Re: Organic Fertilizers

**"* T* <m*@hort.net>**

What I'm finding interesting in this thread is that so many of you
fertilize your gardens with anything:-)  I do not on any regular
basis...if my plants are very lucky, they might get a compost top
dressing.  On very rare occasions, I've flung some Hollytone at my
Azaleas and rhodies, but can't recall the last time I did this.   I
once had a bag of superphosphate that I doled out, but can't recall
to whom or whether it seemed to make any difference in any growth.  
I used to fling Milorganite around by the bag, not as a fertilizer,
but to discourage the deer.  It worked for some years, until they got
used to it, but had to be reapplied after every rain.  I couldn't see
any difference in plant growth - other than that they weren't eaten -
where that got flung.

Guess I should mention that what passes for my shady lawn is simply
whatever is green...what grass survives there does not get fed,
either, tho' I have once or twice thrown some Milorganite at
that...didn't seem to make much difference to anything growing
there...it's mostly moss.

I feed potted plants - use Osmacote as I am incapable of remembering
to use anything else on any kind of a regular basis.  Seems to work
fine - do not use this on Arisaema; they do not like it.  I have fish
and seaweed emulsion that I use in the greenhouse on occasion.

I believe in preparing soil as well as possible, with the
incorporation of copious amounts of organic material prior to
planting or when dividing or replanting any spot.  I will use
compost, leaf mold, pine bark fines or about anything I can get my
hands on for this, but have not added 'store bought' fertilizer of
any kind for eons.

Do you-all really think, if the soil is well prepared and reasonably
fertile, that additional fertilizer is required for trees, shrubs and
hardy border plants?  I've always gone on the principle that feeding
encourages sappy growth that is more prone to insect predation...I do
keep a mulch on soil that is not covered by plants.  That's either
bagged pine bark or rotted woodchips or chopped leaves...whatever I
have handy at the time.

When I grew veggies, I used strictly organic fertilizers; compost,
manure, etc.  I think veggies require feeding since we are pushing
plants to produce at their maximum over a very short time-frame, but
I can't see the advantage for other, hardy plants - or even annuals -
in the ground.

Anybody want to enumerate the proven advantages of 'fertilizer' in
the ornamental garden (other than enriching the manufacturers)???

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
Shadyside Garden Designs
-----------------------------------------------
Current Article: Corydalis
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/shade_gardening
------------------------------------------------
Complete Index of Articles by Category and Date
http://mtalt.hort.net/article-index.html

_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters