Poor nutrition and water drainage are some of the leading soil issues that many people struggle with. It can be next to impossible to sustain the growth of your garden if you’re not using the right soil mixture. Similarly, if the soil is compacted, you won’t notice any root growth in the plants. So, to avoid these kinds of issues with the garden, it is best to take directions from an expert about how to rejuvenate the soil.
With that said, many people seem confused about the different features of a good soil mixture and fertilizer. So, let’s cover both of these topics briefly to help you with a better understanding.
Fertilizer vs Soil
Fertilizer
A fertilizer is a natural or synthetic content that gardeners add to the garden to improve the overall nutrients in the soil. There are many types of fertilizers available on the market, but the two major categories include synthetic fertilizers and natural fertilizers. Usually, most gardeners like to use natural fertilizers to keep things organic and well-balanced. Even though using chemical fertilizers have an explosive impact on the improvement of the soil, they are not long-term viable.
The primary difference between soil and fertilizers is that fertilizers are nutrient-rich substances that boost the health of the soil. On the other hand, the soil is the medium in which plants are grown to sustain long-term root development and moisture. It is impossible to grow plants in a bag of fertilizer, and sometimes, using too much synthetic fertilizer negatively impacts the soil and leads to the death of the plants. So, you have to always rely on expert opinion before using any type of fertilizer in the soil.
Unlike the soil, Fertilizers are explicitly made to fulfill the nutrient deficiency in the plants. Depending upon the type of nutrient deficiency, you have to rely on different fertilizers to manage the growth of the plants. Once the deficiency is identified, it is easier to keep up with soil requirements by choosing the right type of fertilizer.
Aside from determining the type of fertilizer, you should also focus on the dosage that should be used to rejuvenate the soil. If you’re not confident in your experience, then ask the professionals working at the gardening store for help. They will point you in the right direction with the dosage as well as the type of fertilizer that should be used on your soil.
Soil
The soil mixture is the medium that is used to hold water and provide nutrients to the plant. The fertilizer is added to the soil, and then the nutrients from the fertilizer and then transferred to the plants. Plants can’t directly be planted into the fertilizer bag and need a medium like soil to absorb all the necessary elements. So, you can think of soil as the house for the plants while fertilizers act as energy boosters and food. They improve the health of the soil and make sure that there is no nutrient deficiency in the plants.
A common mistake that people make with fertilizer is that they will use too much fertilizer in the soil to provide maximum benefit to the plants. In reality, going above a specific limit can only harm the plants. So, if you want to see sufficient growth in the plants, remain within the defined limit of dosage, and that should be enough.
Just like the fertilizer, different types of soil mixtures can be used to grow plants. Most experts like to develop their unique variants by using composting combination and soil in proportion. However, if you’re just a beginner, going to a gardening store and buying potting soil should also be a viable option. Ideally, the potting soil from the store retains moisture quite well and provides all the necessary nutrients to the plants.
All in all, the soil is made up of organic matter and another essential element to provide a medium for the plants to grow. At the same time, fertilizer brings an abundance of a specific nutrient to the soil to meet any deficiencies present in the soil. Most commonly, people prefer to use manure and other organic fertilizers to boost the growth of their plants. However, if you’re struggling with severe issues and want immediate results, then chemical fertilizers are the better option.