Hello All,
When using organic fertlizers instead of the synthetic how do we know what the plant needs and how much to use?How can we tell and know how to balance each one?Can anyone suggest a good book that will help me to understand?When I read my master gardners manuel it says to use a 10-10-10 or 15-15-15,how can I transfere this in the right amount in organic terms?
Lou Ann

This the major area where all newbies get confused when making the switch.

Chemical fertilizers feed the plant/grass -- unnecessarily & short term -- with high nitrogen phosphorous, etc. This makes them green, does nothing for longterm health and introduces salt byproducts to the soil, gradually killing all the micro-critters that live in it and keep it bio-diverse and healthy.

The organic approach feeds the *soil* with trace elements, etc. and returns oragnic matter to it, thus enabling it to stay healthy and thus support healthy plants/grass/micro-critters.

So, you do not look for a 10-10-10 or anyhting like that specifically. You follow a rpogram to maintain a healthy lawn/garden... and that is well documented in the pages of this site.

Make sense now??

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...Bill

Yes I can understand on how the man-made only feed the plant and not the soil.I am having trouble finding the info. that is well documented on this site about following a program.Unfortanlly, I have brain injury and alot of times it is hard to things.I will continue to search for it on my better days.Thank-you for your time.
Lap

Howard has many books out about organic gardening that are interesting to read and easy to understand. The one I have is The Organic Manual and I refer to it often. Check out his books section on this web site. They can explain what you need to know. Your local library will probably have some of his books.

Pridgeon... I would also start here with this FAQ: http://dirtdoctor.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=382

It's a good overal primer... good luck!

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...Bill