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Home and Garden
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Compost Mulch and Soil Preparation
Soil Chemistry
How to Add Phosphorus to Soil Download ArticleExplore this Article Sections 1 Natural Sources of Phosphorus 2 When to Add Phosphorus to Soil 3 Why is phosphorus important? 4 How do I know if my plants need more phosphorus? + Show 1 more... - Show less... Other Sections Related Articles Expert Interview References Co-authored by Ben Barkan and Hannah Madden
Last Updated: June 5, 2025 Fact Checked
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This article was co-authored by Ben Barkan and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 34,547 times.
Are your plants looking a little lackluster, or not growing as quickly as they should be? If so, your soil could be lacking phosphorus. This important nutrient is essential to any crop you’ll grow, and fortunately, there are ways you can add it to your soil using natural and organic products. In this article, we’ll tell you exactly how to add phosphorus to your soil, as well as when to add it and how to know if your soil needs it.
Things You Should Know
Use compost, animal manure, bone meal, rock phosphate, or green manure for natural sources of phosphorus.
Add it to your soil 1-2 weeks before you plant for best results. You can also add it during the growing season to give your plants a little extra oomph.
Check for stunted plant growth or a dark green coloring on your plants to determine if you need to add phosphorus. You can also use a soil test kit.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
Natural Sources of Phosphorus
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1 Compost Compost is a natural fertilizer that releases phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium over time.[1]X Expert Source Ben BarkanProfessional GardenerExpert Interview You can make your own compost out of kitchen scraps at home, or you can buy pre-made compost for your garden.[2]XResearch source
To add compost to your soil, sprinkle 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of compost over bare soil and use a rake or a shovel to mix it with the top 3 to 5 in (7.6 to 12.7 cm) of dirt.
2 Animal manure Animal manure provides phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium to your soil.[3]XResearch source Simply buy a bag of animal manure and sprinkle 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) over your garden. Mix it with the top 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm) of soil to provide nutrients over time.
It’s best to buy pre-made manure that’s been tested. That way, you know exactly how much of each nutrient is in the manure before you use it.
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3 Bone meal Bone meal is made from steamed animal bones, and it adds both phosphorus and calcium to your soil.[4]XResearch source To add bone meal to your soil, measure out about 3 cups (384 g) per 100 square feet of soil. Sprinkle the bone meal over the dirt, then mix it into the top 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of soil.
4 Rock phosphate Rock phosphate is a sedimentary rock that contains phosphate and almost nothing else. If you’re sure that your soil only needs phosphate (and not nitrogen, potassium, or calcium), buy a bag of ground rock phosphate and sprinkle a 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) thick layer over your soil. Use a rake or a shovel to mix it with the top layer of dirt.[5]XResearch source
5 Green manure “Green manure” describes the process of planting crops that are high in phosphorus, then plowing them back into the soil. If you’d like to add phosphorus over a long period of time, plant crops like oat, faba bean, clover, buckwheat, or mustard, and harvest them like you normally would. At the end of the season, till the plant matter back into the soil.[6]XResearch source
Advertisement Section 2 of 4:
When to Add Phosphorus to Soil
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1 Add phosphorus to your soil 1 to 2 weeks before planting for best results. Phosphorus usually takes a couple of weeks to be released into the soil. You can use phosphorus at any point in the season, but give your soil a few weeks to absorb it before you start planting.[7]XResearch source
2 Mix phosphorus into the soil during the growing season to give your plants a boost. If you’ve already planted your crops and you’ve noticed them looking a little blah, you can absolutely add phosphorus to the soil around your plants. Simply sprinkle your phosphorous product, like compost, around the plants, and carefully mix it with the top layer of dirt without disturbing the roots of your crops.[8]XResearch source
Advertisement Section 3 of 4:
Why is phosphorus important?
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Phosphorus gives plants the energy to create new tissue. The main thing that plants use phosphorus for is protein synthesis. Without phosphorus, your plants won’t have enough energy or nutrients to create new growth, which can slow or even stop the growing process entirely.[9]XResearch source
Section 4 of 4:
How do I know if my plants need more phosphorus?
