So great to see others using alfalfa pellets. I have Dave Hall from Texas to thank for teaching me about the ease and benefits of organic gardening and I can't get enough of it ! Last year a lawn service stopped to ask what company I was using ! When I told them I used alfalfa and corn meal they sent the owner out to look at my lawn ~ now THAT is a great endorsement ! When planting (or just side dressing) I take bags of alfalfa pellets, pour into my wheelbarrow and add water. The pellets will absorb the water and form a 'meal' rather quickly. I then stir in compost, blood meal or whatever else my plants seem to be needing. The consistency shouldn't be wet, but if it is, add a bit more alfalfa to soak up the water. I then place 3-4 handsful around the base of each plant or in the case of planting, I mix a bunch into the planting hole with the native soil. I've also used the pellets whole and after placing some handsful around the base of a plant, I just water it in and it breaks down rather quickly. When broadcasting the pellets over the lawn, I often have to check after watering for clumps, but not a problem. I've used soymeal as well (had my feed store order for me). It's a bit more expensive and I found the smell to be rather unpleasant to work with, but it's supposed to have more protein. Bottom line, I don't think you can go wrong with how pellets are used ~ they're just an all around safe bet. Good luck !

I'd be using peat moss to acidify via slow leaching of the peat moss very alkaline soil and to soften compacted clay soil but dry peat moss is very dusty and might would mostly blow away. :-( As far as peat moss being brown once the vinegar kills the grass and weeds it's won't be noticeable and then the fine fescues will grow. Since I'm going to plant fine fescues after they are established I won't be using any type peat moss, corn meal, or any fertilizer or soil conditioner on my lawn. If I needed any composting to create acidity after the fescue was established I would use corn meal.

It was stated above that alfalfa meal/pellets had a high nitrogen content. On checking I found the highest mentioned was 3 percent which is relatively low. The Colorado State University Master Gardener site states "Alfalfa meal or pellets; Typical NPK analysis: 2-1-2: Release time: 1-4 months: Pros: Available at feed stores: Cons: May contain seeds: Application: Till in 2-5 pounds per 100 square feet." Their estimate of the nitrogen is only 2 percent. It also shows the time required to release it, 1-4 months means it breaks down and releases the nitrogen slowly so you'll not get the 2 to 3 percent nitrogen all at once. Too much is almost impossible unless you plant directly into it.

I don't bother to make tea, I just toss the pellets around the garden. I have been doing it for about a year and have never worried how old a plant was. I have exceptional performance from daylilies this year with far more scapes and buds than I've ever had with much worse spring weather but haven't noticed a huge difference with Clematis.