Shawn, I use the MG fert, epsom salts, Lily Miller's Fish Emulsion, compost tea, and pond water on my brugs.
I do the same thing to make my soil stretch. I buy the big bags of MG, and add stuff according to what i am planting in it. I use sand, compost, composted manure, sometimes shredded leaves. I was a bad girl and didnt clean my pond properly in the fall..so when it warms up I will be taking the leaves I left in the bottom of the pond, shredding, and adding them to my pots as well. I honestly can't tell you how much I use of each when I mix..I just do it till it looks good, or however much is needed to stretch it to what I need, lol. I think the most I have done is equal amounts.
Do you do compost? I do household compost, but chop everything up real good before I throw it in, that way it breaks down ALOT faster. I neglected doing it over the winter..I have to start up again.
I have to start buying the potting soil, composted manure & mulch soon too. I figure if I can get like 2 bags a week, or even 1 of each per week, I should get a good start. And it won't seem like such a huge chunk of money was spent on it, spreading it out like that. Now, if only these dang stores would open up their gardening sections so I could start doing that!!

Hi Shawn,
I buy potting soil from Lows it's 2cf for about $7 dollors,fertilize i use expert all purpose,epsons salt.I am cheap always looking for a deal.I don't add any thing to the soil.I have good luck.hope this helps.
Denise

Daniella I am glad to hear I can add all that stuff to stretch out the soil. I do not compost myself but I know the bagged stuff is cheaper than potting soil. You should be able to get potting soil year round at walmart. I don't know of any big box store that carries compost and manure all year long though.
Denise I also buy the cheaper potting soil. I use either Expert gardener brand or Miracle Gro if it is on sale. There is this Hyponex brand I've seen for under $2 for 40lb but it is crap, mud in a bag. But even at $7 I am going to need a lot so I am trying to find cheaper things to mix with it and make it go farther. I thought compost and manure would be ok since brugs are heavy feeders anyways.
Shawn

Has anyone else had a problem with manure burning brugs? I've had it happen to me on numerous occasions. I thought I had lost my 'Ecuador Pink' completely after sprinkling manure around it. The manure claimed to be composted, maybe it wasn't fully?

I have a compost tumbler that helps speed up the making of compost, but I still wind up buying a lot of the Miracle Gro potting soil. I've used the MaxiCrop fish emulsion and seaweed fertilizers with success. However, as I mentioned in a previous post, I've been told the chlorine levels are too high in the MaxiCrop product, and have switched to Organic Gem. I just applied it this past weekend, so we'll see how it does. I guess I'll know soon, since we're supposed to be in the mid-80's this week.

I also use pond water on my plants. And when I clean the pond soon, I'll throw all the muck into the composter with any spent potting soil and accumulated debris.

Ryan

Ryan,

What kind of manure did you use? Please read on...

~Mary Jane

Manure Manure is a excellent amendment to any soil. Manure is a source of many nutrients including: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and many others. However, nitrogen is often the main nutrient of concern for most crops. Type of Garden ~~ Best Type of Manure~~ Best Time to Apply Flower ~~ cow, horse ~~ early spring Vegetable ~~ chicken, cow, horse~~fall, spring Root Crops ~~ chicken, cow, horse~~fall, spring Dairy Cow Manure: Dairy manure is the preferred manure for most gardeners. It is not as hot as other manures and more forgiving if accidentally applied when too fresh. It is preferred over horse and steer manure but may be harder to acquire. Though cow manure has lower nutrient levels than other manures, it is this that makes it safer to use in larger quantities. It should be aged like other manures. Horse Manure: Horse manure is about half as rich as chicken manure, but richer in nitrogen than cow manure. It is considered a "hot" manure. Horse manure often contains a lot of weed seeds, it is best to compost this manure before use, or add to the garden in the fall. Chicken Manure: Chicken manure is the richest animal manure. Chicken manure is considered "hot", it is best to compost this manure before use. Otherwise, it will burn any plants it comes in contact with. Sheep & Goat Manure: Sheep or goat manure is another "hot" manure. It is somewhat dry and very rich. Manure from sheep and goats fed hay and grain will be more potent than manure from animals that live on pasture. It is best to compost this manure before use or add to the garden in the fall. Rabbit Manure: Rabbit manure is even higher in nitrogen than some poultry manures and it also contains a large amount of phosphorus\-\-important for flower and fruit formation. Seaweed: (many gardeners refer to Seaweed as a manure) With beach access available, this is a fairly easy manure to obtain at no cost. Seaweed is an excellent source of calcium and potash. Prior to using seaweed though, wash it thoroughly to remove the salt. Dig it directly into the soil or compost it. Manure Tea: Manure tea can be used for periodic feedings as a fertilizer or very diluted and used every time you water. Do not allow undiluted manure tea to come into direct contact with foliage. To make manure tea, simply place a shovel or two of manure in a large container (5 gallon bucket) filled with water, and after a week or so, strain out the manure. To make the straining process a little easier, you can tie the manure in a burlap bag before placing it in the water (like a giant tea bag). Green Manure: Green manure is a crop that is grown then plowed into the soil or otherwise left to decompose for the purpose of soil improvement. These crops return more nutrients to the soil than they use to grow. Examples of cover crops used for green manure include soybeans, clover, rye, and others. Green manure does not mean raw manure

Wow, great information! I used bags of composted steer manure from Home Depot. I wish I knew of a local chicken farm, as I've heard that's good stuff!

I still use steer manure on my trees, roses and lawn, but I "steer" clear of the brugs! ;-)

I use alot of composted manure.. We have Cows...LOL
Seaweed ,Fish Emulsion and Yes I am learning to purchase commercial Fertilize...LOL
I also use Maxi-Crop..Ryan do you use City/CO~OP/well water..?? If you use City or CO~OP water then your Chlorine leves are high anyway...I don't see how trace amounts of diluted seaweed can contribute to an alaming level...Just me tho...
I also chip and shread anything I can get me hands on.. DH is a big help he will bring home truck loads of leaves for me.. I do use cover crops on the Veggie beds (been a few yrs but they are coming back) ;O)
I just bought some Worm castings,Bat Guano and Mushroom compost to add to the potting soil...

Do you think one 1cf bag of compost or composted manure to one 2cf bag of soil would be ok or is that too strong? And maybe some shredded leaves in there too, like 1/2 cf?
Shawn

I use Expert or MG & Fafard when I can find it, it is so hard to find it around here in big bags. I did get a huge bag of pearlite last year & I add a good bit of that to all of them along with a few handfuls of timed-release if there's none in the mix. I put a handful of composted manure in as I pot them up or in the planting hole in garden. I think I am going to give the brugs way more this year. I use the dreaded MG fertilizer & whatever I can find at a good price (I try to get it on clearance at the end of the year). I Messenger-ed them last year & sprayed a light amount of The Recipe most days. I just got a composter on freecycle & am waiting for DH to set it up, then I want worms.

Linda