It’s a common misunderstanding
I have been helping homeowners with their lawns and gardens for over 10 years. When helping clients solve issues in their lawns and garden, I often need to ask “when was the last time you fertilised?”. It is surprising how many people answer something like “I put Seasol down X weeks ago”. Here is the problem, even though sometimes Seasol is advertised as a fertiliser, Seasol is not a fertiliser and we need to stop using it as a replacement for fertilisers.
Don’t get me wrong. Seasol – and other seaweed products – are great for lawns and gardens. But it can’t do the job that fertiliser does. Below, I’ll give you: the reasons why Seasol is not a fertiliser; some good liquid and granule fertilisers to use alongside Seasol; and the real advantages that Seasol truly has.
Seasol has almost no NPK
Your lawns and plants need nutrients to survive. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) are the main nutrients (macro nutrients) your plant needs. Micro nutrients like Iron (Fe) or Magnesium (Mg) are also needed, but N, P and K are required in the largest quantities.
The role a fertilizer truly plays is to supplement the plant with the nutrients – mainly NPK – that it is not getting from the soil. Seasol has only tiny, almost unnoticeable amounts of the most important nutrients your lawns and plants need to thrive.
Here is a breakdown from Seasol of what is in its product.
For comparison, a general NPK fertiliser analysis would look something like:
- Nitrogen (N) 14% (140x as much as Seasol)
- Phosphorus (P) 2% (200x as much as Seasol)
- Potassium (K) 8% (5.3x as much as Seasol)
The only macro nutrient Seasol has in any serious quantity is Potassium and even then it’s still five times less than a general fertiliser.
If you are looking for high quality nutrition to help supplement what your soil is missing, Seasol is not the answer. So what does Seasol do?
If Seasol isn’t a nutrient supplement, then what does Seasol do?
This list is taken straight from Seasol own website. They advertise that Seasol:
- Stimulates strong root growth and beneficial soil micro-organisms.
- Promotes vigorous flowering and fruiting and overall garden health.
- Helps plants cope with all kinds of stress, such as heat, drought and frost.
- Gives plants better resistance to sucking insects and fungal attack.
- Safe to use on all plants including natives at any time.
- Improves seed germination and reduces transplant shock.
- Helps to increase nutrient uptake, so when fertilisers are applied they are much more effective.
It’s clear that there are benefits to using Seasol. If you are using it on your lawns and gardens, don’t stop using it. However, my advice would be to also use a high quality complete fertiliser alongside it. That way you get the best of both worlds.
What products should I use to fertilise my lawns and gardens?
There are many great products out there and I don’t believe there is a ‘one size fits all’ solution. But if you are looking for some great products that can work alongside Seasol, here are four great, general-use options.
High quality granule garden fertiliser
This is a great garden all-rounder that last six months in the soil. It is designed for all your gardens needs with up to 60 minerals and 24 species of beneficial microbes, bacteria and fungi.
Troforte M General Purpose is suitable for potted and in-ground trees, shrubs, flowering plants and all Australian natives.
High quality liquid garden fertiliser
PowerFeed PRO SERIES Plant Food All Purpose
This product is made by the same company that make Seasol. However, you will notice the difference in the nutrition analysis: Nitrogen (N) 12.0%. Phosphorus (P) 1.3%. Potassium (K) 7.0%. This product has the nutrition your plants need.
Liquid fertilisers are great at giving plants a quick boost and are also really effective with indoor plants and flowering annuals. If that is what you are looking for, then PowerFeed PRO SERIES All Purpose is a great option for you.
High Quality Granule Lawn Fertiliser
Eco-Prime Emerald is a complete rock mineral NPK fertiliser impregnated with beneficial microbes. It’s designed to enhance lawn surfaces by providing balanced nutrition and strong root growth.
Emerald is a very good growing season fertiliser that many people have used with exceptional results.
High quality liquid lawn fertiliser
Green Plus is a high quality, commercial grade liquid fertiliser designed to produce deep green colour and vigorous turf growth.
It can be applied throughout the year, particularly in cooler months to maintain colour and health, providing a readily available source of essential turf nutrients to rapidly address deficiency.
If you reading this and everything seems too difficult and complicated, we are here to help. Silverstone Gardening hires qualified and experienced gardeners who can identify and solve your lawn and garden problems for you. If you would like a professional gardener to look after your lawns and gardens, contact us today for a quote.
