Coast of Maine 'Kelp Meal' All-Purpose Plant Food
Norwegian Kelp, or Ascophyllum nodosum (or common rockweed), is an exceptional, all-natural soil amendment and fertilizer. When dehydrated and ground into a meal, Norwegian Kelp is a valuable source of macro- and micro-nutrients (mostly in trace quantities). It is 100% natural, environmentally friendly and can also be safely used around trees and shrubs, on lawns, added to container gardens and incorporated into garden beds.
Make a Kelp Meal tea – This recipe can be used both to water your plants and as a foliar spray. Mix ¼ cup of kelp meal into one gallon of water, let it steep for 2-3 days (agitating it daily). If you use the tea as a foliar spray, strain the solids out using cloth so that it won’t clog your sprayer. One pound equals 2.5 cups.
Use as a soil top-dressing – Hand apply Kelp Meal in the spring after the weather warms, watering-in after each application.
New garden beds – Use 2 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. Mix into the top 2-3” of soil.
Established beds – Side-dress 3 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. twice during the growing season.
Rows of vegetable plants – Use 2 lbs. per 100 foot row twice during the growing season.
Planting holes – For 1 gallon pot size or less, add 1 tbs. per planting hole. Larger than 1 gallon, add 2 tbs. per planting hole. Mix into the soil and water-in after planting.
Lawns – Use 10 pounds per 100 sq. ft. in the spring.
Trees and shrubs – Use 1 pound per inch of trunk diameter around the drip line of the tree once yearly. Rake it into the soil.
Houseplants – Top-dress 2 tsp. per gallon of soil twice during the growing season.