Organic Materials

• The fertilizer must use organic products and minerals to carry an organic label. The ingredients vary from brand to brand, but a few key elements exist in most brands—dried whey, for example, an active ingredient said to help winterize plants and promote healthy soil. The fertilizer must also be free of chemicals and manmade additives.
  
  

Use of Animal Products

• The majority of organic fertilizers use a form of animal product known as meal, a combination of meat, bones and skin from an animal. To qualify as organic, fertilizer may contain only animal products derived from animals that are raised without the addition of hormones and antibiotics to their diets. If the product contains manure from chickens or cows, these animals must also be free of chemical additives.
  
  

Organic Fertilizer Labeling

• In the United States, the National Organic Program, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, awards the organic label to fertilizers. The department operates under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.
  
  A volunteer group known as the Soil Association adds its own seal of approval to organic fertilizers manufactured in the United Kingdom.
  
  

The Organic-Versus-Natural Debate

• Fertilizers and other products are sometimes labeled as "natural," a term that is often mistaken for organic. However, for a fertilizer to carry an organic label it must pass high quality processing and manufacturing standards. A product may be labeled "natural" if it contains ingredients from a natural source, such as plants or animals. Manufacturers of such products are not required to comply with pesticide, antibiotic or chemical restrictions.
  
  

Warnings

• A few organic fertilizers contain cocoa meal, an ingredient that may be harmful to dogs if ingested. Anyone purchasing an organic fertilizer should research the product's ingredients to ensure that the products are safe for use around children and pets.