I have some cubes that are about that old. They are mostly broken up and down to dust. They still ferment well in my garbage cans filled with excess rain water. I might throw out the dead mice etc. If it is real bad - dust to dust - the compost pile can always use some browns in the summertime. Would this be considered a brown or a green? I don't think that it makes a whole amount of difference in the general scheme of things. Have fun! F.L.

Oh My...I began to spread alfalfa pellets about 5 years ago. I spread them under the bushes and small trees. I do not bother to dig them in nor sprinkle them with water. I give a handful to anything shorter than my tummy and 2 handfulls if taller. I do this once in the early spring and once in Mid-August. Kim, your post is making me wonder. Our 2 cats eat hardly any cat food in the summer. I am aware that they eat mice, voles, rats, etc.... Wonder if the alfalfa acts as a magnet for them...lol. Now if only it would attract moles and goffers... I also do a spring tonic which is alfalfa, molasses, rabbit poops, horse manure, fish emulsion and anything else I happen to have around. This goes in a 100 gallon horse trough with a cover...water before covering. Let sit for a week. Spread by the bucket load..1 per plant. It just plain stinks to high heaven and the stink lasts till the next rain. Sure seems to work much quicker than the sprinkled alfafa pellets. Have a good evening. Jeannie

Look at 100% alfalfa cubes, too. They work the same as pellets and are likely to have fewer additives. They are dried chopped alfalfa compressed into 2 inch cubes. As far as I can tell, California cubes don't have additives, but you should confirm with the seller. If you garden in a civilized suburban setting, you can toss them out to the dripline and water them in. If you garden where there are vermin or want to avoid the hand-watering, put them in a garbage can, add water, and dole the mash out to your roses. You don't need to overdo it. I add at roughly 1 cup of alfalfa to a 3 foot diameter dripline. Adjust to the size of the dripline of the rose. The primary additive is a hormone that aids in root growth. In Zone 9 California, early fall (right now) is a time of tremendous root growth, as is late winter to early spring. I'd do it soon. I'm sure you do no harm by adding more or at other times, but IMO it's a labor intensive exercise, so I want to get my money's worth. Once a year is fine. I find it really beneficial in pots and can't manage it any more with the planted roses because it is to labor intensive with a lot of big roses. Follow up to make sure it doesn't form a crust on the surface. You might need to break it up. I don't know what you mulch with, but I put it on top of the mulch I use.

Yes. The pellets are easier to find and cheaper to purchase in my experience and they work well. If you water them right after they are put down the pellets disintegrate and become easier for the plants to digest. If you don't water them they become good rabbit food--which is what the pellets are used for by people who have rabbits.