Soil Health

As winter fades and we begin planning gardens and pasture growth, early spring is the perfect time to evaluate what your soil actually needs. Months of cold temperatures, snow, and rain can leave soil compacted, mineral-depleted, and biologically sluggish. The good news is that a few simple steps can help wake your soil back up and set the stage for a productive growing season.

Below are some of the most common soil deficiencies and challenges we see each spring—along with simple ways to correct them.

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1️⃣ Mineral Depletion After Winter

Heavy winter precipitation often leaches key nutrients from the soil. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and trace minerals are especially prone to being washed deeper into the soil profile where young plants can’t easily access them.

Replenishing broad-spectrum minerals early in the season is one of the best investments you can make. Products like Fertrell mineral blends help restore a wide range of trace elements that plants require in small amounts but depend on heavily for healthy growth.

These ocean-derived minerals:

Reintroduce dozens of trace elements

Support stronger plant immune systems

Improve flavor and nutrient density in produce

Help build resilient pasture forage

Applying minerals before planting or just as pasture begins greening up helps ensure plants have what they need from the start.

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2️⃣ Low Soil Biology After Cold Weather

Winter slows microbial life dramatically. Beneficial bacteria, fungi, and other organisms that normally break down organic matter and cycle nutrients are often at their lowest levels in early spring.

Without active soil biology:

Nutrients remain “locked up” in the soil

Plants struggle to access fertility

Soil structure breaks down over time

Stimulating soil biology helps bring soil back to life quickly.

Some effective strategies include:

Adding compost or compost-based fertilizers

Applying biological soil amendments

Feeding microbes with organic matter

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3️⃣ Compaction from Winter Moisture

Repeated freezing, thawing, and wet conditions can leave soil dense and compacted, especially in gardens that were heavily walked on or pastures with winter livestock traffic.

Compacted soil leads to:

Poor root penetration

Reduced water infiltration

Increased runoff and erosion

Stunted plant growth

Improving soil structure is key.

Helpful approaches include:

Light tilling or broad forking garden beds

Adding organic matter such as compost

Improving mineral balance (especially calcium)

Balanced minerals help soil particles form stable aggregates, which create air pockets for roots, microbes, and water movement.

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4️⃣ Poor Early Nitrogen Availability

Nitrogen is the nutrient plants need most for leafy growth, but early spring soils often lack available nitrogen because microbial activity hasn’t ramped up yet.

Symptoms include:

Slow seedling growth

Yellowing leaves

Weak pasture regrowth

Applying a gentle nitrogen source early in the season can help jump-start plant growth while the soil biology catches up.

Organic fertilizers from Fertrell are designed to release nutrients steadily rather than all at once, helping support plants without creating excessive runoff or burn.

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5️⃣ Trace Mineral Deficiencies

Many soils—especially those farmed for years—lack critical trace elements such as boron, zinc, copper, and manganese.

Though needed only in small amounts, these minerals play huge roles in:

Flower and fruit development

Plant immunity

Seed germination

Nutritional value of crops

Broad-spectrum mineral amendments are often the easiest way to address trace deficiencies. Applying SEA-90 Soil Mineralizer helps restore a natural ocean-derived mineral balance that plants evolved to thrive in.

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Simple Steps to Start the Season Strong

If you want to give your garden or pasture the best start possible this spring, focus on these four fundamentals:

1. Test your soil

Knowing your starting point helps guide mineral applications.

2. Replenish trace minerals

Use products like SEA-90 Soil Mineralizer or fertilizer blends from Fertrell.

3. Feed the soil biology

Add compost or biologically friendly fertilizers.

4. Improve soil structure

Reduce compaction and add organic matter.

Healthy soil is the foundation of productive gardens, nutrient-dense food, and resilient pasture forage. Taking a little time to correct common spring deficiencies now can pay dividends all season long.

If you’re not sure what your soil needs, stop in and talk with us—we’re happy to help you choose the right amendments to get your soil and plants thriving this year.

