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Old December 26, 2009   #11
mjc
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: WV
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That's part of the beauty of using things like rabbit manure...it breaks down slowly and releases nutrients fairly close to the rate they are needed. Hard to do 'too much' that way. Just like the 'meals' (seaweed, cottonseed, etc, right?).

The overall strategy should be not really to feed the plants but to feed the soil. If there are adequate nutrients available then the plants will be fine and use what they need. Using rock dusts, meal and manure provide those over time, unlike chemical fertilizers which usually provide a blast all at once (and usually not all that is needed, either...just the 'big three'). If they are all 'slow' release, then the chance of one being overused is also lower. With synthetic fertilizers, the nutrients are often in a very easily usable form and even if 'balanced' aren't really...just because it is 10% each of N-P-K doesn't mean that that is what is needed.

Compost by itself, while a great amendment, isn't all that balanced, either. And the bulk of manure isn't nutrients...it's organic matter, just like compost, which is never a bad idea. But if you are into amending the entire plot and improving all the soil in the garden, every season, spot fertilization and side dressing may not be needed.
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