Download Article
1 Look for stunted plant growth. Plants low in phosphorus won’t grow as quickly as they should. If you’re halfway through the growing season and your plants aren’t as large or tall as you’d expect them to be, there’s a good chance that your soil is low in phosphorus.[10]XResearch source
2 Check for a dark green color on your plants. Plants that aren’t getting enough phosphorus usually have a dark green color on the stems or the leaves. This color will look abnormal and unlike what you’re used to seeing on your plants.[11]XResearch source
3 Use a soil test kit. The best way to tell what your soil is lacking is to use a soil test kit. The test kit will tell you the pH of the soil, as well as what nutrients are there and how much of them there are. Do a soil test kit before the growing season to see what your crops need.
In general, the optimal range of phosphorus in a vegetable garden is 30 to 50 parts per million (ppm).[12]XResearch source
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about soil enrichment, check out our in-depth interview with Ben Barkan.
References
↑ Ben Barkan. Professional Gardener. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer This article was co-authored by Ben Barkan and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This article has been viewed 34,547 times. 8 votes - 75% Co-authors: 4Updated: June 5, 2025 Views: 34,547 Categories: Soil Chemistry In other languages German Portuguese Spanish
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Download Article Explore this Article Sections 1 Natural Sources of Phosphorus 2 When to Add Phosphorus to Soil 3 Why is phosphorus important? 4 How do I know if my plants need more phosphorus? + Show 1 more... - Show less... Other Sections Related Articles Expert Interview References Co-authored by Ben Barkan and Hannah Madden 
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Co-authored by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer This article was co-authored by Ben Barkan and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This article has been viewed 34,547 times. 8 votes - 75% Co-authors: 4 Updated: June 5, 2025 Views: 34,547 Categories: Soil Chemistry In other languages German Portuguese Spanish 
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1 Compost Compost is a natural fertilizer that releases phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium over time.[1] You can make your own compost out of kitchen scraps at home, or you can buy pre-made compost for your garden.[2] 
2 Animal manure Animal manure provides phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium to your soil.[3] Simply buy a bag of animal manure and sprinkle 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) over your garden. Mix it with the top 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm) of soil to provide nutrients over time. 
3 Bone meal Bone meal is made from steamed animal bones, and it adds both phosphorus and calcium to your soil.[4] To add bone meal to your soil, measure out about 3 cups (384 g) per 100 square feet of soil. Sprinkle the bone meal over the dirt, then mix it into the top 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of soil. 
4 Rock phosphate Rock phosphate is a sedimentary rock that contains phosphate and almost nothing else. If you’re sure that your soil only needs phosphate (and not nitrogen, potassium, or calcium), buy a bag of ground rock phosphate and sprinkle a 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) thick layer over your soil. Use a rake or a shovel to mix it with the top layer of dirt.[5] 
5 Green manure “Green manure” describes the process of planting crops that are high in phosphorus, then plowing them back into the soil. If you’d like to add phosphorus over a long period of time, plant crops like oat, faba bean, clover, buckwheat, or mustard, and harvest them like you normally would. At the end of the season, till the plant matter back into the soil.[6] Advertisement 
1 Add phosphorus to your soil 1 to 2 weeks before planting for best results. Phosphorus usually takes a couple of weeks to be released into the soil. You can use phosphorus at any point in the season, but give your soil a few weeks to absorb it before you start planting.[7] 
2 Mix phosphorus into the soil during the growing season to give your plants a boost. If you’ve already planted your crops and you’ve noticed them looking a little blah, you can absolutely add phosphorus to the soil around your plants. Simply sprinkle your phosphorous product, like compost, around the plants, and carefully mix it with the top layer of dirt without disturbing the roots of your crops.[8] Advertisement 
Phosphorus gives plants the energy to create new tissue. The main thing that plants use phosphorus for is protein synthesis. Without phosphorus, your plants won’t have enough energy or nutrients to create new growth, which can slow or even stop the growing process entirely.[9] 
1 Look for stunted plant growth. Plants low in phosphorus won’t grow as quickly as they should. If you’re halfway through the growing season and your plants aren’t as large or tall as you’d expect them to be, there’s a good chance that your soil is low in phosphorus.[10] 
2 Check for a dark green color on your plants. Plants that aren’t getting enough phosphorus usually have a dark green color on the stems or the leaves. This color will look abnormal and unlike what you’re used to seeing on your plants.[11] 
3 Use a soil test kit. The best way to tell what your soil is lacking is to use a soil test kit. The test kit will tell you the pH of the soil, as well as what nutrients are there and how much of them there are. Do a soil test kit before the growing season to see what your crops need.