Re: Battle of the fertilizers???

Before any gardener starts a fertilizing program, it's very important to
have a soil test done by a professional lab. The reason: These tests tell
you what nutrient levels are already in your soil and the tests make
recommendations on what types of fertilizer and what amounts to add. You can
hardly go wrong if you follow the lab's instructions!
That's my little issue---have your soil tested.

--Justin
Zone 4 Minnesota, USA

-----Original Message-----
From: Anelle Kloski [a*@JPS.NET]
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2000 1:26 AM
To: shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject: Re: [SG] Battle of the fertilizers???


I live in a Yellow Pine - Black Oak forest vegetation region of the
Sierra Nevada range in Northern California.  Lots of fallen leaves and
pine needles, etc., so the organic part seems good.  But at least one
respected local nursery says the soil in the region is "almost without
nutrients".  Everyone else here seems to agree, though I am not sure if
this one nursery has popularized this idea, or if all other experts
agree.  They say to use 12-12-12 on almost everything once a month,
beginning in Feb. and going until fall.  When I told them I had
rhododendrons and some other things which were not blooming, I was told
to add 0-10-10 or superphosphate all year round for those plants which
bloom on older wood.  (The two recommendations came from two different
men at that same nursery.)

I must say that my results are spectacular, particularly this year,
after a mild winter.  But a couple of plants (a lilac and some rhodies)
are still not blooming, though I have not done the year round feeding
for very long.  I also add lots of compost, and the first year I
planted, I put alfalfa pellets into the soil, as recommended by a local
iris breeder.  I have not asked if the recommendation would be to keep
up this regimen forever, or if the soil would eventually improve and
need less amendment.

Does anyone else live in a place where the soil has a reputation for
being so low in nutrients?  I must admit that I feel rather simplistic
about doing this kind of feeding, but I can't believe how well my plants
are doing, after about 3 years of this.

Anelle, Zone 7
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