{"product_id":"slow-release-humic-acid","title":"Slow Release Humic Acid | Granular Leonardite Humate","description":"\u003c!-- Dr Forest - Slow Release Humic Acid Shopify product description --\u003e\u003c!-- Prefix: drf-sh- --\u003e\u003c!-- Design System v1.0 - square corners, Cormorant 400, gold accents, no border-radius --\u003e\u003c!-- Pure CSS radio-input tabs. No JavaScript. Shopify-safe. --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- REVISION NOTES (for Joe, delete before paste if you like):\n     - All Stockport \/ provenance wording removed (humic is not on the approved provenance list)\n     - All slaughterhouse and plant-based wording removed\n     - All organic claims removed\n     - References 5 and 6 re-attributed to the correct authors; fabricated Nardi 2009 figures removed\n     - Em-dashes removed from body prose\n     - RATES BELOW ARE DRAFT - confirm against supplier spec before publishing\n     - One placeholder link marked TODO-GYPSUM-HANDLE\n--\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\n  .drf-wrap *, .drf-wrap *::before, .drf-wrap *::after { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }\n  .drf-wrap { font-family: 'Jost', sans-serif; font-weight: 400; color: #2c2c2c; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.65; width: 100%; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; }\n  :root {\n    --drf-grn:        #1B3D2F;\n    --drf-grn-dark:   #0F2A1F;\n    --drf-grn-light:  #E8F0EB;\n    --drf-grn-mid:    #4a7a5e;\n    --drf-cream:      #F5F2EC;\n    --drf-gold:       #C5A55A;\n    --drf-gold-light: #FAF7F0;\n    --drf-muted:      #3A4A40;\n    --drf-white:      #FFFFFF;\n    --drf-border:     #d4cfc5;\n  }\n  .drf-wrap h2 { font-family: 'Cormorant Garamond', serif; 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border-bottom: 1px solid var(--drf-gold); max-width: 90%; line-height: 1.4; }\n\n  .drf-refs { font-size: 0.78em; color: var(--drf-muted); line-height: 1.55; margin-top: 1.5em; padding-top: 0.8em; border-top: 1px solid var(--drf-border); }\n  .drf-refs h4 { color: var(--drf-grn); margin-bottom: 0.5em; }\n  .drf-refs ol { padding-left: 1.4em; margin: 0; }\n  .drf-refs li { margin-bottom: 0.35em; }\n\n  .drf-sep { border: none; border-top: 1px solid var(--drf-gold); margin: 1.5em auto; width: 200px; }\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-wrap\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-tabs-wrap\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"radio\" name=\"drf-sh-tabset\" id=\"drf-sh-tab1\" checked\u003e \u003cinput type=\"radio\" name=\"drf-sh-tabset\" id=\"drf-sh-tab2\"\u003e \u003cinput type=\"radio\" name=\"drf-sh-tabset\" id=\"drf-sh-tab3\"\u003e \u003cinput type=\"radio\" name=\"drf-sh-tabset\" id=\"drf-sh-tab4\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-tab-labels\"\u003e\n\u003clabel for=\"drf-sh-tab1\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/label\u003e \u003clabel for=\"drf-sh-tab2\"\u003eThe Science\u003c\/label\u003e \u003clabel for=\"drf-sh-tab3\"\u003eHow to Use\u003c\/label\u003e \u003clabel for=\"drf-sh-tab4\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-panels\"\u003e\n\u003c!-- TAB 1: OVERVIEW --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-panel\" id=\"drf-sh-panel1\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSlow release humic acid granules for lawns, beds and borders\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-badge-row\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-badge drf-badge-gold\"\u003e70% Humic Acid\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"drf-badge drf-badge-dark\"\u003eNot Water Soluble\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"drf-badge drf-badge-green\"\u003eSlow Release\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"drf-badge drf-badge-green\"\u003e2–4 mm Granule\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"drf-badge drf-badge-green\"\u003eSpreader Friendly\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"drf-badge drf-badge-green\"\u003eLawns \u0026amp; Beds\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSlow release humic acid is a granulated leonardite humate, 70% humic acid, that does not dissolve in water.\u003c\/strong\u003e It sits in the soil and breaks down gradually as soil biology works on it, feeding humic substances into the root zone across months rather than hours. This is the soil-building form of humic acid, not the drenching form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distinction matters. A soluble humic flake goes into solution, does its work over days to weeks, and is largely consumed. A granule that will not dissolve stays where you put it. Rain does not carry it off, irrigation does not flush it through, and each watering releases a little more. On a lawn or a bed you intend to keep improving season after season, that is the behaviour you want.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-stats\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-stat\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-stat-number\"\u003e2–4 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"drf-stat-label\"\u003eGranule size\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-stat\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-stat-number\"\u003eMonths\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"drf-stat-label\"\u003eRelease window\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-stat\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-stat-number\"\u003e0%\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"drf-stat-label\"\u003eWater soluble\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-stat\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-stat-number\"\u003e70%\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"drf-stat-label\"\u003eHumic acid\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConcentration is the number to check on any humate, and it is the number most often left off the bag. Granular humates sold for lawns range from single figures up to the seventies, with the difference made up by carrier and filler. At 70% humic acid this is at the concentrated end, so the rates on this page are lower than you may be used to. If you are comparing products, compare the guaranteed analysis rather than the bag weight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat the humate does once released is the same chemistry either way. It raises cation exchange capacity so minerals are held rather than leached, it feeds bacterial and fungal activity in the rhizosphere, and it carries auxin-like activity associated with root elongation and lateral root branching.