Bringing home chicks soon? The first few weeks set the foundation for lifelong health, strong growth, and great egg production. A little preparation now makes all the difference.

Here’s what you need to get ready:

Quality Chick Starter Feed

Chicks grow fast – and they need the right fuel to do it. We carry multiple non-GMO chick starter options to fit your goals, whether you’re looking for dual-purpose, corn/soy free, or traditional formulations. A balanced starter provides the protein, vitamins, and minerals necessary for strong bones, feather development, and steady growth. We recommend making their first few meals into a wet mash for added hydration and easy digestion, especially if they were shipped.

Safe, Reliable Heat Source

Chicks can’t regulate their body temperature yet. Make sure your brooder stays around 95°F the first week, decreasing gradually each week after. Consistent warmth prevents stress and pasting issues. Look for safe heating sources such as plates as opposed to heat lamps. Check all wiring before re-using your heater from last year. Fires are commonly started by heat lamps and damaged heaters.

Clean, Dry Bedding

Straw bedding helps insulate, absorb moisture, and create a comfortable environment. Keeping bedding dry is key to preventing respiratory issues and coccidiosis. Plan to refresh it regularly, clean brooders grow healthier birds.

Fresh Water + Proper Waterers

Clean water at all times is non-negotiable. Use chick-safe waterers to prevent drowning and contamination.

Space & Protection

Avoid overcrowding. Give chicks enough room to move, eat, and rest comfortably. Proper ventilation without drafts keeps air fresh while protecting them from chills.

Starting chicks isn’t complicated – but doing it intentionally makes all the difference. Healthy feed, clean bedding, consistent warmth, and good management will set your flock up for success from day one.

Stop by and we’ll help you get everything you need to kick off chick season the right way!

Let’s Grow!

It may still feel early, but now is the time to set your garden up for success. A thriving spring garden doesn’t happen by accident – it starts with preparation.

Here’s what you should be doing right now:

Test Your Soil

Before adding anything, know what your soil actually needs. A simple soil test takes the guesswork out of fertilizing and helps you amend with purpose, not waste. Redmond soil test kits are only $31.30!

Amend & Feed

Once you know your soil’s needs, add the right amendments to build structure, improve drainage, and boost fertility. Healthy soil means stronger roots, better nutrient uptake, and higher yields. We carry organic soil amendments and fertilizers from Fertrell to give your plants the nutrients they need from day one.

Start Seeds the Right Way

Use an organic potting soil specifically designed for seed starting. A light, balanced mix helps seedlings develop strong roots without compaction or nutrient burn. Fertrell Organic Potting soil is just $37.89 for a 2.8 cu. ft. bag!

Get Ahead of Weeds

Early intervention makes all the difference. Our organic weed control options help you manage unwanted growth without compromising your soil health or garden ecosystem, but they do best when you start early.

A productive garden starts below the surface. Healthy soil + proper nutrients + early preparation = abundant harvests later.

Stop in and let’s get your garden growing the right way this season!

Many homesteaders think of spring as “when the real work begins.” In truth, much of the success (or struggle) in spring is determined in the preceding fall, winter, and early spring. If you layer in regenerative practices, you can build stronger, biologically vibrant soils that require fewer external inputs over time.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting your soils ready for spring—whether in the garden or on pasture—and which products can support each step.

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Step 1: Test, Observe, Plan
You can’t fix what you don’t measure. A soil test gives you baseline levels of pH, nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, micronutrients), organic matter, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). With that, you avoid guesswork and over-application.

How:
• Collect representative soil cores (0–6″, or deeper in pasture) or forage samples from each distinct management area (garden plots, paddocks, etc.).
• Send to a reliable lab, such as DairyLand labs for forage and feeds, your local extension office, or use a DIY soil test kit from Redmond.
• While waiting for results, walk your land: identify low spots, compaction, bare patches, erosion paths, drainage issues, and existing vegetative cover.

