Re: Organic Fertilizers

**M* <m*@optonline.net>**

"What fertilizer do you use?" is probably the number one question asked
here. I always have a bumper crop of perennials and volunteers.

A local horse farm delivers manure free if you are willing to take it fresh.
(When I asked "how fresh is it" the man said "ma'am, it was IN the horse
yesterday").  I layer the manure with fallen leaves and before you know it,
I've got black gold.

For the first time in many years I've added more than manure to the garden.
In 2006 I'm on a national tour and we're expecting about 500 people through
here. I've been using Milorganite and this week will put a lawn winterizer
around all the daylilies (600 varieties) in the perennial beds.

Manure tea is mixed up in huge batches here too, usually in May. It's
amazing to see how some perennials react to the heavy manure amendments.
Some love it and some hate it. I've got Digitalis that look like elephant
ears, pulmonaria, hosta, hellebores also grow like gangbusters. I don't use
less in the shade than in the sun.

Melanie Vassallo
melaniev@optonline.net

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