Are Organic Fertilizers Right For You? Here's A Look At The Disadvantages

The word "organic" conjures up a variety of images. However, when it comes to fertilizer for your garden, it has a very specific meaning. "Organic fertilizers are soil amendments and other types of fertilizers made without synthetic or harmful chemicals," says Peg Aloi, garden expert at House Digest and owner of Albion Gardens.

When choosing a fertilizer, even an organic one, there are things to look for. "Some products referred to as 'fertilizers' are sometimes actually herbicides, such as pre-emergent granular herbicide, so it's important to read labels and know what you're buying," says Aloi. "Also, some organic products are certified organic, which means they have followed specific rules and guidelines to meet these standards."

"A gardener who wants to maintain sustainable garden practices (which help improve a garden's biodiversity, among other benefits) will want to choose organic fertilizers over nonorganic products," says Aloi, who spoke exclusively to House Digest. Choosing an organic option sound good, but is it always the right choice? Some of the downsides you'll need to consider are its cost and lower nutrient levels.

No harmful chemicals. Enhanced biodiversity. These are all good things, right? So, why would anyone ever choose a nonorganic fertilizer? "One disadvantage to using organic fertilizers in the garden is that store-bought organic fertilizers can be expensive," says Peg Aloi, speaking exclusively to House Digest. "Another aspect that may be seen as a disadvantage is that organic fertilizers have lower levels of nutrients, and therefore may not result in dramatic growth or other results (such as more brightly colored flowers). However, for gardeners who prefer to use environmentally friendly and sustainable materials, these disadvantages are not usually seen as problematic."

The good news is there are things you can do to alleviate these disadvantages. "Some gardeners make their own compost to help offset this cost, but this is time-consuming and does require some effort," Aloi adds. If you want to try this, consider using these food scraps to make a DIY fertilizer. You can also use the leaves of plants like comfrey (Symphytum officinale) to create fertilizer tea. 

When deciding what is right for your garden, there may be other considerations. Do you have well water or a nearby body of water? If so, you'll want to pay attention to what you put in the ground, which could end up in the water via runoff. "The main benefit of organic fertilizer is that it's an important component of an organic gardening practice, which encourages biodiversity and promotes a healthful relationship with surrounding plants and wildlife, including beneficial pollinators," Peg Aloi tells House Digest in an exclusive interview. 

If you are still not sure whether organic fertilizer is right for you, the easiest way to decide may be to think about what you're growing. If you are growing flowers in pots, organic fertilizer may be less important to you. Any time you are eating what you grow, what you put in the soil matters more. "For growing food, choosing organic fertilizer is one of a number of principles of organic growing methods, including not using chemicals for pest control, and choosing organic seeds," says Aloi. If you are just getting started on your journey, consider these tips for starting an organic garden.