and even that supply will be limited. The shortage has also caused the price of available inventory to skyrocket. To help complete the projects that require a peat application, finding a competitive and effective alternative is key. 

Peat is used in root zone construction mixes, gardening, planting mixes, and blanketing new seeds. But is peat truly serving a purpose other than being a filler for soil mixes or keeping seeds secure from rain, wind, or other environmental factors? No, peat has little to no nutrients to offer and is not eco-friendly.

Don’t Take Carbon, Add Carbon

Groups such as the International Peat Society says the mining of peat moss is a culprit for depleting valuable carbon from the soil and releasing massive amounts of carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. However, the argument that peat moss is a renewable resource falls flat because the growth rate is extremely slow and it can never replenish itself at the speed and quantity it is being harvested.

Luckily, there are more sustainable, effective, locally sourced replacements readily available to amend soils and blanket seed. 

Mirimichi Green provides 2 products that outperform peat and are sustainable; CarbonizPN Soil Enhancer and Mirimichi Green Peat Alternative.

CarbonizPN® Soil Enhancer, known for being one of the best professional-grade soil amendments on the market, is the ideal option for those seeking an alternative to peat. CarbonizPN Soil Enhancer with CarboMatrix Technology™ is composed of activated carbon (inoculated biochar) and premium compost that reduces compaction, drives root growth, increases fertility and water absorption, and improves the structure of the soil.

Mirimichi Green Peat Alternative is a sustainable compost created to be a better option and replace peat during the shortage and beyond. It is enriched with CarbonizPN Soil Enhancer as well as peanut husks and shells. Plus, all inputs are sourced in the USA from renewable and readily available materials. Mirimichi Green Peat Alternative will protect new seeds from natural erosion and accelerate germination. The compost and biochar combination adds body to all soil types giving the roots room to easily develop.

Not only does the high-quality compost and biochar in CarbonizPN and Mirimichi Green Peat Alternative increase germination and root growth, but it is all domestically sourced and reduces and solves several environmental issues. 

Less Product, Less Money, Less Labor, Less Time Per Application

Unlike peat, a little bit goes a long way with Mirimichi Green Peat Alternative and CarbonizPN. Typically peat spot seeding applications recommend using a 2-inch layer for the seed, but these alternatives don’t require that much coverage to be effective; a light layer is plenty to give the new seeds and soil biology the nutrients for quick germination and deep root growth. Each application will require less product, saving you time and money on each application.

To easily compare attributes of standard peat, Mirimichi Green Alternative, and CarbonizPN, view the table below:

References:

• https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-use-peat-moss-5089620 
• https://www.trees.com/gardening-and-landscaping/peat-moss 
• https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/peatcom.html#:~:text=Peat%20moss%20helps%20the%20soil,rhododendrons%2C%20benefit%20from%20peat%20moss

Lawn Winterization: Tips for Healthier, Greener Turf Next Spring

Thanks to Ron Henry at GolfCourseLawn for featuring Essential-G in his latest video on Winterization. Check out his video below. He covers the reasons why you might want to consider a late-season application of a soil amendment like those from Mirimichi Green.

As Ron mentioned, late fall and early winter are the perfect times to focus your efforts on:

• Resupplying the organic content the soil has been using
• Helping the soil conserve beneficial nutrients
• Developing healthier soil that resists erosion
• Avoiding soil compaction

One thing Ron didn’t address in his Georgia-based video, is the salt runoff mitigation benefits a winterization program can offer in colder climates.

So for homeowners itching to be out in the yard or garden again, a winterization treatment can be a great excuse to get out there. One that can pay dividends in spring with quicker greenup for less effort.

For landscape professionals, winterization is an opportunity to sell an additional application during the slow season that makes things easier on their crews come springtime.