It is hard to imagine that plants managed to grow healthily without human intervention with the help of natural fertilizers in earlier times. This happened basically because they had the right environmental conditions. Through the ages, we began cultivating plants and found it necessary to give them that extra push to produce better flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Taking a hint from history where animal manure, lime and ash were used in the soil, and found effective in better plant growth, the idea of micronutrients and other organic fertilizers grew. It is possible to get the result we want from the plants we cultivate by adding certain fertilizers to the soil.

To determine the kind of nutrients required by your home garden plants, soil testing is done, but it is generally found effective to recycle organic matter and return it to the soil in the form of organic fertilizers so that the plants get what they need. This is a very cost effective way to do it, in addition to being environmentally friendly.

The most important nutrients that plants need to grow healthily are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium and a majority of the garden fertilizers contain these. There are also organic fertilizers that contain nutrients like calcium, magnesium, sulfur, etc. but these are not really required to be supplemented in large quantities as the soil already has the necessary amounts.

Plant micronutrients are elements that plants need, but in very small quantities. These micronutrients comprise of iron, manganese, copper, nickel, chlorine, molybdenum, boron, copper, and cobalt etc. One of the best ways to supplement your plants with micronutrients is through organic fertilizers made of recycled grass clippings, leaves, etc. As garden fertilizers, organic fertilizers are the most beneficial. This comes from grass clippings, leaves, and other trimmed shrubs, and when these are recycled, they become reusable, adding valuable nutrients back to the soil. Most gardens have a regular compost site on the premises where they accumulate organic material to recycle for use.

Shopping for garden fertilizers involves being aware of the nutrients needed by your plants. Most fertilizer advertisements make a lot of claims, so it is better to check them out before buying and using. The label on the product usually describes the contents and directions for use. Last, but not the least, comes the cost of the fertilizers.

While buying fertilizer, it is more important to bear in mind that you are getting nutrients. A variety of fertilizers tend to pack in a whole lot of nutrients while you might actually only need one or two of them. Therefore you might end up spending on what you do not need.

Invariably, the most needed nutrient for plants is nitrogen since they use it in large quantities. It is essential to ensure that your garden gets the requisite amount of nitrogen needed by it for proper growth. Phosphorus and Potassium can be derived from the organic fertilizer added to the soil, so extra supplementing may not be required. Soil testing will show whether your soil is high in potassium or phosphorus, and based on this, you can decide whether or not to add more.

It is possible to buy a fertilizer based on your specific requirements. Quite a few liquid fertilizers include micronutrients. Plants do develop deficiencies in micronutrients but this is dependant on the kind of environment in which they grow. Often, micronutrients are added in garden fertilizers just to be on the safe side and they may actually not really be required. That is why it is important to select and purchase the right fertilizer based on what your plants require.