seaweed

[Khadisha Harvey]

I'm interested in what people think is the best way of using seaweed on the garden - dig it straight in, let it break down in compost first, dry and break it up then sprinkle on ground, soak in water till it breaks down then use liquid or something else I've not thought of?

[Annie]

Hi Khadisha,
I usually compost mine, but I have snaked it around plants in the past and the growth was phenomenal! Some books suggest you wash it first, but I never have!
Happy gardening!

[Colin Cook]

Hi Khadisha the best way I found is to form a trench about a spade deep across the width of your garden.Lay the seaweed in this trench and dig another trench along the width using soil to cover seaweed in in first trench. I have found seaweed composts faster this way Do not do as I did and try to cut it up with the mower as ther are far more stones and sand than you realise.

[Tim]

Hi Khadisha, These are all valid seaweed applications.

From a gardeners perspective seaweed provides the same benefits, as a well balanced natural fertiliser, wet or dry. Though in dry form it's going to take slightly longer to break down and release the various nutrients, vitamins and elements we're looking for to support our soils, feed the microflora and our crops.

So it really comes down to what it is you're trying to achieve with the seaweed ...

This time of year, down under, is a good time to use fresh seaweed directly at the bottom of trenches to sow early potatoes. No need to pre-process the seaweed in any way.

Similarly direct application around the root line of your production trees will boost their potential for spring growth.

As does compost amended with seaweed in and around any crop. Seaweed is good for compost building as it provides the benefits of a natural fertiliser and also helps to activate the pile when you build it.

It's hard to go wrong with seaweed, it's a very useful. But be aware that seaweed bio-accumulates lots of things including heavy metals e.g. Zinc, Copper etc. So if you harvest it from polluted waters you could be introducing not only good things to your garden but also some bad things.

[Gayleen Taylor]

i use it straight on the ground but also keep a bunch in a bucket of rainwater. I dilute this in a bucket till it looks like weak tea and apply it reg to my plants. great stuff - like magic!

[Lorraine Barnett]

HI Khadisha
When we used to collect seaweed we put it in a barrel to soak, it used to become a good smelling brew.. I cannot remember how long it was left, but we would stir and empty some of the brew into buckets... Watering it down and pouring around plants. It was a great way to encourage plant growth. I think you have to be careful not to overfeed with this mix and kill your plants though.

[Khadisha Harvey]

Gayleen Taylor said:

i use it straight on the ground but also keep a bunch in a bucket of rainwater. I dilute this in a bucket till it looks like weak tea and apply it reg to my plants. great stuff - like magic!