Is now a good time for alfalfa tea?

16 years ago

Greetings. I'm new to clematis, so I'm not sure about when to feed them. Some of mine are really starting to put out a lot of vigorous growth. Is this a good time to give them some alfalfa tea?

Robert

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Comments (4)

jeanne_texas
16 years ago
Robert...I know that you are a big rose enthusiast like me ...so you apply your Alfalfa Tea the same time you prune your roses and Clematis ..for me in my Zone 8B is around mid Feb..so go for it!!...I also give mine either some 13-13-13 or rose fertilizer..BUT REMEMBER to never fertilize ONCE they are starting to bud out as you will only rush their bloom cycle...Jeanne
carolfm
16 years ago
Robert, I put down alfalfa meal, along with a timed released fertilizer (osmocote) in Feb. after I prune the roses and before I put down mulch. Then I just water it in. I've been doing it this way for years with no problems. The clematis get whatever the roses are getting. The alfalfa and timed released fertilizer won't start working until the soil warms up so it doesn't hurt to put it down now.

Carol
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Normally, Alfalfa Tea is put down as a summer to late summer pick-me-up, but not in the spring. Once the leaves on the roses get to the size of the first joint on your piny finger, you should begin fertilizing once a month with a good, well-balanced fertilizer, but not weed and feed. Roses are heavy feeders, so anything extra you can give like tea or Alaska Fish Emulsion is fine. However, tea of itself does not contain the requisite nutrients a rose needs to do well by itself. I would never think of feeding tea now, because it's not enough to get them off to a good start.
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Yes, I buy them at the feed store. You need the pure alfalfa (for horses) not the rabbit food (which has salt, etc). I just spread it by hand, and water real well. So may take a couple days to beak down completely, but if you water well it happens fast. Soybean meal (also from the feed store work really well in conjunction). Somewhere here on Gardenweb is a great FAQ on organic lawn care. Last year I started following the advice, and I kid you not, neighbors started coming over to ask what I was doing, because the lawn looked so good. The wife said "this is like walking on a plush carpet". And we have an (almost) 4 year-old and pets, so I really don't want Weed 'n Feed. The organics works better IMO, and is way safer. I wish I knew exactly where they keep that FAQ, because it is excellent. Bill
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Comments (22)
Hahaha! Good one Celeste! I too can say it sounds like something doofy I would end up doing.... only I don't brew tea! I made some many yrs ago, but couldn't stand the smell, so I never did it again. But drinking it?? Eeeeeewww!! Yuck!! I did spill some Liquid Fence on my feet one time... that was nasty! Buford, I've never taken alfalfa tabs, but I take fish oil, salmon oil, shark liver oil and other unsavory-sounding herbals/vitamin-stuff. Burping up fish oil on occasion is pretty disgusting, so I can't even imagine it mixed with alfalfa!! I bet it was kinda like eating dirt!! And Roseman, you meed to lighten up and get a sense of humor!
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Chey, now that you mention it, I remember that thread and you got good suggestions from quite a few experienced rose gardeners on GW. So sorry you've experienced it, but from what I gather on that thread, there is still hope for your roses! This is my 4th year in rose gardening and it's always a learning process with ups and downs... I apply alfalfa when the new growth is just starting out, but since you've had the issue of reviving your roses and hopefully inducing new growth, then probably it's best to apply alfalfa when the soil is workable and time to fertilize in general-- as often recommended, when "forsythias start blooming" in your area. Good luck!
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nckvilledudes
16 years ago
I haven't fertilized any of my clematis yet since it is way to early for the last frost of the season and I don't want to do anything that is going to stimulate too much early growth that might get frosted back. Tonight they are calling for a low of 28 degrees so that does not bode well. Whether you should start feeding your clematis now depends on where you live and the likelihood that you might have bad frosts between now and your last average frost date. For me that is around the middle of April.
rjlinva
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks everyone. I'll put down the alfalfa pellet mixture I make for the roses..and when the ground warms up, I suppose the plants will use it.

Robert

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Is now a good time for alfalfa tea?

Comments (4)

jeanne_texas

carolfm

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Is now a good time for alfalfa tea?

Comments (4)

jeanne_texas

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