Garden

[GoneButNotForgotten]

For all-purpose, I use chicken manure. Years ago when I was an acolyte of Cisco Morris, he used to praise alfalfa meal and it was ok but...for some reason I switched to chicken manure and it works a lot better...faster, I guess. When I used alfalfa meal it seemed like it took forever to have an effect. Not so with chicken manure; my plants come up sooner and stronger and just plain prettier (I grow mostly flowers).

For acid-loving plants, I use Viracid.

[chessylady]

I add chicken manure to my 2 raised beds before I plant in the spring. Monthly I add fish emulsion fertilizer. I also use organic tomato fertilizer containing calcium to ward off blossom end rot ( still get it a little). My gardenis organic.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

For garden beds and shrubs/trees, hands down it is Espoma Plant Tone.  I have been using it since the early 1980s.  100% organic and really helps the tilth of the soil.

I also use my own compost and will occasionally add greensand (also Espoma label) but it is expensive.

For containers?  Hands down, fish emulsion, though I do supplement with the old Peters now Jack's Classic 20-20-20 and sometimes Miracle Gro for tomatoes (high in potash, good for geraniums but in general a nice change of "diet" for my plants).

I don't fertlize heavily.  Instead I let leaves fall and decompose and let clover grow in the lawn.  Some things i like to boost, however.  Just part of the enjoyable gardening rituals.

[CJC]

For general purpose I like Milorganite. All organic and non burning. It’s a granular fertilizer that can be tossed around everywhere. Available at Lowes. Inexpensive and large bag lasts a long time. For container annuals I like Miracle Grow.

[tototwo]

Thank you, @CJC -- I had totally forgotten about Milorganite.  Back when I had 1/4 acre of hostas, I spread Milorganite every spring.  It used to be difficult to find - maybe that's why I wanted it!   Then we moved and I had to shift to sun plants - and I got lazy - so I buy any 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 time-release granular that I can sprinkle on the soil surface.  

What I should do is get a soil kit and find out what my soil needs.  Laziness.

[CJC]

10-10-10 is always good.....any brand. I used to buy an inexpensive brand called Rainbow maybe 5 years ago at a big feed store in SC. Tractor Supply might carry it. 

[Sweetbay magnolia]

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@CJC wrote:
For general purpose I like Milorganite. All organic and non burning. It’s a granular fertilizer that can be tossed around everywhere. Available at Lowes. Inexpensive and large bag lasts a long time. For container annuals I like Miracle Grow.

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Milorganite is also used as a deer repellent, so good on two fronts.  What's the good of fertilizer if it just creates more enticement for the large rodents called deer to decimate the garden?

[wagirl]

One year I actually made compost in one of those barrel type composter that you turn a few times a week---and my flowers/veggies were amazing----but it got too heavy for me to turn - so just got bagged compost.

[JustJazzmom]

I use Milorganite for the lawn & Espoma Plant Tone for the shrubs & perennials & their Rose Tone for the roses. Veggies get Plant Tone or composed manure (very heavy bag).