Interpret & plan:
• Match your soil test results to targeted fertility goals for your crops, pasture species, or forage mixes.
• Sketch out a fertilizer/amendment plan, mapping which zones get what.
• Consider partitioning your budget: some “quick fixes” (to correct deficiencies) and some “long game” regenerative inputs (to build biology, organic matter, etc.).

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Step 2: Correct pH & Base Cations

If pH, calcium, magnesium, or base cations (Ca, Mg, K) are off, your other amendments won’t work optimally. Microbes, nutrient availability, and root activity all depend on favorable pH.

1. Apply lime or calcium sources (if soil test suggests pH is too low).
   • In many soils, you’ll want to raise pH to ~6.2–6.8 (for many garden/forage species).
   • If the soil test suggests a calcium boost (beyond just pH correction), consider Aragonite (a sea calcium with a favorable Ca:Mg ratio).
   • Fertrell’s Soil Mineralizer contains calcium, phosphate, potassium, sulfur, trace minerals, and seaweed (so it can help condition the soil and supply multiple base nutrients).
   • If magnesium is lacking, consider Sul-Po-Mag as a source of K and Mg without altering pH.
   • If only calcium is needed without raising pH, Gypsum is a safe option (doesn’t alter pH but improves structure and adds Ca).
2. Incorporate additives, even if just lightly.
   • Use a light till, disking, or aeration to mix mineral amendments into the top few inches.
     In the pasture, you might drag or aerate rather than till.
3. Allow time to react.
   • Lime and calcium amendments may take weeks to months to fully shift soil chemistry. That’s fine; it gives you buffer before the prime planting window.

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Step 3: Build Organic Matter, Microbes & Biological Activity
This is where regenerative practices pay off long term. You want a living soil, not just a chemically fed one.
Tactics & matching products:

1. Cover Crops & Green Manures
   • In garden beds or paddocks, seed cover crops (rye, oats, clovers, vetch) in fall. Their roots feed soil life, suppress erosion, and fix nitrogen (if legumes are included).
   • Terminate them appropriately (roll-crimp, mow, cut, or graze) before full maturity, then let residues sit or lightly incorporate.
2. Feed the Microbes
   • Fertrell’s Bio-Hume (a liquid humate concentrate) improves tilth, moisture retention, and retains nutrients for plants.
   • Fertrell’s Beneficial Biology and Mycorrhizae Plus — microbial inoculants to help colonize and support the soil rhizosphere.
   • Consider mixing microbial inoculants into the seed mix when overseeding a cover crop or broadcasting them over the soil surface, then lightly raking or watering in.
3. Organic Inputs & Mineral Boosters
   • Kelp Meal conditions soil, stimulates root growth, improves drought/frost resilience, and helps build soil life.
   • Use Zeolite (a high CEC material) to boost the soil’s ability to hold onto cations (Ca, K, Mg, etc.).
   • Worm Castings is a soil amendment rich in micronutrients and beneficial organisms.
4. Minimize Soil Disturbance
   • Adopt minimal-till, no-till, or strip-till practices.
   • Keep living roots in the ground as much as possible—cover crops, perennial forages, or multi-species mixes.
   • In pastures, use rotational grazing or mob grazing to allow recovery, rest, and deeper root growth.
5. Plan nutrient cycling & manure management
   • In a livestock context, try to distribute manure evenly (rather than concentrating in one patch) via rotational grazing or electric fence to encourage uniform fertility.
   • If collecting manure, compost it or age it before applying. Then use that compost to add microbial life and organic matter to your soil.

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Step 4: Plan & Apply Nutrients (Late Winter / Early Spring, before green-up)
Now that your soil pH is corrected and your biology is primed, it’s time to feed for performance.
Key principles:
• Feed the plants, but feed the soil first.
• Use slow-release, biologically mediated fertilizers instead of just “quick fix” salts.
• If a soil test shows deficiencies, fill them carefully, observing nutrient ratios and not creating imbalances.

