• Kelp can be used in its natural form as well as in commercial fertilizers.wasserpflanzen image by Connfetti from Fotolia.com
  
  Readily available along any shoreline, seaweed has been used as a free yet invaluable soil fertilizer for centuries. Kelp in particular has much to offer the amateur and professional gardener alike and is as popular among today's organic enthusiasts as it has been with shoreline communities throughout history. Helpfully for those of us who don't live by the sea, it's now available in gardening stores too.
  
  

Organic and Vegan

• Kelp fertilizers offer a truly organic solution.turnips organically grown image by DSL from Fotolia.com
  
  Unlike many modern fertilizers, kelp contains no chemicals of dubious provenance and no animal content. Although bone meal and other animal-based fertilizers have high potash values, they also have large carbon footprints due to the feeding, transporting and treating of these animal-based ingredients. With kelp fertilizer, however, gardeners can be confident that they are using a product that grows naturally in nature and has a low carbon footprint.
  
  

High in Carbohydrates

• As well as directly helping plants to grow, kelp's high levels of carbohydrates and other micro-nutrients nourish microorganisms in the soil. These organisms improve the quality of the soil, allowing it to hold more water. They also help to protect plants from disease and play an active role in breaking down organic matter, releasing more nutrients into the soil in the process.
  
  

Hormones

• Kelp contains an abundance of natural hormones, such as cytokinins, which play an essential role in helping plants to grow and function properly. This can lead to faster growth and increased longevity, as well as to more plentiful and larger fruits and flowers.