All plants need light, water, and nutrients to thrive. Fertilizers can contribute nutrients to plant health, but a general rule of thumb is LESS is MORE. Heavy feeders like tomatoes often need additional nutrients that organic fertilizer can supplement; however, fertilizing is not the solution for most problems you encounter. Plants will only absorb the nutrients they require, and over-fertilizing can lead to wasted effort and a build-up of chemicals in your soil.

Also known as vermicomposting, this technique uses an ecosystem of earthworms and microbes to break down organic material into a natural fertilizer called worm castings. Gardeners consider this to be “black gold” because castings have very high levels of microbial activity that enriches soil and promotes water retention.