Using alfalfa pellets as cheap organic fertilizer for your lawn and garden
16.8 years ago alfalfa pellets, cheap, fertilizer, organic
We all know if you walk into a grocery store the organic produce is always more expensive than produce grown using non-organic methods. Using deductive reasoning it seems easy to determine that this would mean growing vegetables organically will cost me more than if I used non-organic methods. What is a cheap vegetable gardener to do?
One disadvantage (and advantage) to organic fertilizer is that it is not as potent as chemical fertilizers. So my 2 lbs of organic will not nearly go as far (at least short term) as the same amount of chemical fertilizer. One trick to being cheap is to purchase products that are not being marketed for your planned purpose. So to solve my expensive fertilizer issue I used this same logic to solve the problem of finding a location to buy organic fertilizer that was not marketed as “fertilizer.” After some research I determined a source from my local feed store. For $10 I was able to get 25 lbs of alfalfa pellets compared to 2 lbs of alfalfa meal at my local nursery for around the same price.
One great thing about using organic fertilizer is my kids can help spread it around, unlike chemical fertilizers. It also contains triacontanol which is a root growth stimulant along with plenty of organic matter to help boost some extra microbial activity. This not only helps the grass but also improves your soil at the same time. By taking a few cups of alfalfa pellets and mixing with water you can also make alfalfa tea, which I am planning on doing later but will sure to let you know how it works out. One more tip, make sure you distribute the alfalfa pellets before a big rain or watering, currently my lawn looks like some geese are using it as their bathroom.
Tags: alfalfa pellets, cheap, organic vegetables, vegetables
16.8 years ago
Hi! have enjoyed browsing your blog.I also use alfalfa pellets from the feed store…they are fantastic for heating up the compost pile when no other green materials are available, adding nitrogen and nutrients as they break down.
16.8 years ago
Thanks for the reminder I did that as well but forgot to add some more after I added a bunch of leaves.
16.8 years ago
Great tip! I will look to buy some of this. I already do a similar thing, sortof. My kids have pet guinea Pigs and I use their soiled bedding as compost. It also contains spilled seeds and food pellets, which I think are alfalfa and timothy.Another thing along the same lines I want to do this year which is cheap, is vermicomposting – raising redworms. I will feed them vegetable scraps etc and use their organic-rich castings as fertilizer.
16.8 years ago
Sorry, I messed up the link in my comment. If you are interested in seeing our guinea pigs, click here.Sorry about that.
15.7 years ago
In one 5 gal bucket add 8-10 cups of Alfalfa pellets stir daily for 7 days till it smell then add 2-3 cups of epsom salt.pour 4-6 cups per plant to fertilize
15.4 years ago
"…. currently my lawn looks like some geese are using it as their bathroom." Well, your title does read, "Cheap organic fertilizer for your lawn and garden!!"
15.3 years ago
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.Margarethttp://howtomakecompost.info
15.3 years ago
jennifer, glad you are enjoying it here 🙂
14.6 years ago
I am a farmer and growing vegetables to sell. For more efficency i use fertilizers but while using them it is important to
keep it healthy because some fertilizers contain corruptive elements so i try to read everything about fertilizers and try
to keep my product healthy. I am grateful for those who gives information about fertilizers and anyone who
uses fertliziers should read about it, i also found another good guide which should be read too i think;
http://agricultureguide.org/
14.4 years ago
I’ve been using fish hydrolysate, humic acid and seaweed, kelp on my organic giant sunflowers and corn. I’m definitely going to try the pellets.
14.2 years ago
[…] (14-0-0) Alfalfa meal (7-3-4) Soybean meal (6-1-2) Cottonseed meal (6-2-2) Fish emulsion (5-2-2) Chicken Manure (3-4-3) […]
13 years ago
omg watis dis stuff and can u smoke it :b
11.9 years ago
[…] like I may have added a little too much nitrogen (alfalfa pellets) to my garden this year since they all are getting huge above ground but not much below ground. […]
11.9 years ago
[…] to be a little more creative. For organic matter to feed the worms (and the lawn) I will be using alfalfa pellets and grass clippings (mulch) As for moisture, given I live in the Seattle, WA area our frequent […]
11.6 years ago
Does anyone have any experience growing dahlias with non organic alfalfa this year?
My bag says it is certified weed free. Does that mean it was sprayed with round up and will that kill my dahlais?
Beginner gardener
11.6 years ago
You didn’t mention what the bag was but assuming it was something like planting soil or compost. Basically this label is saying it is free of weed seeds…which roundup wouldn’t actually kill anyway. Typically this is done by extreme temperatures which can be done by having it naturally cook as compost or treated with an external heat source…the good news is soil will be safe for your dahlias…
10.5 years ago
I used about a handful of pellets on my plumerias in 15 gallon containers this year. They seem to really love it. The plumerias are growing fast and pushing out flowers, but the leaves are only lasting a few days and being replaced but new ones at an extremely rapid rate. With small plumerias this is a good thing for leggy plants, they are going to send blooms to high to enjoy with the rapid growth. I guess I will take cuttings when that happens.
10.5 years ago
Hi, just wanted to tell you, I liked this post.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
9.7 years ago
THIS SOUNDS GREAT FOR U FOLKS,THAT DONT HAVE RABBITS, BUT U SEE I DO HAVE RABBITS, I USE THE RABBIT PELLETS,AFTER BUNNY EATS THEM, THIS WAY NO BURN TO WORRY ABOUT, I PUT THEM ON RAISED BED GARDENS IN FALL,WITH A LAYER OF 4 INCHES OF VERY VERY SHREDDED LEAVES, THEN ON TOP OF THAT 4 INCHES OF STRAW ,WHEAT STRAW, THEN COVER WITH PLASTIC BLACK OR 4 MIL CLEAR, HERE IN GA THE WORMS WORK MY BEDS ALL WINTER, WORKS GREAT A SMILE TODAY MAY BRING A LAFUGH LATER TU HAPPY GARDENING
9.3 years ago
[…] grabbing a bag of spent coffee beans from Starbucks whenever I notice them there, few handfuls of alfalfa pellets at the beginning of spring, or compost when it becomes ready in my bin. the thing I neglected […]
8.5 years ago
do youmix pellets in water or just put them on around the plants