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-callout drf-callout-gold\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-callout-title\"\u003eThis one does not dissolve\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo not try to use these granules in a foliar spray, a fertigation reservoir, a seed soak or a compost tea. They are made not to dissolve. For those jobs you want \u003ca href=\"\/products\/humic-acid-flakes\"\u003eHumic Acid Flakes\u003c\/a\u003e, which go into solution completely within minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat it is for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"drf-uses\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLawns and turf\u003c\/strong\u003e — spreads through a standard fertiliser spreader, needs no watering in to disperse, and suits compacted or sandy lawns where a soluble input would be gone before it did much.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLong-term soil building\u003c\/strong\u003e — raised beds, allotment plots and borders you are improving over years, not weeks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo-dig systems\u003c\/strong\u003e — surface-applied and left to work down, in keeping with a no-dig approach.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlending into a dry feed\u003c\/strong\u003e — the granule matches most granular fertilisers, so it distributes evenly rather than sifting to the bottom of the bag.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit, roses and shrubs\u003c\/strong\u003e — a single autumn or early spring application over the root spread, left on the surface under the mulch.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-compare\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-compare-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eSlow release humic acid (this product)\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGranular, insoluble, releases over months. Broadcast by hand or spreader, or blend into a dry feed. Best for lawns and for building soil organic matter and cation exchange capacity over successive seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-compare-box\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHumic Acid Flakes (soluble)\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDissolves fully in minutes. Drench, foliar spray, seed soak, compost tea, fertigation. Fast acting, shorter-lived. Best when you need humic activity in the root zone this week.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"drf-sep\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMade by Growers. Backed by Science.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- TAB 2: THE SCIENCE --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-panel\" id=\"drf-sh-panel2\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat humic acid does, and why release rate matters\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHumic acid supplies almost no plant nutrients directly. Its value is in changing the conditions nutrients operate under: how tightly the soil holds cations, how much microbial activity there is around the roots, how readily phosphate stays available. Those are cumulative effects, which is an argument for a form that persists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-mech\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-mech-num\"\u003e01\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eThe growth response is real, and it is variable\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRose and colleagues (2014, \u003cem\u003eAdvances in Agronomy\u003c\/em\u003e 124:37–89) pooled the published trial literature on humic substances and ran a random-effects meta-analysis. Shoot dry weight came out 22 ± 4% higher and root dry weight 21 ± 6% higher. The authors are explicit that actual responses varied considerably, and were driven mainly by the source of the humic substance and the application rate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-mech\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-mech-num\"\u003e02\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAuxin-like activity on root cells\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNardi and colleagues (2002, \u003cem\u003eSoil Biology \u0026amp; Biochemistry\u003c\/em\u003e 34:1527–1536) reviewed the direct hormone-like effects of humic substances on higher plants. Their conclusion is worth stating precisely: the low molecular size fraction, below roughly 3,500 Da, reaches the root cell membrane and is partly taken up, while the high molecular size fraction interacts only with the cell wall. It is the smaller fraction that does most of the growth promotion. Canellas and Olivares (2014, \u003cem\u003eChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture\u003c\/em\u003e 1:3) traced the same response to auxin-like activity within the humic pool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-mech\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-mech-num\"\u003e03\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eMicrobial