RE: Fertilizer

I can't remember who wrote about this in an earlier post

I work full-time and am a single parent, and never have as much time as I
like or need to spend in the garden/yard.  Therefore, I have learned ways to
cut corners.

I agree with the previous writer-- I, too, prepare my soil as well as I can
before planting, then I rarely fertilize again during the season.  the
exceptions would to for special needs (e.g. bulbs that are beginning to
flower) or heavy feeders (corn, tomatoes, etc.).  With those exceptions,
before I do my annual digging, top-dressing, or tilling, I add LIBERAL
amounts of compost, mushroom compost, rotted manure, mulch, slow-release
fertilizer, blood meal, or whatever else I can find to the place to be
'tilled.  In my vegetable garden, I will cover the entire area with 2-4" of
"additives."  I till this in well, and that's that.  With this routine I
have had a ridiculously abundant garden.

For perennial beds, and other already-established locations, I top-dress the
soil with similar additives once or twice a year.  Flowering plant beds that
need a boost may get a spray from a Miracle-Gro feeder attached to a hose.
Container plants are repotted annually with fresh potting mix (the old stuff
goes into the compost heap).

For me, the above approaches have worked well, and keep me from a routine of
having to be fertilizing something every week, which I simply don't have the
time for.

Sue P.

SPesznec@lhs.org                   Milwaukie, OR.


---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index