Alternative to topdress.

[trippn]

Been topdressing with bird guano past few years for flower, but getting tired of removing mulch and applying and such, wondering if anybody recommends anything that could be watered in.

down to earth seabird guano says it can be watered in, but at the rates i am trying to apply it, a good amount of the guano does not end up getting used, and sinks to the bottom. probably gotta stick with the topdress, but would like to hear other recipes.

 

[Flying Monkey]

Interesting question T.
If sea bird im assuming this is for a nitrogen boost.

I greenmanure over the autumn/winter period with legumes and cut this back come spring. The N in the rhizobium nodules is released fairly slowly over the growing period and the mulch is N rich so nitrogen top dress is the one thing i dont need to worry about. But P and K i topdress [bat guano and kelp] and lightly remulch- never worry much about watering in other than standard water schedule. What do most people do?

 

[Cvh]

 

[Teddybrae]

Well, I put the goodies in the soil first and if the plant wants more of anything I foliar spray it. For me the main purpose of Mulch is to help retain moisture. Seems to me your method is inviting fungus or rot.

 

[Lost in a SOG]

Can be a problem on a dense green mulch.

I just sprinkle the powder finely over the surface then water over it and that washes it into the soil but i just mostly use hay mulch and horsetail and that has a more open structure than say using comfrey leaves or other green mulches.

Idk if putting it in water and shaking it up before pouring it in might work.. im just looking at this topdressing issue myself tbh.

 

[h.h.]

Feed the mulch.
Mulch feeds the soil.

 

[GOT_BUD?]

Are you in the ground or in a pot?

 

[Rico Swazi]

comfrey ,horsetail, alfalfa, nettle ,yarrow, whatever is local and free
in a bucket for a short soak (hours) or ferment a few days , dilute 20 to 1 (water/plant material)
use as a drench or foliar if desired.

 

[GOT_BUD?]

comfrey ,horsetail, alfalfa, nettle ,yarrow, whatever is local and free
in a bucket for a short soak (hours) or ferment a few days , dilute 20 to 1 (water/plant material)
use as a drench or foliar if desired.

That would work too.

So many ways to skin this cat it's almost confusing.

 

[trippn]

thanks for the replies guys.

topdress is for P at this point. i use tom hill's recipe that is still floating around. calls for a shitton of topdress.

half the ladies in 200 gal smart pots, other half in similar sized holes.

ended up spreading the poop over the mulch and watering in, seems to be about as effective. my mulch is just a bed of straw. saved lots of time.