and rhizosphere response\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNardi and colleagues (2009, in \u003cem\u003eBiophysico-Chemical Processes Involving Natural Nonliving Organic Matter in Environmental Systems\u003c\/em\u003e, Wiley) review the biological activity of humic substances across plants and soil organisms. Humic material acts as a carbon source and a conditioning agent at the same time. Effect sizes on microbial biomass differ widely between soils, so we do not publish a single figure for it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-mech\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-mech-num\"\u003e04\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCation exchange and nutrient retention\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHumic substances carry a high density of carboxyl and phenolic groups, which is what gives leonardite humates their exchange capacity. In practice that means potassium, calcium and magnesium are held on the exchange complex and released to roots rather than washing through. On a sandy soil or a free-draining lawn, that is the single most useful change you can make.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-mech\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-mech-num\"\u003e05\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eSoil carbon builds on a multi-season clock\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAllam and colleagues (2022, \u003cem\u003eAgriculture\u003c\/em\u003e 12:464) found soil organic carbon 12.9% higher on average under organic amendment than mineral-only fertilisation, rising to 20.6% under no-till management. Shi and colleagues (2024, \u003cem\u003eNature Communications\u003c\/em\u003e 15:3411), pooling 537 fertilisation experiments, found organic fertilisation raised grassland soil organic carbon by 19% and aboveground biomass by 56% relative to unfertilised controls. Those are multi-season figures, and a granule that persists is matched to that timescale in a way a soluble input is not.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-mech\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-mech-num\"\u003e06\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhere the evidence is thinner\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe same Rose meta-analysis that found a 22% mean shoot response also found that humic substances from compost sources significantly outperformed lignite and peat-derived humates for growth promotion. Leonardite is a lignite. We sell this product for what it reliably does, which is soil conditioning and cation exchange over seasons, rather than as a growth stimulant. Response size also varies with soil type and starting organic matter, and the largest gains in the literature come from degraded or low-carbon soils. On an already well-managed bed, expect less.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-pullquote\"\u003eSoil chemistry changes on the timescale of seasons. Match the input to the timescale.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-refs\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eReferences\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRose, M.T., Patti, A.F., Little, K.R., Brown, A.L., Jackson, W.R. \u0026amp; Cavagnaro, T.R. (2014). A meta-analysis and review of plant-growth response to humic substances: practical implications for agriculture. \u003cem\u003eAdvances in Agronomy\u003c\/em\u003e 124:37–89.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNardi, S., Pizzeghello, D., Muscolo, A. \u0026amp; Vianello, A. (2002). Physiological effects of humic substances on higher plants. \u003cem\u003eSoil Biology \u0026amp; Biochemistry\u003c\/em\u003e 34:1527–1536.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCanellas, L.P. \u0026amp; Olivares, F.L. (2014). Physiological responses to humic substances as plant growth promoter. \u003cem\u003eChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture\u003c\/em\u003e 1:3.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNardi, S., Carletti, P., Pizzeghello, D. \u0026amp; Muscolo, A. (2009). Biological activities of humic substances. In: Senesi, N., Xing, B. \u0026amp; Huang, P.M. (eds), \u003cem\u003eBiophysico-Chemical Processes Involving Natural Nonliving Organic Matter in Environmental Systems\u003c\/em\u003e, Vol. 2 Part 1. Wiley, pp. 305–339.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAllam, M., Radicetti, E., Quintarelli, V., Petroselli, V., Marinari, S. \u0026amp; Mancinelli, R. (2022). Influence of organic and mineral fertilizers on soil organic carbon and crop productivity under different tillage systems: a meta-analysis. \u003cem\u003eAgriculture\u003c\/em\u003e 12(4):464.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShi, T.-S., Collins, S.L., Yu, K., Peñuelas, J., Sardans, J., Li, H. \u0026amp; Ye, J.-S. (2024). A global meta-analysis on the effects of organic and inorganic fertilization on grasslands and croplands. \u003cem\u003eNature Communications\u003c\/em\u003e 15:3411.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- TAB 3: HOW TO USE --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-panel\" id=\"drf-sh-panel3\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to use slow release humic acid\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-callout drf-callout-gold\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-callout-title\"\u003eMeasuring\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe granules are broadcast dry. They do not need dissolving, mixing or pre-soaking, and they will not disperse if you try. A rounded tablespoon holds roughly 15 g. For anything above a few square metres, weigh the dose for the area and spread it rather than eyeballing it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHumic acid for lawns\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lawn is the use case this format suits best. Turf is a permanent planting on shallow soil that gets walked on, mown, and rarely fed anything but nitrogen. Compaction, thinning and dry patch on a lawn are usually soil problems rather than grass problems. A granule that spreads through an ordinary fertiliser spreader, needs no watering in to disperse, and keeps releasing across the season fits that job better than a drench.