Organic Fertilisers

In addition to supplying slow-release organic nutrients for plant growth, regularly using organic fertilisers adds organic material to the soil, which has multiple benefits:

• It improves soil structure and health.
• It boosts soil water retention.
• It enables the soil to hold more nutrients.
• It improves the structure of all soil types.
• It improves the drainage of heavy soils.
• It provides plants with organic slow-release nutrients.
• It attracts earthworms and beneficial microorganisms. 

An easy-to-use and apply source of rich organic matter and organic nutrients is Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food & Soil Improver Pellets. It's a blend of composted and concentrated chicken manure, boosted with the goodness of blood and bone, fishmeal and seaweed. In addition to promoting soil structure and health and promoting microbial activity, it provides plants with gentle slow-release nitrogen for healthy green leaf growth, phosphorus for root growth and potassium for flowering and fruiting. It also contains the trace elements calcium, sulfur and iron. Yates Dynamic Lifter can be mixed into the soil whenever planting new vegetables, flowers, roses, trees, shrubs, citrus and Australian native plants. Then reapplied around the root zone every 6 - 8 weeks to keep plants well-fed and promote ongoing soil fertility and healthy soil.

Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food & Soil Improver Pellets is approved for use in organic gardening through Australian Certified Organic (ACO). The ACO approval logo appears on the front of the pack.

Gardeners wanting to feed their lawn organically can use Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Lawn Food. This 100% natural lawn food is ideal for feeding all types of lawns, releasing nutrients slowly and gently to promote lush green growth. 

Blood and bone has been a traditional soil conditioner for many generations and is an additional way for gardeners to add a rich source of organic matter to soil in garden beds and planting holes. Yates Blood & Bone Based Organic Plant Food Granules can be mixed into the soil when planting new plants and spread around the root zone of established plants every spring and autumn. The granules are less messy and easier to spread than traditional powdered blood and bone. 

For the best results, it's important to use and reapply organic fertilisers as per the label directions. For example, Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food & Soil Improver Pellets should be mixed into the soil prior to planting and then reapplied around most plants every six to eight weeks.

Liquid animal manure watered onto leafy vegetables every week or two is an excellent fertiliser. The liquid is made by suspending a permeable bag filled with fresh manure in a large cask or drum of water. After a week the liquid is diluted with water (one part to three parts) for use. There are many convenient, commercially-available, organic-based liquid fertilisers such as fish emulsion and other blends. They combine the advantages of guaranteed nutrient availability with natural components that stimulate soil microbial activity. Seaweed tonics are also included in this group although it's important to remember that they aren't fertilisers. Rather, they contain natural hormones that stimulate root growth and build plant defences against stress.

Synthetic or chemical fertilisers are made from man-made ingredients. They usually contain concentrated nutrients to feed plants and are available in solid or liquid form. Synthetic (only) fertilisers do not contain any organic material so do not contribute to soil health. 

Fertilisers are available that combine organic ingredients and synthetic nutrients. Yates Dynamic Lifter Plant Food Pellets for Fruit & Citrus is an example of a fertiliser that combines fast-acting synthetic ingredients with slow-release nutrients from organic matter.  This fertiliser has been specially formulated to have the right blend of nutrients for citrus and other fruiting trees and plants. Organic-based fertilisers are available to feed other types of plants too, including lawns. 

You can make your own compost from kitchen scraps, lawn clippings and garden prunings to create an additional source of organic matter that can be mixed into the soil. Home-made compost will usually be low in nutrients, so using an organic fertiliser as well is recommended for complete plant health. Here are some handy tips on how to make compost.