Rather than amend that highly suspect garden soil spot, I was wondering if anyone has just thrown in a 40# bag of Miracle Gro Garden Soil. If so, which variety – “Flowers & Vegetables” or “Trees & Shrubs”?
It seems counter intuitive to use the “Tree” formulation but aren’t Brugs shrubs?
Just looking ahead to ’06 to get every advantage I can if the heat and drought of this year repeats.
Has Anyone Tried MG Garden Soil?
Either one--but I use the Flowers and Veggies--for EVERYTHING even trees!! So far--all is GOOD!!
Bonnie
...so it's worth the bucks?
I’m trying to get a better handle on it. Is it fair to say that with MG you get a 6 foot Brug and if not used a 4 footer? Or does that exaggerate too much?
I've used bags of MG to improve/raise beds just because it was handy and already premixed compost/peat etc.. You'll still have to fertilize. Read the fine print on those bags and it tells you to start fertilizing regularly a few weeks (I think) after planting. The main fertilizer in MG is timed release stuff like osmocote. I don't believe there's a lot of compost in there so consequently you don't have any long term nutrition. For heavy feeders like brugs, cannas and ears, you won't see sustained growth without the required regular feeding. What MG will really do for you by mixing several bags into a new bed is provide the drainage and friability that will promote root growth. If you just make a layer on top of existing soil several inches thick, besure you mulch with grass clippings or something afterwards. That potting soil will dry out quick and it's hard to get wet again. All the peat in it is the main culprit.
Thanks for that insight.
Still curious to hear if Bonnie saw any marked better growth using it.
However, thanks to you, I won't consider it a "cure all" by any means.
I buy Scotts Garden Soil and I really like it. It's cheaper than Miracle Grow and is made by the same company. I mixed it with existing soil along with bags of landscape conditioner. I grow ears, brugs, cannas, hibiscus........lots of stuff.
I had so much trouble with Miracle Gro potting soil(everything I put in it died), I was afraid to buy their garden soil.
Thanks to you too Calalily,
Practical experience is priceless - thanks for sharing yours.
Believe me, this is a thread that gives me news I can use.
I always wondered why it says on the bag not to be used in pots. Of course last year I used it in pots mixed with other stuff. I thought it kept the mix nice and heavy so I didn't have to water every day like I have to this year when I didn't use it.
I will look for your kind, Susie. Do you use it in pots too?
I pretty much second everything above. The MG soil does give plants a nice punch when first planted kind of like when you first feed them. It wears off though. I love it for outside when things dry so quickly but I find bringing those same plants inside for winter, I think it stays too wet. I used a ton of Promix this year and think I prefer it. I mixed in Osmocote as I planted and I am not one to heavily feed mine but when I do I try to alternate a couple of MG feedings with a sea food emulsion every few times. I also threw in several of the Messenger feedings this year.
Thanks Badseed.
I prefer Promix or Berger soilless mix, but can't find either down here in the middle of nowhere, lol.
Kell, I mix the Scotts garden soil with lots of perlite, some bunny poo and stick a couple of Jobes plant spikes in the top. My plants look better in that than anything else I've used. I was buying the Metromix(costs a fortune), but the Scotts is doing better, they don't dry out too fast, but don't stay soggy either.
I experimented using some composted bark stuff and vermiculite in the mix, but just Scotts, bunny poo and perlite is working the best.
I had great luck with MG in my pots last & this year. I did mix some garden soil in last year but not this year, All of my plants in MG soil seemed to do better. I Do buy OSH soil & it seems good too, but they certianly don't do as well as the MG does.This year I have fed Maxsea once a week, it's expensive & I don't see it doing much more than the reg. MG. I also use a Peters variety once in awhile.
I think my Brugs are slowing down, I may not get to see any more blooms this year, RATS!
Bj
I wouldn't know if there is a marked difference--since my soil is so highly acidic where we moved to in April I HAVE to use Miracle Grow (or other potting soil--I like MG much better than cheap soils or other kinds available here). Where I lived before I mixed it a bit with the soil which also was not very good. But I also do not use the soil by itself. I also try to feed everything at least twice a month with MG powder added to water (I have too many plants now to feed more often--takes an hour just to water everything abotu 2 to feed everything). I also now use a tip I saw here--alfalfa sprouts soaked overnight--scoops of this around each plant once a month. Natural source of nitrogen or something--makes the leaves greener. Bonnie
Thanks all,
...for turning this into a quality thread.