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-rate\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eEstablished lawns\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"drf-rate-meta\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e30–50 g\/m²\u003c\/strong\u003e · twice a year\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarly spring as the soil warms and growth starts, then again in early autumn. Use the upper end on sandy, compacted or heavily used lawns and the lower end on a lawn already in good order. Spread with a broadcast or drop spreader, then either brush in or leave for the next rain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-rate\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eNew lawns, turf laying and overseeding\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"drf-rate-meta\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e50–75 g\/m²\u003c\/strong\u003e · once, at preparation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRake into the top 50 mm of the prepared seedbed before sowing or laying. This is the one moment you can get humate down into the rooting zone rather than onto the surface, so it is worth the higher rate. For overseeding, apply after scarifying and before the seed goes down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-rate\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eLawn top dressing\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"drf-rate-meta\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1 part granules to 20 parts dressing\u003c\/strong\u003e · autumn\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlend into a sand and loam top dressing and apply as normal after scarifying and aerating. The 2–4 mm granule mixes evenly through a sandy dressing and works down the aeration holes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-callout\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-callout-title\"\u003eLawns: what to expect\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColour and density respond to nitrogen. Humate does not supply nitrogen and will not green a lawn up in a fortnight. What it changes is the soil the grass is rooting into: better cation exchange means the feed you do apply is held rather than washed through, and more soil biology means organic matter at the surface breaks down rather than sitting there. Judge it over two seasons, not two weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBeds, borders and crops\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-rate\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eRaised beds, allotments and vegetable plots\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"drf-rate-meta\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e75–100 g\/m²\u003c\/strong\u003e first year · \u003cstrong\u003e40–50 g\/m²\u003c\/strong\u003e thereafter\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApply at bed preparation in late winter or early spring. On an empty bed, rake lightly into the top 50 to 100 mm. On a no-dig bed or an established planting, leave it on the surface under the compost mulch and let rain and worms take it down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-rate\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFruit trees, bushes and canes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"drf-rate-meta\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e50–100 g\u003c\/strong\u003e per bush · \u003cstrong\u003e150–250 g\u003c\/strong\u003e per established tree · once a year\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLate winter or early spring. Scatter over the full root spread, which for a tree means roughly out to the canopy edge rather than in a ring at the trunk. Apply under the mulch, not on top of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-rate\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eRoses, shrubs and ornamental borders\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"drf-rate-meta\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e50 g\u003c\/strong\u003e per plant, or \u003cstrong\u003e40–50 g\/m²\u003c\/strong\u003e across a border · once a year\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarly spring alongside the first feed of the season. Work into the surface with a hand fork where the soil is bare, or apply and mulch over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-rate\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eContainers, tubs and large pots\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"drf-rate-meta\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5 g per 10 litres\u003c\/strong\u003e of compost · at potting\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMix through the compost when potting up rather than top-dressing, so it is distributed through the rootball. Because release runs over months, one addition covers a full season in a container.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-rate\"\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBlending into a granular feed\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"drf-rate-meta\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5–10% by weight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2–4 mm granule size matches most granular fertilisers, so it can be mixed into a dry feed and spread in one pass without the two components separating in the bag or the spreader.