Gardening with Ciscoe ( www.ciscoe.com ) Gardening - Q & A

Alfalfa Meal, fertilizing with

Q: Hey Ciscoe, when watching you on TV my wife says you refer to using alphalfa meal on your roses. we have looked all over the eastside and can't find anyone that carries it. home dep- nurseries- lowes- etc. Please give us some ideas.

A: Try a feed and seed store. Alfalfa meal is actually horse food. Use 2 cups around the average size rose and work it into the ground a bit with a hoe or something. You can begin right away, and do it every 6 weeks until August. I usually add a bit of organic rose food now and then, just to make sure that you're getting all of the micro-nutrients that are needed. Couple of important reminders: Wear a bandanna or hold your breath. If you breathe it, you'll get clogged up. Also keep the meal in a metal can in your garage or shed. Otherwise you'll hate those mices to pieces. It won't attract rodents once you work it into the ground. If you can only find alfalfa pellets, fill a normal sized bucket 1/3 full with pellets in the evening and fill the rest of the bucket with water. In the morning the bucket will be filled with alfalfa schluck. Use 3 cups around each rose. I use this on any plant that likes alkaline soil. Don't use it on acid loving plants. Any plant that blooms all summer long (rose) or grows back to bloom a second time (Delphinium) gets fed every 6 weeks or so. Anything that only blooms once, like a peony, only gets fertilized once in early spring.