Alfalfa breaks down slowly compared to blood meal. I might get results for several years from an application of alfalfa. blood meal is more fast-acting and more short term, like a candy bar. Keep in mind that soil and climate will influence results. In a light sandy soil with frequent rainfall nutrients are quickly washed below the root zone. In an area with heavy clay soil and modest rainfall, nutrients are better retained and available to the plant. Temperature, rainfall, and humidity are also a factor. "Organic" fertilizers break down into a form plants can use via microorganisms naturally present in the soil; when the soil is cold, the microorganisms go dormant or exhibit very little activity. So climates with a long growing season can take more fertilizer than northern climates with a short growing season. Soil that stays evenly moist rather than drying out significantly between rainfalls or irrigations will also break down "organic" fertilizer faster. For any fertilizer with instructions on the package, follow the instructions on the package! Keep in mind you can kill a rose with kindness by overdoing the fertilizer. Young roses especially are more vulnerable. Observe, observe, observe. Educate your eye as to what a thriving rose plant looks like. Are the leaves plentiful and deep green? During the growing season, does new growth appear immediately after the last flush of flowers is complete and deadheaded (or even before)? Walk around the neighborhood or visit a garden center. How do neighborhood roses and garden center roses compare? Are they radically better looking than yours? If not, hold off on the fertilizer, you don't need it.

Meal from my feed store is straight alfalfa, no additives. If you don't see what you want, just ask at the counter. Most feed stores are happy to order for you at no charge with their next order from their distributor - that's what mine does and they were even familiar with it's use on roses. Next time, I think I will get the pellets though. The meal is so fine, it tends to fly around when scooping and distributing.

Hi Jim: Alfalfa pellets is OK to use IN CONJUNCTION with gritty lime. When used alone, alfalfa pellets is acidic, and WORSENS black spots. We get so much acidic rain this year, that I see zinc deficiency in the holes which I brought the pH too low with cracked corn (pH 4). Re-quote from earlier link: "Zinc deficiency: Soils that are acidic often have deficient zinc. Michigan State University mentions that zinc deficiencies also are more common in soils that are naturally rich in phosphorus ... Young leaves may be yellowed or reduced in normal size (called "little leaf"), narrower than normal leaves with wavy edges or abnormally expanding and puckered. Another cue is what is called "rosetting"--space between new leaves is very small, and tiny leaves and shoots bunch up into a clustered tuft." Yves seedling's previous hole was acidic ... I put too much pine bark (pH 4). It was a BS-fest with smaller leaves. When I moved it to its new location, the leaves are bigger, shinier, and healthy ....Thanks to my alkaline clay fixed with alfalfa hay (less acidic than alfalfa pellets). CONCLUSION: Alfalfa hay is cheaper, $8 per bale, and great to mix in soil months in advance, to aerate soil and improve drainage. Alfalfa pellets is more expensive, $17 per 40 lb. bag, more acidic, but convenient to use on top, if neutralized by lime. Kordes Barcelona (smaller red bloom) has a fantastic fragrance, and blooms lots with alfalfa pellets. That one is susceptible to mildew, which I fixed easily with gritty lime. It's the only one that doesn't break out in BS with alfalfa pellets. See bouquet below: My roses this year are NOT as healthy as previous years with horse manure & alfalfa. I will shop more with cash, just to collect pennies (the ones after 1982 are made of zinc, and the ones before 1982 are made of copper ... both are anti-fungal agents).

chigardenlady: You might want to see if there are any organic beef producers in your area. They may be using alfalfa for winter feed. In our area, there are a number of such producers; some grow their own hay, and some bring it in by the truckload. Farms that grow the organic hay here will sell it to you by the bale. A three- strand bale (80-90 pounds) costs $8-14 picked up at the field. Some people bring in whole semi-loads if they have lots of animals to feed; horse owners in our area fall into this group. You might be able to purchase a bale or two from such folks. Some of the horse owners are very particular about their hay, so they have it tested. If you get some of one of their lots, you might be well supplied. If necessary, you could mix a mineral supplement with the hay for the rabbits. I generally do not see organic alfalfa in our stores; one feed store will bring it in, but you need to get a whole truckload. I don't think I've ever seen organic pellets here, either. Also, unless you would be worried about even a small amount of GMO hay in a load, you might ask local farmers what they planted. It might very well be a non-GMO stock, just not certified organic. Renais