ok first.. with 10 cubed.. you are going to have to pour about a quarter bag ON A PLANT to burn it ... but you arent going to apply it ON THE PLANT... you will spread it around the crown .. to soak into the roots ... next.. get a tblspn measure.. think dollar store ... and dip into the bag ... and put 2 tbs in your other hand.. to 'see' what it looks like ... it will probably just barely cover your palm ... then grab into the bag.. and see if that is a pinch. a scoop .. etc ... you dont really have to measure this stuff.. and just make a circle about 3 inches out from the plant ... rubber gloves help avoiding touching it ... as the nitrogen.. can dry your hands .. and if you have any cut or hangnails.. will make them sting .. i avoid sticking my arm in the bag, covering myself to the elbow with dust .. ... by pouring it into a pail .... with the wind to my back.. insuring that i dont breathe it in ... they are paying double for half as much buying brand name ... they can get 12-12-12.. 50# for about $15 at the feed store ... it stores FOREVER .. in a 5 gallon deli bucket.. one with a rubber seal in the cover ... again.. at 10 cubed.. just do it.. i doubt you can screw it up.. other than dumping it on wet leaves .... hand claw rake with 3 tines.. if you insist in scratching it in ... and IMHO.. you are at least 30 to 45 days EARLY for fert in zone 5 .... if it activates the plants.. and we get a freeze or hard frost ... well.. that could be a problem ... now.. let me propose.. that they are trying to teach you how easy it is.. and you run to the computer.. to check their theory ... might i suggest.. they know what they are doing.. and you should not question their wisdom... lol .. [arent they the ones that also had the grape hyacinths you were worrying about ] well ... for one thing.. dont tell them you posted the ??? sounds to me.. like you have some local mentors.. if you can just get past the inlaw part.. lol .. ken ps: there is basically no difference between 10 cubed and 12 cubed in this application ... and it is impossible for the brand name to be any different than the generic ... so the link shows 40# 12 cubed for $15 ...a quick google on 'Espoma Gardner Food 10-10-10' .. shows 5 pounds for $10 .... and that is marketing brilliance .... [and no.. the type of nitro doesnt matter to me.. for anyone who cares to argue] .. earn their respect by saving them some money .. Here is a link that might be useful: link

Jerry...did you fertilize yet? EL wrote to me this morning..Finally..Glad it wasn't a matter of life and death..LOL..reminds me of some HMO doctors..lol Anyway, I can foreward their email to you if you'd like, but I'll post what they wrote, too..I dont have your email addy,.... I asked them what dossage...they responded about 1 Tablespoon per gallon of soil mix. I asked, how often soil should be fertized w/their brand. They said, 4-6 wks or when tree is in virorous growth..It was signed by a guy named Michael. Even if you already fertilized more than 1 Tbls, it shouldn't do any harm since NPK is on the low side..Much lower than either of my citrus fertilizers, but I'd still be cautious since there may be other additives.. If for some reason it seems too strong, and foliage starts burning, you can always leach soil by running water through soil to get unwanted salts out via drainage holes. Wish they'd had sent this yesterday, and again if you want a copy of the email, I'll save it a couple days.. Did you ever deal w/Michael before? It sounds like you may have talked to a woman clerk who just wanted to end the call..she probably knew nothing about their products and didn't care to ask for help..LMK and good luck..Toni

water soluble just means that the fertilizer dissolves in water, by no means it indicates it's exclusively for foliar feeding. generally, water soluble fertilizers are typically fed to plant roots.. but they can also be used to foliar feed as well (ie something marketed as a foliage fertilizer in a spray bottle).. i just don't think it's effective at all, especially things like fish emulsion (organic matter) which is typically not fully broken down (decomposed) so it's best to use something like fish emulsion in the soil as it breaks down over time and then become available to the plant to absorb via their roots. some people swear by foliage feeding, but the way i see it is when i am hungry i don't smear the food over my skin ;) perhaps you should do an experiment. have two plants, feed one plant the water soluble fertilizer in the soil and the other on foliage. wait a month or two and observe results..

Make 2 gallons of a solution. 1/8 and 1/4th strength. Take 2 plants of the same type - and experiment for a month or 2. Whatever works - use it. Starters - alternate with unfertilized water. Normally the bigger the plant, the faster it utilizes the fertilizer. Probably there is a slight difference between varieties... may be pale leaf and dark leaf... BUT - lets get a life.