I haven't fertilized my plants

[Stephanie]

With all of this rain we've had, the plants are so lush! I usually use Miracle Grow, but I'd hate to put anymore water on them!

[deb_in_nc]

I use a timed release one on my plants. That way
if we're getting a lot of rain I don't have to add more water unless we have a dry spell.

Debbie

[breeze]

Steph, you don't have to use the miracle grow if they're
looking good. They have gotten watered, and, if you've
had some good lightning storms, lately, they're probably
still "high" on the nitrogen!

[Miss Mary]

This purely is an ametuer observation but my plants seem to absorb a low dose of Miracle Gro after a rain very well. Not a drencher but a light rain. Soil is damp already and I've noticed this is a good time to fertilize. But I rarely do that just something I've noticed.

Steph, I add a tablespoon of lemon dish soap to my hose end sprayer with the Miracle Gro. Have you ever tried that? Plants love it! I usually turn the dial for water only at the end and wash off any suds I see on foliage.

One year my husband figured out an extremely low dose of fertilizer and instead of just watering daily (this was when it was hot) I'd water with the fertilizer mixture. My plants were huge! Very healthy looking. In fact one neighbor just about died driving down the street each day when she saw my window boxes, pots, in ground annuals (this was when I really got into planting annuals! long time ago). She joked she was going to sneak down some night and pour bleach in my pots. Other people would look at her when she said this - like what? She was only kidding, I knew that. We did have a few laughs there. I also babied my plants, deadheading, pinching off in the beginning (I still do that, no blooms yet outside), etc. Those were the days....before I just ran, ran, ran with my kids in the car. Gardening from a car? Maybe I can plant a pot on top of the car? LOL

[Stephanie]

I was wondering if I did need to fertilize or not since we were getting alot of rain. They are looking really good, but I know that a little extra food won't hurt either. I heard that Miracle Gro makes a "dry" formula too. Maybe I'll look for that or Preen.

Thanks guys!

[Miss Mary]

Be careful of Preen if you have pets. I use it in front to keep down on weeds but nowhere near where my dog roams - it can cause cancer I've heard in animals. Miracle Gro is different though and soap is extremely harmless! Yes I've read Jerry Baker's gardening books....I've been known to put beer/soap/amonia in a hose end sprayer and apply it to my lawn too!

[Stephanie]

I'm glad you told me that about Preen!!! My dog and cats all go in the garden (and I do mean go! ).

I've read good ol' Jerry Baker's recipes too. I'll have to try that soap mixture!

Thanks!

[Pburgh]

Stephanie
I use Osmocote (a timed-released granule). I also use a product called Monty's Joy Juice (sounds like it would taste good too!!!lol). Both of these work really well. Monty's has a website that I order from.

[Miss Mary]

Stephanie - someone on the Green Thumb board last year told me she lost her 3 year Golden Retriever to cancer (she was filled with it she said). Vet suspected it was from weed killer. She had been using Roundup to keep weeds/moss in check on her paver patio. The dog would sit or lay on this patio, and then lick her paws. So that's how she thought her poor dog picked up the weed killer. But I also remember her saying something about Preen too. The Vet said to avoid all of the weed killers. And sure enough, I thought my old Preen container said to keep it away from pets. I threw it out now otherwise I'd go read it to be sure.

What I did last year around the area's Hope roams, was put down a layer of newpaper under the mulch. I thought that was a smart idea until she began digging. She shredded the paper with her paws and then the wind kicked up. You guessed it - newpaper all over the yard. Hubby then promptly said - bright idea there Mary......if I just didn't have a dog. Ah, but I wouldn't trade her in. I'll take the weeds!!!