Use These 7 Homemade Fertilizer Recipes in Your Garden (2024)

Equipment / Tools

Materials

1. Make Epsom Salt Fertilizer

   Dissolve 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in 1 gallon of water. Shake the solution thoroughly. Use the solution to water your plants. Water them with this solution once per month during the growing season.

   It works because Epsom salt is made up of magnesium and sulfate, both vital plant nutrients. Some magnesium-loving plants to try it on include houseplants, roses, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes. Like any fertilizer, a little goes a long way! Be sure to use the correct dose for plant size.
   

   

2. Try Coffee Ground Fertilizer

   Line a cookie sheet with newspaper. Spread your used coffee grounds out on the sheet, and allow them to dry completely. Sprinkle the grounds around the base of your acid-loving plants.

   This works because coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, magnesium, and potassium—all-important plant nutrients. They're also naturally acidic, so they can help you boost the acidity of the soil. Azaleas, roses, rhododendrons, and blueberries are just some of the plants that will benefit from this treatment.

   Tip

   Be careful not to overdo it with the grounds. Even acid-loving plants can get too much acid.

   

3. Use Eggshells as Fertilizer

   Save your eggs shells and allow them to air dry. Place the dried shells in a blender and pulse until they're powdery-fine. Sprinkle the shell powder around the plants in your garden.

   This works well because eggshells are made up almost entirely of calcium carbonate—the main ingredient in agricultural lime. Use this in place of lime in the garden.
   

   

4. Create Vinegar Fertilizer

   Combine 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and water. Use the solution to water your plants. Repeat every three months.

   This works because the acetic acid in vinegar works to increase the acidity of the soil—just the thing for acid-loving plants. Use this in place of houseplant fertilizer, rose plant food, and soil acidifiers.

   

   Tip

   Never use straight vinegar to fertilize your plants. Undiluted vinegar is an herbicide.

5. Use Fish Tank Water

   Simply save the water from your fish tank the next time you clean the tank. Use it generously and often to water any plants.

   This works because used fish tank water is full of nitrogen and other nutrients that plants need to thrive. This can be used in place of any other type of fertilizer.
   

   

6. Employ Fireplace Ashes

   Collect fireplace ashes after they cool down. Sprinkle cool (never hot) fireplace ash over your garden beds and work it into the soil.
   

   Fireplace ash is rich in potassium and calcium carbonate. If your soil is too acidic, it'll help to balance out the pH, so your plants are better able to absorb the nutrients that are present in the soil. Use it in place of garden lime.

   Tip

   Fireplace ash should not be used if your soil is alkaline. It also shouldn't be used around acid-loving plants, unless you're trying to turn hydrangeas pink.

   

7. Make Your Own Compost

   Save your fruit and vegetable scraps, newspapers, grass clippings, and other compostable materials. Use them to start a compost bin or pile. Add a bit of water from time to time, and turn your pile to speed up the composting process.

   When everything has broken down into a dark, rich soil, it's time to spread it in your garden.

   Compost is loaded with nutrients and microorganisms that are good for your garden. It is a top-notch organic addition to your soil that can be used anywhere in the garden.