been using a chemical fert and I don't really like it to much. think my trees would be much happier with a natural source of food? any input would be greatly appreciated. thanks
jacob
-
Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
Jacob,
I am somewhat in the same boat as you. In the past I have relied upon chemical fertilizers, and still do. They are inexpensive, effective and readily available.
A few years ago I made a big batch of fertilizer cakes, the primary components of which were Plantone (Epsoma brand), blood meal, bone meal, wood ashes and fish emulsion. I was very pleased with myself and placed the cakes on all my plants. Then I noticed that the cakes attracted fungus gnats and I began pulverizing the cakes and ended up with a granular organic fertilizer.
Again I was happy but noticed that newly potted trees stabilized in the pots very quickly which on its face might seem an advantage. After some thought though I began to wonder if this is actually a disadvantage. As the particles decomposed and slowly filtered into the soil drainage seems to have slowed somewhat. I still have some trees that I have yet to to re-pot and in all honesty they seem fine but the soil is no longer as free draining that it was at first.
A well known poster on another forum has been using an organic product that looks to have promise. He describes it as
Norm
I am somewhat in the same boat as you. In the past I have relied upon chemical fertilizers, and still do. They are inexpensive, effective and readily available.
A few years ago I made a big batch of fertilizer cakes, the primary components of which were Plantone (Epsoma brand), blood meal, bone meal, wood ashes and fish emulsion. I was very pleased with myself and placed the cakes on all my plants. Then I noticed that the cakes attracted fungus gnats and I began pulverizing the cakes and ended up with a granular organic fertilizer.
Again I was happy but noticed that newly potted trees stabilized in the pots very quickly which on its face might seem an advantage. After some thought though I began to wonder if this is actually a disadvantage. As the particles decomposed and slowly filtered into the soil drainage seems to have slowed somewhat. I still have some trees that I have yet to to re-pot and in all honesty they seem fine but the soil is no longer as free draining that it was at first.
A well known poster on another forum has been using an organic product that looks to have promise. He describes it as
It appears to have more texture than the product I chose and therefore not as likely to impede drainage as much. He purchases it at his local Lowe's, I have looked but my local store does not carry it. I may ask them to order some for me for next year. I hope this has helped a bit."It is made by Schultz called natural organic all purpose plant food. It's NPK is 5-3-3 and it is very mild. It is derived from composted poultry manure."
Norm