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMethod\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col class=\"drf-steps\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeigh the dose for the area being treated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBroadcast evenly by hand for small beds, or with a standard fertiliser spreader for lawns and larger plots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRake lightly into the top 50 to 100 mm on an empty bed or seedbed. On a lawn, a no-dig bed or an established planting, leave it on the surface.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater in, or apply before expected rain. Moisture starts the biological breakdown that releases the humates.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRepeat at the interval given above. Because release is gradual, there is no benefit to applying more frequently.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-callout-dark\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-callout-title\"\u003eRates under review\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese rates are being finalised against the current supplier specification. If anything on your bag label differs from this page, follow the bag.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-callout\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-callout-title\"\u003eWorks alongside\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/humic-acid-flakes\"\u003eHumic Acid Flakes\u003c\/a\u003e where you want both a persistent soil reserve and a fast soluble humic input for drenches and foliar work. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/organic-fulvic-acid-powder-natural-bio-stimulant-chelator-99\"\u003eFulvic Acid Powder\u003c\/a\u003e is the smaller, more mobile fraction and the one to reach for when the job is chelating nutrients for uptake. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/micronized-volcanic-rock-minerals-basalt-organic-soil-conditioner\"\u003eVolcanic Rock Dust\u003c\/a\u003e pairs well, since the humates hold and exchange the minerals the rock dust releases. On a heavy clay lawn, pair with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/TODO-GYPSUM-HANDLE\"\u003eLiquid Gypsum\u003c\/a\u003e for the calcium side of soil structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-callout drf-callout-gold\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-callout-title\"\u003eBefore you buy\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you want humic acid for a foliar spray, a seed soak, a compost tea brew or a fertigation reservoir, this is the wrong product. Those all need the soluble form. Our guide to \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/the-dr-forest-blog\/how-to-apply-humic-acid\"\u003eapplying humic acid\u003c\/a\u003e covers which format suits which job.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- TAB 4: FAQ --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-panel\" id=\"drf-sh-panel4\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eQuestions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"checkbox\" id=\"drf-sh-faq1\"\u003e\u003clabel class=\"drf-faq-q\" for=\"drf-sh-faq1\"\u003eIs this the same as your Humic Acid Flakes?\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq-a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo. The flakes are 100% water soluble and dissolve to clarity within minutes, made for drenches, foliar sprays, seed soaks, compost tea and fertigation. These granules are deliberately insoluble and made to sit in the soil and release slowly. Same active chemistry, opposite release profile, different jobs.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"checkbox\" id=\"drf-sh-faq2\"\u003e\u003clabel class=\"drf-faq-q\" for=\"drf-sh-faq2\"\u003eCan I dissolve it if I leave it in water long enough?\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq-a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNo, and it is not worth trying. The granule is manufactured to resist dissolution. You will get a bucket of sediment rather than a solution. For anything that needs to go through a sprayer, a nozzle or a dripper, use the soluble flakes.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"checkbox\" id=\"drf-sh-faq3\"\u003e\u003clabel class=\"drf-faq-q\" for=\"drf-sh-faq3\"\u003eWhich should I buy, slow release or soluble?\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq-a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIf the goal is to improve a lawn or a bed over several seasons and you apply feeds dry, take the slow release granules. If you feed liquid, foliar spray, brew compost tea or want a response inside a fortnight, take the flakes. Many growers use both: granules once at bed preparation or in early spring on turf, flakes through the season. We have written up the \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/the-dr-forest-blog\/humic-vs-fulvic-acid\"\u003ehumic and fulvic distinction\u003c\/a\u003e if you also want the fulvic side of the picture.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"checkbox\" id=\"drf-sh-faq4\"\u003e\u003clabel class=\"drf-faq-q\" for=\"drf-sh-faq4\"\u003eCan I use humic acid on a lawn, and when?\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq-a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eYes, and it is one of the better uses for this format. Apply 30 to 50 g\/m² twice a year, in early spring once the soil is warming and again in early autumn. It spreads through a standard fertiliser spreader and does not need watering in to disperse, so it can go down in one pass with a granular lawn feed. For a new lawn, turf laying or overseeding, use 50 to 75 g\/m² raked into the top 50 mm of the seedbed. Avoid applying in the middle of a summer drought, since release depends on soil moisture and biological activity.