Fertilizing Responsibly: Avoiding Water Contamination

Plants need light, air, water, root space, and a continuous nutrient supply, mostly from soil. When natural nutrients are insufficient, gardeners add fertilizer.

Responsible Fertilizing

Improper fertilizer use poses environmental risks similar to pesticides. Plants absorb only so much nitrogen at once; excess nitrates from synthetic fertilizers leach into waterways via runoff or aquifer penetration, increasing algal growth and disrupting ecosystems.

Best Practices

Determine actual nitrogen needs. Start with low-nitrogen fertilizer, gradually increase until growth is satisfactory. Consider switching to organic fertilizers only (except blood meal, they have low nitrogen percentages and release slowly, matching plant needs and leaving little excess).