Soil activator - useful information for hobby gardeners

Soil activator - useful information for hobby gardeners

the essentials in brief

  • A soil activator improves depleted soils by mobilizing exhausted microorganisms and living things. This promotes soil fertility and humus formation for vital plant growth.
  • Good soil activator products contain only organic ingredients and natural minerals.
  • Oscorna Floor Activator 25 kg is the test winner in terms of benefit, experience and price / performance ratio.

What is soil activator

soil activator

Soil activator is an organic soil additive with a slight fertilizing effect. Diverse influencing factors throw the natural cycle off track in the soil. Construction work, monoculture or heavy rain compact the earth and displace indispensable soil organisms. The fatal consequence is a biologically doomed garden soil in which humus production has come to a standstill. Because healthy plants can only grow in healthy soil, the call for a problem solver becomes loud.

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This task is fulfilled by a soil activator as granules with a high proportion of purely natural ingredients. The Oscorna soil activator is in charge. For more than 80 years, the company has been using its products for natural floor care that consistently does without artificial, chemical additives. These efforts culminated in 1985 with the development of the first soil activator. The various benefits are obvious:

  • permanent soil fertility : ideal combination of organic substances and natural minerals
  • active soil life : increased number of microorganisms and earthworms
  • improved soil structure : crumbly, airy, loosely permeable soil without the risk of waterlogging
  • Regenerated water and nutrient balance : better storage of water, optimal binding of nutrients
  • stable pH value : contained algae lime prevents fluctuations in the pH value

With a soil activator you can restore the natural cycle in the soil. They enable the soil life to produce new, nutritious humus for a splendid plant growth.

Composition in detail

soil activator

Various manufacturers offer soil activator products that do not differ significantly in terms of composition. The main components are herbal substances with valuable supplements on board to revitalize tired soil in a natural way:

  • 65% organic substances: compost, biochar, clay particles, algae lime, ground mineral rock (basalt flour, zeolite, dolomite powder)
  • 1-4% nitrogen from organic substances such as cocoa shells, coconut, hoof meal, grape seeds
  • 1-3% phosphorus for better crumb formation and oxygen supply
  • 0.5-5% potassium to strengthen the cell tissue, for better water absorption, lush green leaves and juicy fruits

In addition, high-quality soil activator products have dormant microorganisms with them, such as Azotobacter bacteria. These and other bacterial strains have the ingenious ability to make insoluble nutrients in the soil available to plants. In the ground, the inactive helpers wake up and add to existing life. As the population grows, the humus production increases and a previously exhausted soil becomes afloat again.

Only put into the soil what an earthworm can digest (manufacturer's guideline for Oscorna soil activator)

How to use soil activator

The competent use of a soil activator is closely related to the crop in question and the occasion. The following table gives an overview:

Culture / occasiondosage
Soil improvement150-200 g / m²
vegetables
- Leafy vegetables100-150 g / m²
- fruit vegetables150-200 g / m²
fruit100-200 g / m²
Perennials, flowers100-150 g / m²
Ornamental shrubs200-300 g / m²
Conifers150-250 g / m²
hedge200 g / running. m
race100-200 g / m²

When planting trees and shrubs in the garden or park, a soil activator ensures ideal starting conditions. Add 100 to 200 granules per 10 liters of soil to each planting hole.

Soil activator application

soil activator

When you apply soil activator is basically your horticultural decision. The best time for natural soil improvement is in spring from March. The time window remains open until October. As long as the earth is not frozen, nothing speaks against the use of a soil activator. If the gardening season ends with a warm Indian summer, weather conditions can be sufficiently mild until December. The application itself is very easy, as the following instructions make clear:

  1. Rake the soil, pull weeds, remove roots and stones
  2. Distribute soil activator by hand or with the spreader
  3. Work into the topsoil with a rake or rake
  4. Water the surface

If the aim of improving the soil is to sow in the flower or vegetable patch, we recommend sifting the garden soil in advance. Use on the lawn requires a modified procedure, which is explained in detail in a section below.

Care in the bog bed

When bog plants fail, a calcareous soil activator is out of place. Most soil organisms prefer bed soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH value between 6.5 and 7.0. For this reason, many products contain algae lime or a comparable additive. In bog beds, on the other hand, pH values ​​between 4.5 and 5.5 are required, which shoot up even with a small amount of lime. In this case, use a soil activator without lime, such as Neudorff Terra Preta.

Tips

With a soil activator you can optimally prepare the soil for roses. So that the queen of flowers unfolds into lavish blooms, sprinkle Oscorna Soil Activator on the ground 4 to 6 weeks before planting, rake in the pellets on the surface and water with a fine shower. From now on, give a dose of soil activator every spring when you prune your roses.

Soil activator or fertilizer?

soil activator

The natural ingredients in the soil activator serve as the first source of nutrition for soil organisms. Of course, this supply will not last forever. Without a replenishment of organic fertilizer, the vitalizing effect will ultimately come to nothing as a result of food shortages for earthworms, woodlice and colleagues. Hobby gardeners are therefore not faced with the question of soil activator or fertilizer? Rather, a combination of both components guarantees a healthy floor full of life. The following fertilizers form a powerful dream team with soil activators:

  • Compost, ideally as ripe, sieved compost soil
  • Organic fertilizers such as horn shavings, horn meal, horse or cattle manure as pellets
  • Vegetable manure, primarily self-made nettle manure
  • Mulch, preferably dried grass clippings, leaves, bark mulch
  • Green manure, for example lupins, red clover, mustard, buckwheat, legumes or bee friend

The soil activator provided the starting aid. The stimulated soil life throws itself enthusiastically on the organic nutrient buffet and processes it into rich humus. The released nutrients are now available to the ornamental and useful plants for the desired growth.

