Wool pellets are a sustainable, all-natural fertilizer made from compressed sheep wool, offering multiple benefits for gardens and soil health.
They provide slow-release nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and trace micronutrients like sulfur, calcium, magnesium, and iron, with typical NPK values around 8-0-4 or 9-0-2, meaning they supply nitrogen without adding phosphorus, which helps prevent nutrient runoff and environmental pollution.
Key Benefits of Wool Pellets
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Slow-Release Nutrients: Wool pellets release nutrients gradually over 6 months as soil microbes break down the keratin protein in wool, preventing nutrient burn and supporting steady plant growth.
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Water Retention: Each pellet can absorb 3 times its weight in water, helping maintain soil moisture—especially beneficial in sandy soils and during droughts.
The natural lanolin in wool helps retain water until plants need it. -
Improved Soil Structure: As pellets decompose, they expand and contract with moisture, creating air pockets that enhance soil porosity, aeration, and root penetration.
This improves drainage in clay soils and water retention in sandy soils. -
Slug and Pest Deterrence: The barb-like structure of wool fibers deters slugs and snails, which avoid crawling over the rough texture. A 6-inch ring of wool pellets around plants acts as a natural barrier.
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Sustainable & Eco-Friendly: Made from a renewable, underutilized byproduct of sheep farming, wool pellets reduce waste, lower carbon footprint (especially when sourced locally), and support rural economies. They require no synthetic additives or binders.
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Soil Health Enhancement: Wool adds organic matter, boosts microbial activity, and contributes to long-term soil fertility. It also helps buffer acidic soils by raising pH slightly and supplying base cations like calcium and magnesium.
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Crop and Soil Performance
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Vegetables: Tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, and broccoli show yield increases comparable to conventional fertilizers, with some studies showing 3× higher spinach yields and 60–70% larger tomato fruit vs. unfertilized controls.
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Grains & Field Crops: Maize (corn) and sunflower respond well, with wool pellets at 1% soil weight meeting nitrogen needs in sandy loam soils without additional fertilizer.
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Soil Types:
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Sandy soils: Greatly improved water retention (up to 25% higher moisture).
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Clay soils: Reduced compaction, better drainage, and enhanced aeration.
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Loamy soils: Maintains organic matter and provides balanced N without nutrient imbalance.
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Acidic soils: Mildly raises pH and reduces aluminum toxicity.
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Alkaline soils: Safe to use; adds no excess salts or phosphorus.
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Application & Usage
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Apply 2–5% of soil volume (e.g., 1 pound per 10 sq.
ft. or ½ cup per gallon of soil). -
Mix into top 3–6 inches of soil or use as a mulch around plants.
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No need for reapplication during the growing season—effective for up to 6 months.
In summary, wool pellets are a multi-functional, environmentally responsible soil amendment that enhances fertility, moisture retention, soil structure, and pest resistance—making them a powerful tool for organic and sustainable gardening.
Links:
Wool Pellets Are a Viable Alternative to Commercial Fertilizer for Organic Vegetable Production
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/5/1210
The potential of recycling wool residues as an amendment for enhancing the physical and hydraulic properties of a sandy loam soil
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-019-0283-5
Wool: A Natural Bio-Enhancement for Gardens
https://extension.sdstate.edu/wool-natural-bio-enhancement-gardens
Wool Pellets: Organic Fertilizer That Transforms Your Garden
https://www.epicgardening.com/wool-pellets/
Experience with sheep wool pellets?
https://permies.com/t/275981/Experience-sheep-wool-pellets
Sheep Wool pellets soil additive and mulch by Again & Again Homestead
https://permies.com/wiki/275683/Sheep-Wool-pellets-soil-additive