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"checkbox\" id=\"drf-sh-faq5\"\u003e\u003clabel class=\"drf-faq-q\" for=\"drf-sh-faq5\"\u003eWill it help a compacted, sandy or clay lawn?\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq-a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThese are the conditions where humate has most to offer. On sand, the limiting factor is usually cation exchange capacity, so feed and rainfall pass straight through the profile. Humic substances raise that exchange capacity and hold potassium, calcium and magnesium where roots can reach them. On compacted or clay ground, the gain is in aggregation and biological activity at the surface. Neither happens quickly. Apply after scarifying and aerating for the best contact with the soil rather than the thatch layer.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"checkbox\" id=\"drf-sh-faq6\"\u003e\u003clabel class=\"drf-faq-q\" for=\"drf-sh-faq6\"\u003eHow long does it last in the soil?\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq-a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eRelease runs over months rather than weeks, driven by soil moisture and biological activity. Warm, moist, biologically active soil releases faster; cold or dry soil slows it right down. It will not flush out with heavy rain the way a soluble input can.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"checkbox\" id=\"drf-sh-faq7\"\u003e\u003clabel class=\"drf-faq-q\" for=\"drf-sh-faq7\"\u003eWill I see results quickly?\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq-a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNot in the way you would from a liquid feed, and we would rather set that expectation now. The measurable gains from humic substances are in soil structure, cation exchange and root development, and they accumulate across seasons. Trials showing the largest responses generally run a full growing cycle or longer, and the literature also shows compost-derived humic substances outperforming lignite-derived ones for pure growth promotion. We sell this for what it does to the soil.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"checkbox\" id=\"drf-sh-faq8\"\u003e\u003clabel class=\"drf-faq-q\" for=\"drf-sh-faq8\"\u003eIs it safe for children, pets, bees and wildlife?\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq-a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eYes. It is a soil conditioner derived from ancient plant matter, with no pest-control activity and nothing that targets insects. Store it sealed and out of reach of children and pets as you would any garden product.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"checkbox\" id=\"drf-sh-faq9\"\u003e\u003clabel class=\"drf-faq-q\" for=\"drf-sh-faq9\"\u003eCan I use it in a no-dig bed?\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq-a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eYes, and it suits no-dig well. Surface-apply and let rain and soil biology work it down rather than digging it in. Because it does not need incorporating to function, no-dig is arguably the better fit for this format.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"checkbox\" id=\"drf-sh-faq11\"\u003e\u003clabel class=\"drf-faq-q\" for=\"drf-sh-faq11\"\u003eWhat does 70% humic acid mean, and does it matter?\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq-a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIt means 70% of the granule by weight is humic acid, with the remainder the mineral matrix the humate came out of. It matters because concentration on granular humates varies enormously, from single figures up into the seventies, and a bag that does not state a figure is usually at the lower end. A 10% product applied at the same rate delivers a seventh of the active material. Always compare the guaranteed analysis rather than the price per kilogram.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cinput type=\"checkbox\" id=\"drf-sh-faq10\"\u003e\u003clabel class=\"drf-faq-q\" for=\"drf-sh-faq10\"\u003eWhere does it come from?\u003c\/label\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-faq-a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe humates are derived from leonardite, an oxidised lignite laid down from ancient plant matter and the richest natural source of humic substances. It is a mined mineral material, not a certified organic input, and we make no certification claim for it.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"drf-callout\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"drf-callout-title\"\u003eFurther reading\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/the-dr-forest-blog\/what-is-humic-acid\"\u003eWhat is humic acid?\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/the-dr-forest-blog\/humic-acid-benefits-plants\"\u003eBenefits of humic acid for plants\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/the-dr-forest-blog\/how-to-apply-humic-acid\"\u003eHow to apply humic acid\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/the-dr-forest-blog\/humic-vs-fulvic-acid\"\u003eHumic vs fulvic acid\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/the-dr-forest-blog\/no-dig-no-till-living-soil\"\u003eNo-dig: reuse and recharge your soil\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Dr Forest","offers":[{"title":"250g","offer_id":58302784766326,"sku":null,"price":7.19,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"500g","offer_id":58302784799094,"sku":null,"price":14.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1kg","offer_id":58302784831862,"sku":null,"price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.drforest.co.uk\/products\/slow-release-humic-acid","provider":"Dr Forest","version":"1.0","type":"link"}