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Fertilizer Pumps for your Garden - A few Points Worth Knowing

The next time someone tries to convince you that you "have to" install an automatic fertilizer system to feed your garden plants, I would like to suggest that you take into account the following points.


* In many countries it is prohibited by law to pump liquid fertilizer through the drip system, without the installation of an approved back-flow prevention instrument. This instrument has to be checked by a qualified person on a regular basis – usually once per annum. Failure to do so, like driving a car with an out of date license, could lead to criminal proceedings. Please check where the law stands in your country.


* As the liquid fertilizer is usually poured into a 25 liter container (from which the solution is pumped into the drippers), this empties very quickly in anything but a very small area. In other words you spend more time messing about with feeding than if you were to apply compost and slow release fertilizer once or twice a year .


* The tendency for people who use fertilizer pumps is to think that there's no need to add organic matter to the soil. Nothing could be more mistaken in my view. It is essential to build up the percentage of humus in the soil, and this is generally done by the consistent adding of compost at least once a year. While composting, slow release fertilizer, organic or mineral, can be added, without spending significantly more time. Total reliance on chemical fertilizer is liable to cause soil degeneration, and increase disease and pest infestations, and by creating an undesirable soil pH, can actually make some micro-elements, such as iron for example, unavailable to your garden plants.


* From my experience, injecting liquid fertilizer does often result in more rapid growth in a newly planted garden, but gardens whose soil is enriched organically, catch up after a couple of years or so. Is quick, quick, quick, the last word in good horticultural practice? I don't think so. In fact the only circumstance in a small garden where automatic fertilizing may be intrinsically preferable, is for plants grown in pots and containers, excluding hydroponic culture. So other than container gardening, I suggest you save your money and leave the fertilizer pumps to the plant nurseries where their use is far more relevant.


About the author - Jonathan Ya'akobi.


I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984.


I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners.


I also teach horticulture to students on training courses.


I'd love to share my knowledge and experience with you.


So you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com


Source: www.articlesphere.com