Re: RE: Fertilizer

John  --  On established beds, I use Rabbit Chow as a surface spread.  Both
it and alfalfa form a pasty mass when wet that dries out as a crust
afterwards.  I take care to not let the pellets bunch up at the base of the
fans or on top of the rhizomes.  That will, indeed, cause rot.  That said, I
find the spreading of the pellets with a large hand scoop to be an easy
task, even with back and knee complaints.  I also find the small pellets of
Rabbit Chow to be easier to control than the larger alfalfa pellets, which
tend to bounce and roll more.  I don't work these in  --  just let the rain
do the job.  Admittedly, working it in would get the nutrients to the roots
faster, but I compromise because of time considerations. --  Griff

zone 7


----- Original Message -----
From: "John I Jones" <jijones@usjoneses.com>
To: <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 6:31 PM
Subject: Re: [iris] RE: Fertilizer


> Alfalfa pellets need to be raked or turned into the soil. I scattered
> them on top of some existing iris plantings once and  they got caught
> in the fans and when they got wet expanded and got mushy. had to get
> them out so they would not rot.
>
> I have never heard someone say they were bad. Some said (rarely) that
> they had little or no effect.
>
>
>
> John
> On Aug 27, 2004, at 1:16 PM, Char Randall wrote:
>
> > Dave, have you by any chance checked the archives re: the alfalfa
> > pellets? I did not have good luck with it and I am in a semi arid,
> > neutral to alkaline area soil. I seem to remember a few others that did
> > not consider it favorably. As I recall it was recommended as a mulch
> > for
> > pots at one time too. I scattered a small amount above ground without
> > working it in. I used 100% alfalfa pellets (national brand). It turned
> > into a stinky, sodden mass that was heaven for insects and fungus gnats
> > and I had rot all around that area. This was years ago. Alfalfa tea or
> > pellets soaked and worked into the ground might be a different story
> > but
> > I don't think I will try it. Now "willow water" is another story and
> > one
> > I've had good luck with in the past.
> >
> > Char Randall
> > Melba, ID
> >
> > On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 10:03:47 -0600 DFerguson@cabq.gov writes:
> >> For what it's worth:
> >>
> >> and amount of participation here is great.  Now after all the
> >> discussion, I
> >> think I might give the Alfalfa a shot.  I'd probably have to turn it
> >> under
> >> here, it would probably take a decade or two to break apart lying
> >> ion top
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> John                | "There be dragons here"
>                           |  Annotation used by ancient cartographers
>                           |  to indicate the edge of the known world.
>
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