1. Balanced Dry Fertilizer Blends
   • Fertrell’s Super N 4-2-4 is an organic, well-balanced option.
   • Super K 3-4-7 is useful where potassium is limited.
   • Earth Friendly All-Purpose 5-5-3 is for more balanced, lower-risk feeding without burning.
   • Berry Mix 4-2-4 is specially formulated for berries but can be illustrative of applying a more tailored blend.
2. Targeted Individual Amendments (based on soil test)
   • If you need extra phosphorus and calcium, Phostrell 0-6-0 is a blend of bone char and aragonite offered by Fertrell.
   • For potassium, Green Potash (a zeolite + kelp blend) or Sulfate of Potash are available.
   • For sulfur, use 90% Pelleted Sulfur.
3. Liquid & Foliar Amendments
   • Use Fertrell Liquid 3-4-3 (fish emulsion + kelp + humate blend) as a boost during early growth or for seedlings.
   • Fertrell Liquid #3 (2-3-1) can be used as a foliar spray or in fertigation systems, particularly during times of plant stress.
   • Apply Pro K 0-0-20 (soluble potassium) when K is limited and you want an available source
4. Biological Support Co-applications
   • Combine fertilizer applications with a microbial or mycorrhizal inoculant (like Mycorrhizae Plus) to help roots tap nutrients more effectively.
   • Adding Bio-Hume along with fertilizer helps buffer, improve retention, and reduce leaching.
5. Timing & Layering
   • Make a base granular (dry) application before green-up or at planting.
   • Follow with lighter liquid or foliar applications mid-season if needed.
   • Adjust to soil temperature and moisture – cold soils reduce microbial activity, so heavy fertilizer right on frozen or very cold ground may lead to losses.

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Step 5: Monitor, Adjust, and Regenerate (Growing Season & After)
Even the best plans need adjustment. Keep your soil in a feedback loop.

Monitoring & adjustments:
• Conduct midseason sap, tissue, or foliar tests to catch nutrient stress early.
• Observe plant growth, root color, uniformity of forage or vegetables, and signs of deficiency or toxicity.
• Keep a fertility log: which amendment you applied where, and how the crop or pasture responded.

Regenerative mindsets:
• Rotate crops and forages to prevent disease, break pest cycles, and diversify root structures.
• Use multi-species mixes (legumes + grasses + herbs) to stimulate different microbial niches and more robust soil structure.
• Reduce synthetic inputs over time as your soil biology and fertility improve.
• Encourage and preserve perennial plants, deep-rooted species, and diversity to improve soil carbon and water infiltration.

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Sample Timeline Snapshot for a Homestead / Pasture Soil Plan

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Tips & Caveats for Pasture / Grazing Contexts
• Avoid over-application – forage species respond well to modest fertility improvements; pushing too hard may invite weeds or imbalance.
• Even application is key – use spreaders or broadcasters designed for pasture scale; uneven patches lead to inconsistent grazing and hoof damage.
• Time fertilizer relative to grazing – ideally apply 2–3 weeks before grazing to allow plants to take up nutrients and reduce run-off risks.
• Watch soil compaction – do not apply with heavy equipment in wet conditions; use lighter methods or drag harrows instead.
• Manure + fertility – when animals are out, consider dragging or spreading manure to even out nutrient deposition and break up dung patches.
• Maintain rest and regrowth – without rest, plants and roots weaken. Regenerative grazing (rotational, mob grazing) supports root depth and microbial resilience.

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Taking a regenerative, biology-first approach to soil preparation isn’t about flipping a switch overnight—it’s about layering thoughtful practices over seasons. With a foundation of sound soil testing, appropriately balanced mineral amendments, and a sustained push toward building biology and organic matter, your garden beds and pastures will be stronger, more resilient, and more forgiving. Now is the time to start!