After my recent article on basic fertilizer, a reader (thanks for the great question!) asked if it's truly necessary. The short answer: it depends, but let's dive deeper.
Plants, like all living things, need nutrients to thrive. In their natural wild state, they draw everything from the soil. However, in a cultivated garden, we disrupt this balance through harvesting crops, removing dead leaves, and pruning. These actions export nutrients that the plants pulled from the soil, preventing them from naturally returning. That's why replenishing the soil is key in gardening.
As an experienced gardener once told me: "What's in the ground isn't yours— if you take it, give it back." This simple wisdom underscores sustainable practices.
That said, don't overdo it. Plants aren't geese waiting for foie gras—excess fertilizer can harm more than help.
