How to Use Calcified Seaweed In The Garden

Last Updated on November 9, 2021 by Real Men Sow

What is Calcified Seaweed?

Calcified Seaweeds aren’t really seaweed, but a kind of calcified cold water coral and coralline algae. It’s harvested from the sea of French and English coasts. It’s called maerle in Northern France and are used there to improve garlic, onion, and broccoli crops. 

It’s made up of 50% calcium, 5-10% magnesium carbonate and trace elements of Sulphur, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Cobalt, and Boron. This is the reason why it’s a better fertilizer than chemical fertilizers and garden lime. They’re known to transfer nutrients directly to the root structures of plants, which makes better soil structure and provides a good root development. 

Should You Use this as Fertilizer

Calcified Seaweed is totally different in composition to that of fresh seaweed which is made into seaweed meal(crushed and dried fresh seaweed), powdered seaweed extract (produced by boiling the seaweed and evaporating off its liquid content, leaving a concentrated solid extract that is powdered), and liquid seaweed extract (produced from fresh seaweed by water extraction). which is an organic balanced fertiliser.

Calcified Seaweed is totally different from fresh seaweed, powdered seaweed extract, and liquid seaweed extract which are known as organic balanced fertilizer. They can also eliminate your slug problem by piling them up around plants as a barrier.

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Right Way To Use Calcified Seaweed

Calcified Seaweed are known for their flexibility. They can regulate the pH of your soil and can be used at any time of the year. It’s most effective on heavy soils in autumn or early winter, the final soil preparation time. It can be added at the same time as manure, unlike lime.  Lighter soils get calcified weed added before you sow, before you plant out or during planting out. 

How To Add this to Soil

It’s best to sprinkle calcified seaweed over the soil’s surface, they should be lightly hoed into the top after sprinkling. You may leave it on the surface and let it wash in when you apply it early. 

Pros of Using Calcified Seaweed

  • You’ll have improved soil structure
  • It will deepen rooting plants
  • There will be an increased availability of trace elements
  • It’s long lasting, does not simply get washed away
  • There are no lock up of valuable minerals unlike lime, therefore, it’s healthier
  • Corrects pH for vegetable growing
  • Can be used any time of the year
Real Men Sow
Real Men Sow

Hello, I’m Pete and I’m currently based in the west of Scotland, in a small place called Rosneath, where I’m exploring my garden adventures. I personally started gardening around 6 years ago and initially, I started out by growing my favorite fruits and berries, such as strawberries, Raspberries & Gooseberries. Since then I’ve added a lot of vegetables and working closely with my neighbor, it’s been a lot of fun.