Digression

Neudorff soil activator Terra Preta

Neudorff is breaking new ground with its Terra Preta soil activator. The composition consists mainly of thermally produced biochar, modeled on the legendary “black Indian soil”, supplemented with rock flour, microorganisms, soil fungi and organic ingredients. The biochar loosens the soil, stores water and nutrients. Microorganisms and soil fungi get the soil life going so that nutrients are available for the plants. The modified ingredients compared to Oscorna soil activator have proven to be just as effective in gardening practice, with a significant improvement in soil quality.

Special case: soil activator for lawns

soil activator

If you regularly use the combination of soil activator and organic fertilizer, the supply gap in the soil closes over time and the soil activator can be omitted. This does not apply to your green business card. Lawn is a pure monoculture that loses organic matter with every mowing that should actually be available for soil maintenance. Unless you are using a mulching mower, a soil activator acts as a tried and tested means for a lush green lawn without moss and felt. The following guide explains step by step how to do it right:

  1. Mow the lawn deeply
  2. Scarify the green area lengthways and crossways
  3. Sweep the combed out lawn thatch
  4. Distribute soil activator evenly with a spreader (200 g / m²)
  5. optionally apply soil activator and fertilizer at the same time
  6. Water the lawn and do not mow for at least 1 week

Soil activator and lawn fertilizer are not only compatible, they complement each other. For best effectiveness, the lawn should always be sprayed afterwards. In dry weather, repeat watering on the following days until no more granules can be seen.

Products and dealers - overview

The Oscorna Soil Activator set a good example. Competent manufacturers took up the concept with their own soil activator products. Much has happened in the market since Oscorna's first floor activator more than 30 years ago. We looked around looking for recommended products and dealers:

ProductspriceDealers
Oscorna soil activatorfrom 1.28 EUR / kgObi
Cuxin soil activatorfrom 1.40 EUR / kgToom
Neudorff Terra Petrafrom 1.30 EUR / kgHornbach
Keyser's soil activatorfrom 7.90 EUR / kgQVC
Dehner organic soil activatorfrom 3.25 EUR / kgStretcher
Emiko soil activator liquidfrom 5.00 EUR / lAmazon
Compo organic soil activatorfrom 1.30 EUR / kgEbay
EM soil activator liquidfrom 6.83 EUR / lRaiffeisen markets
AZET turf activatorfrom 2.00 EUR / kg
MANNA soil activatorfrom 1.40 EUR / kg

Please note that this overview does not claim to be complete. Three products are out of the ordinary. The Cuxin soil activator because the product does not have a purely biological composition. Furthermore, the price of the Keyzers floor activator from QVC is several times that of all other products. The Aldi soil activator can be bought sporadically in spring, usually in April.

frequently asked Questions

Which soil activator is good in the test?

soil activator

There are two products that go head-to-head every year in the soil activator test. Oscorna Soil Activator was last in the lead in 2020, closely followed by Neudorff Terra Preta Soil Activator. Customer experience, effectiveness, distributability, benefit and price / performance ratio were evaluated. The test winner on points was and is Oscorna Floor Activator 25 kg. The other places are followed by the liquid Emiko garden and soil activator and the Cuxin soil activator. The latter, however, does not deserve the title organic, due to chemical-mineral additives.

When should you use a soil activator?

The natural soil additive scores with a wide range of possible uses. A soil activator is highly recommended as a start-up aid when setting up a new garden and lawn as well as when planting and sowing in beds or planters. The product promises high utility value as a problem solver for general soil improvement when your plants are worried or the lawn is matted with moss and weeds.

Can you use soil activator and fertilizer at the same time?

Soil activator and fertilizer go well together in garden soil. In fact, both products complement each other and form a congenial duo. Because the soil activator only contains a small proportion of natural fertilizers, the reserves for the life of the soil are quickly used up. For this reason, it makes sense to apply soil activator and organic fertilizer at the same time.

How often should you use a soil activator in the garden?

You can use a soil activator either before, during or after soil cultivation. If you are creating and replanting beds or lawns, the soil improver should be at hand as well as for later maintenance work between perennials, flowers and trees and on green areas. One to two applications a year are recommended, ideally between March and October.

Do you always have to scarify the lawn or can you sprinkle a soil activator immediately?

You can apply a soil activator all year round. If you are planning to scarify a moss-covered lawn anyway, please sprinkle the lawn activator afterwards. Otherwise the valuable granulate will be removed involuntarily. Scarifying the lawn is of course not mandatory every year. For this reason, you can easily spread a soil activator on the freshly mown lawn and rain it in.

Should a soil activator be used in the vegetable patch before or after fertilizing?

The use of soil activators is not tied to a strict schedule. You can sprinkle the natural soil additive in the vegetable patch during the entire growing season. Whether you give your garden soil a boost before or after fertilizing is at your discretion. Due to the good compatibility, you can even distribute soil activator products and fertilizers at the same time.

My Oscorna floor activator in a 25 kg sack is dust dry. How can microorganisms still live in it?

Dry framework conditions cause microorganisms to fall into a state of rest. This process has no adverse effects on viability. In contact with moisture, the microorganisms perk up and immediately get to work. For this reason, it is important that you water the bedding soil or lawn thoroughly after application.

Tips

The Oscorna soil activator in clay soil on a new building plot is very beneficial. Under the influence of construction work and heavy equipment, the fine-crumbly clay structure tends to become compacted and waterlogged. As part of the improvement measures for the purpose of creating your dream garden, you work in 200 to 250 grams of soil activator per square meter and pour it again.