Bulbs: My Bed of Tulips, 1 by LeawoodGardener

LeawoodGardener wrote:
Thanks for the hint, Tusseemussee! I've never used Osmocote before - what is your source for large quantities? Have you ever tried Milorganite? I used to buy 50# bags of blood meal for my hostas, pansies, etc in the spring, but they are no longer available (it was also used as a supplement for cattle food, so it's not produced in bulk any more because it was somehow connected to fear of Mad Cow Disease, according to a local nursery supply store I shop at). When I couldn't get the blood meal, the owner suggested Milorganite. It's made from sewage plant waste.

It is high in nitrogen (6-2-0) and really gives my hostas and other border garden plants a boost in the spring. It's relatively inexpensive (even less than the blood meal!), although I noticed it went up 25% this year (typical - it becomes popular and the price goes up!). Its about $19 for a 50# bag. The high nitrogen is perfect for leafy plants like hostas, but I read somewhere that nitrogen also benefits blooming plants as well. I put a cup of Milorganite in each of my brugmansias recently and it seemed to help stop the leaf yellowing I was having.

I gave the vinca a shot of Miracle Gro a couple days ago. I may try some Milorganite as well and see if we can't get them GROWING. Here's a photo of my hostas, cabbage and coleus in the border - they love the Milorganite!