Chemical based fertilizers can actually deteriorate soil and plant conditions by “burning” soil organisms and causing unnatural, prolific growth of green parts (further reducing a plant’s ability to naturally defend itself). Not to mention what this does to a plant’s drought tolerance or where the excess fertilizer goes (ground water, streams and rivers).

So what are we to do? Mulch, compost and organic fertilizers work wonders for the soil-food web. Mulch holds many times its weight in water in addition to yielding essential elements as microorganisms break it down to more fundamental components (to be digested by yet other microorganisms and so on). Compost is already partially broken down and loaded with microorganisms. Many organic fertilizers work on this same principle. As biological activity increases, soil structure improves, resulting in more macro pore spaces (remember that empty space from earlier).

At Clauser, we use a blend of beneficial soil microorganisms, essential macro and microelements, biostimulants (to feed the microorganisms) and a naturally occurring surfactant (to stick to plant roots) and inject it directly into the root zone of trees and shrubs. This results in healthier trees and soil, now and for years to come.